President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday congratulated former Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Mzwandile Collin Masina on his election as the executive mayor of Ekurhuleni metro.

He wished “Masina success in further steering the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality towards sustainable development for all‚ building on the good work done by the former executive mayor Mondli Gungubele”.

The president said Masina had “served diligently” as a deputy minister‚ “and made his mark in driving black economic transformation programmes‚ especially the Black Industrialists Programme”.

The Presidency also noted that “Masina resigned as the deputy minister of trade and industry prior to his election as the executive mayor”.

Masina’s eligibility for the position was questioned at Tuesday’s meeting of the Ekurhuleni metro by Independent Ratepayers Association of SA councillor Izak Berg‚ who argued that Masina shouldn’t be a mayoral candidate as he had not yet resigned from Cabinet. – TMG Digital