Durban - Government and Politics

Government and Politics

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality Durban was formed in 1994 after South Africa's first democratic elections. The first democtratic mayor of Durban was Sipho Ngwenya. The mayor is elected for a five-year term; however Sipho Ngwenya only served 2 of 5-year democratic term. The city of Durban was subjected to city structural and name changes immediately after the country first democratic elections. The change was from the Greater city of Durban in 1994 to Durban UniCity in July 1996 to eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in 1999. In July 1996, Obed Mlaba, was appointed mayor of Durban UniCity, then in 1999 he was elected to mayor of EThekwini municipality of Durban, he was re-elected to his second term in 2006. Following the May 2011 Local Government election James Nxumalo, the former Speaker of the Council, was elected as the new mayor.

The name of the Durban municipal government, prior to the post-apartheid reorganisations of municipalities, was the Durban Corporation or City of Durban.

The Freedom of Expression Institute has reported that there have been problems with the Municipality allowing shack dwellers their legal right to march.