South African Mayor Named Among TIME Magazine’s 100 Next List
In a noteworthy development, Christopher Pappas, the mayor of the DA-run uMngeni Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has earned a spot on TIME magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 most influential individuals worldwide. This recognition comes as part of the TIME100 Next list, which highlights emerging leaders from various corners of the globe.
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A Remarkable Turnaround
Pappas gained national attention following his election as mayor of uMngeni during the 2021 local government elections. Widely popular, he is credited with orchestrating a remarkable turnaround for the municipality. His accomplishments include successfully addressing debt issues and enhancing public services.
What sets Pappas apart is his proficiency in IsiZulu and his exceptional ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. Notably, he is now being considered as the Democratic Alliance’s potential premier candidate in KwaZulu-Natal for the 2024 general election.
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Why South African Mayor Was Recognised By TIME Magazine
Expressing his pride, Pappas took to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday to acknowledge his inclusion in the 2023 TIME100 Next list.
TIME magazine’s website reports that since assuming office as uMngeni’s mayor, Pappas has achieved a significant milestone: balancing the municipality’s budget for the first time in over a decade. Furthermore, he facilitated the addition of 175 new homes to the electricity grid, a remarkable feat.
TIME magazine highlights Pappas’s exceptional journey, noting:
“It’s an impressive track record made possible by penny-pinching measures like a reduction in hiring. His election itself was an unusual feat, in part because he’s a white, gay, Zulu-speaking politician, in a municipality that is three-quarters black in a country where most people vote along racial lines. But Pappas crossed those divides to speak to people in their own language, and won votes by emphasising small but attainable improvements to daily life and municipal services above standard political loyalty.”
In an interview with TIME, Pappas describes himself as an “administrative politician” and underscores the importance of politicians who can effectively implement policies. He states,
“There is a need to have more administrative politicians, people who are not so focused on giving quality speeches, but are more focused on the outcomes of the policy implementation.”