NEWLY appointed Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Zanoxolo Wayile wants to be addressed as the agent for social change in Mandela Bay rather than the mayor of the city.

Wayile, 45, husband of Fezeka and father of Thembani, 25, Ncumisa, 24, and Thimna, 9, joined the National Union of Metal Workers of SA (Numsa) in 1988 while working as a machine operator at Continental Tyres.

He became a Numsa shop steward in 1995 before replacing Irvin Jim as general secretary of the union late last year.

The Herald team met him yesterday at the Numsa office where he served his last day as general secretary.

“It is sad to leave this office. I’ve been a union member for almost 21 years and I never dreamt of being in Parliament or being mayor,” said Wayile, whose family comes from Glenmore, near Grahamstown. His mother and father are still alive and have moved to Veeplaas.

After matric he had no opportunity to study further, but with the union’s aid he was able do some short courses to upgrade his skills when he became a shop steward. “I have a big family and they have mixed feelings about my new appointment. There are those who are proud of my deployment and there are those who have a deep knowledge of what is happening in the country politically and are worried about what might happen to me in the future.

“But I will have to brief everyone about my responsibilities so that when I face the turbulent times I have their support,” he said.

Wayile, who is sometimes referred to as the unelected mayor of Glenmore because of his active involvement in trying to develop the area, said seeing people suffering had been his source of inspiration in trying to make things better.

During his term as mayor, he said he would address the social problems left by the apartheid era. He said 15 years into democracy was not enough for the ANC to have created a city free from its colonial and apartheid legacy.

“The task now is to build a non- racial society in Mandela Bay.

“We must build houses that can accommodate everyone in all areas regardless of their race.”

Wayile, whose eldest child, Thembani, was retrenched from Volkswagen last year, said he would also address the issues of unemployment and equality.

A former soccer and rugby player, boxer and cricketer, Wayile said he would continue with his involvement with his local soccer club Peace Lovers as he loved developing new soccer talent.

He is also a co-founder of Nkqubela community radio station which broadcasts in Zwide.