Chris Pappas opts out of eThekwini mayoral position race

As the DA prepares to unveil its next mayoral candidate for eThekwini Municipality, the party’s Chris Pappas has revealed that he was unavailable for the position.

Pappas, who is currently the mayor of the only DA-run municipality in the province, Umngeni Local Municipality, has turned down requests to avail himself for the position.

“No, I did not apply, although there were many requests to apply,” said Pappas.

The party has announced that it will unveil its mayoral candidate on Friday, but it has been kept a closely guarded secret.

The party in the province has vowed that it was willing to lead a coalition should it not get the majority to govern eThekwini – this what may have led to some thinking that fielding a senior and experienced party member, such as Pappas, would have been a good option. 

 Thabani Mthethwa, who is the party’s caucus leader in the municipality, also did not apply, saying he has no interest in the position. Another senior leader who also did not raise his hand was Sithembiso Ngema who is a councillor and the provincial deputy leader of the party. 

Sources within the party said it was pinning its hope on last year’s general election results where it emerged as the second biggest party after the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). The DA was currently working with the ANC in the province under the auspices of the Government of Provincial Unity together with IFP and the National Freedom Party.

In eThekwini, the IFP was also working with the ANC where the IFP caucus leader Mdu Nkosi was given a Water and Sanitation unit to head. With the deterioration of MKP and EFF relations on a national level following the resignation of senior EFF members to join the MKP, it was unclear whether the two parties will set their differences aside and challenge a potential DA/ANC/IFP coalition in eThekwini.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za