Newly minted Tshwane mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya has described her first days of office as a baptism of fire and racist attacks.
Days after her election, three regions in the capital city experienced unprecedented widespread power outages after a 38,000-litre diesel tanker caught fire on October 10 — a crisis Moya had to attend to alone as she had not appointed mayoral committee members at the time.
Despite the celebration around her election, Moya was also faced with fuming residents, frustrated over axed DA mayor Cilliers Brink’s removal from the city’s top job.
Her cellphone number was leaked to angered residents, who hurled insults over her purported betrayal of her erstwhile coalition partners, the ousted DA.
I know there is someone fuelling this, there is fearmongering that has manifested in the system.
— Nasiphi Moya, mayor
This opened her eyes to the rife racial tensions in the city, which she is also a spectator to in council.
“The nature of this city is that it gets racial very quickly. But where it is concerning is when DA ward councillors release my number to residents. The racist remarks I received, that was shocking for me. Even the misinformation.
“A message would typically start by saying: ‘Ja, you have sold the city to the highest bidder, now fix the mess. You are a puppet; they are going to use you.’”
Moya was elected mayor after a deal clinched among the ANC, ActionSA and the EFF, which saw Joburg mayor Dada Morero elected alongside an ActionSA speaker. Weeks later, a similar arrangement was configured in Tshwane.
However, the ActionSA senate member and head of governance and policy said she chooses to turn a blind eye to the myriad insults and rather addresses the service delivery concerns.
“Part of the message would have a reference number — I would just take the reference number, escalate the matter and give feedback. Typically, they would come back and say it is resolved. But the tone of those particular residents, as if they are selected to deal with me.”
“When you are being subjected to racism you have a choice to say, listen, I’m going to fight this person because it is my right, I can’t be subjected to racism, or just choose your battles at that moment and remember that this person is still a resident who needs services. I know there is someone fuelling this, there is fearmongering that has manifested in the system, residents are being used by people to fight their political battles.”
The racial tensions were not only limited to debates in council, but with the prioritisation of service delivery as well, she said.
In her election acceptance speech, Moya said she fully appreciates the troubling reality of the growing divide between the affluent and the disadvantaged, which has become a defining characteristic of the city.
“My vow is to work tirelessly to bridge this gap and ensure that we create a more just and inclusive city where all residents, regardless of their economic status or geographic location, have access to quality services.”
Moya admitted that the public clash between councillors during the change of governance was not a good look for the city, increasing anxiety among residents regarding political instability.
“There was a three-week period where a lot of councillors were fighting on social media. For people who don’t know us as councillors, they see us using certain language, undermining each other on those platforms, which created anxiety among residents. All of that was leading up to how the no-confidence motion will be dealt with, whether it was going to succeed or not.”
This is why Moya has decided to make it her mission to clamp down on racial divisions and bring unity in her chambers.
“The bottom line is, no matter what, our constitutional mandate is to serve residents. Whatever we do, if it has a negative impact on the residents then that is something that we must respond to. This is why my approach, when I was acting as mayor after the motion, was to work with all councillors, DA, ANC, small parties, I was with them. There was no discrimination.
“This city needs to be united. The divisions must be inside council chambers between the 214 of us, but it cannot spill into residents. It sounds ambitious, but that’s what we all must strive for.”
Tshwane’s now MMC for agriculture and environment and EFF regional leader Obakeng Ramabodu has once been reported to the South African human rights commission for saying he would like to drink the “blood of a Boer”, following mudslinging with an FF Plus councillor.
However, Moya believes she can bring everyone together, despite weathering insults from the very same FF Plus for ditching their former coalition.
“I heard one of them calling me Judas inside council, it was the VF Plus caucus leader. It was very shocking to hear that. There was a message from the former mayor speaking on behalf of the DA, saying they will be a constructive opposition as long as I don’t destabilise, fire competent people and I continue with the progress made. I have got their support as an opposition, which is something that should be welcomed.
“I am planning to reach out to the caucus leader of the DA and VF Plus. ACDP and IFP are not directly involved in this arrangement.”
The newly elected mayor was taken aback by comments from her former colleagues on investigative reports detailing corruption that she ought to act on, saying they have been mum about them during their tenure.
“It was very shocking that he was aware of the reports, but suddenly it becomes a demand for an incoming mayor. But it must be done because it is the right thing to do.”
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