THE Kokstad Municipal Manager, Sipho Zwane has labelled the former Kokstad Mayor, Bheki Mtolo as an “eagle” that nobody can stop from doing what it is supposed to do, which is to fly high. Likening Mtolo's recent ascendance to the position of secretary of the African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal, Zwane said the "eagle" will once more flying high and this time will open all the doors for the future of the people of the KwaZulu Natal province.

Zwane praised the former Mayor, Mtolo after having been hailed by a number of guest speakers, including the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Head of the Department, Thando Tubane who unashamedly revealed that Mtolo’s hard work for a better Kokstad is evident to everyone’s eyes walking the streets of Kokstad.

They shared these sentiments during a surprise farewell for the former Mayor, Mtolo who recently resigned from the Municipality after ascending to the provincial political position in the ruling party. The organizers of the surprise farewell took advantage of Mtolo's switched-on mind for service delivery as the organisers hurriedly called him to inspect a "damaged" ceiling at the Kokstad Town Hall to which he leaped to the rescue only to find that it was a plot to get him to grace his surprise farewell.

This was an initiative by his colleagues and comrades from the Kokstad Sub-region who gifted him with a cow, which is a sign of wishing him all the best on his political journey.

Speaking at the event, Tubane said:” It is a great honour but a painful occassion to bid farewell to leader that stood firm even in difficult times of the July unrest wherein Mtolo refused to allow that to happen in Kokstad, refusing to destroy Kokstad that has been developed through hard work and should they have allowed that many people would have lost their jobs as some businesses would have closed down”

Mtolo was further hailed for being a champion of service delivery who managed to attract investors and created jobs for the local community even during the time of the hard lockdown as a result of Covid-19 "He however influenced massive infrastructural developments for the fast-growing town of Kokstad as per their Municipality's vision of becoming a City of Economic Possibilities by 2047,” Tubane said Mtolo’s footprints on service delivery will remain forever etched in the gallows of the history of the town as everyone can witness developmental and infrastructural change in Kokstad.

He added that Mtolo’s hard work is vividly clear as when they were doing assessments  as  the  department  in August 2021, the revenue collection was sitting at 67% but now it is close to 90%. “You took decisions that sometimes shocked us in the province but we realised later that those decisions were meant to better the lives of the people of Kokstad,” Tubane said. Zwane echoed the same sentiments and ensured that Mtolo’s legacy for a better Kokstad will live on. “This  is  bitter-sweet  because we wanted you to ascend but now wen feel the pain… my younger brother,” said Zwane. He said we shall continue to call you asking for your assistance wherever you are...” added Zwane. The Harry Gwala District Municipality's Youth    Manager, Qiniso Mnguni stated that Mtolo is the beacon of hope, not only for KwaZulu-Natal, but the entire country. Mtolo’s parents, Mahleka (father) and Noluyolo Mtolo were also part of the send- off Mtolo conveyed his  words  of gratitude  to  them  and  those  who organised the send-off but expressed that “this time around it is not about them but about the people”. He said they need to be close to communities to fight  challenges  of unemployment,  crime,  poverty  and inequality. He said it would be their responsibility to play an oversight role on municipalities for the betterment of communities. He said he wouldn't be where he is if it wasn’t for his parents.

The Greater Kokstad Municipality Youth Officer, Samkele Nondize chaired the send- off and also conveyed his gratitude to the former Mayor, Mtolo for his support to young people and having  been  there  for  the  people of  Kokstad.  Yet  another  Municipal internal farewell for the Kokstad Mayor is expected to take place during the month end.