NELSON MANDELA Metro executive mayor Nceba Faku has been adjudged South Africa’s best mayor – an honour he shares with Durban mayor Obed Mlaba. The award, which was presented by the Top 300, publishing group. It is the second “top mayor” award for Faku. In August 2001, the magazine PMR announced that he had been identified as the country’s leading mayor in a survey of 62 leading government officials and 81 business executives. Top 300 has also given the Nelson Mandela Metro the award of “Municipality of the Year 2002”. The awards were presented by Veronica Dean of Top 300. Outlining the criteria used in judging both awards, Dean said her organisation looked at an institution’s structures, its achievements – such as housing delivery, cleanliness, promotion of small businesses – and security. Faku said the awards were a challenge to the metro to sustain the recognition. Asked what his secret was in achieving the award for two consecutive years, Faku attributed this to teamwork and dedication. He said his council had braved bad publicity and other problems like internal political wrangling but those at the helm remained focused. “The ability of one’s team to focus on the agenda at hand makes one win. You cannot succeed if you are not criticised and not united. You must have a vision and priorities and must not be distracted from your focus. Work as a team, complementing one another,” he said. Deputy mayor Biks Ndoni said the achievements of the metro included: Having the best district health system in the country (March, 2002); Being the metro with the best housing practices; being the metro with one of the best beaches in the world – the Humewood beach has achieved Blue Flag status; and being voted the cleanest metro in the country.