Michael Sutcliffe

Izimvo proudly introduces the man behind the city, Mike Sutcliffe; eThekwini City Manager.

Dr Sutcliffe grew up in Amanzimtoti, part of a large, conservative family, with six siblings, raised by a stay-at-home mother and an accountant father. In 1978, Dr Sutcliffe moved to the United States with his wife, Felicity, in order to complete his PhD in Geography at Ohio State University. He and Felicity returned to Durban in 1982 where he has worked hard to build a formidable reputation as an academic and activist.

In 1994, Mike Sutcliffe was elected as an ANC member of the provincial legislature and has since held a chair on the Local Government Portfolio Committee. He has been Chairperson of the Municipal Demarcation Board since 1999 and is credited as an associate professor at the University of Natal.

Newsletter: http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/government/media/cmn
Location: Durban

Dr Sutcliffe was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Michael Sutcliffe, 54 years, City manager: eThekwini, striving to get advantaged South Africans to chill out and realise that they are actually Africans in love with Durban, Africa.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I don’t like pompous idiots. Loved Bolero, the movie.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Watching game, reading, thinking.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you like it to be?

A: Addington Beach, Durban.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property

Durban

Q: Can you give us an insight to what the average day is like as the Durban City Manager?

A: Up around 5:30 a.m, walk a few times a week along the beachfront, City Hall around 6:45; meetings, talks, discussions until 7pm, home and either cook dinner or go out with Felicity, watch TV, do eMails, listen to music (from Eminem to Janis Joplin to Chopin), watch DVDs (love the latest Leonard Cohen one) friends pop over, get to bed between 12 midnight and 1am

Q: What are the greatest challenges facing Durban today?

A: Getting those who have (education, jobs, money) to own their city and work with us to address the challenges of poverty, unemployment and AIDs.

Q: What can the average Durban resident do to improve the city?

A: Start by saying I want to be part of the solution, clean your mind, empathise with those who are poor, do anything (small acts of kindness to larger acts of development) to make a difference, keep talking up our city, country and continent.

Q: What are your predictions for tomorrow’s municipalities?

A: 10 years ago over two-thirds of our country did not have a municipality and had poor sanitation, housing, electricity and water. Today we have reduced these basic levels of underdevelopment so that over 50% of our people have better housing, water and sanitation. But now we need also to focus on citizenship, building a non-racial, non-sexist, united and democratic South Africa.

Q: What are the must-see attractions in or around Durban for visitors to the Fifa World Cup?

A: uShaka, Harbour, Moses Mabhida stadium, Inanda heritage trail (Gandhi settlement, Ohlange where the ANC was born and Nelson Mandela voted in 1994), beaches, Valley of 1000 Hills, Inanda/Clermont/Umlazi, Florida Road, davenport and other nightlife areas.

Q: Can you tell us about some of the projects that are as a direct result of the Fifa World Cup?

A: (i) The Moses Mabhida stadium and its precinct – we have built the only stadium in Africa which can host a Commonwealth games or Olympics,

(ii) Public Transport – starting to get an integrated system in place with 3 hubs and then an Inner City Distribution System,

(iii) Infrastructure – stadia, roads, beautification projects, etc.,

(iv) ICT – rolling out fibre throughout the city,

(iv) Beachfront upgrades,

(v) Eventing strategy

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Yes. No, has not changed the way we live, in fact made us realise that the more we surround ourselves with security technology the more unsafe we feel.

Q: What would you say to South African’s considering emigration?

A: If you’re stuffy and stuck up, please go. If you are unsure of the future, talk to us and please stay.

Q: If you could change anything about South Africa by waving a magic wand, what would it be?

A: The mindsets of those who have education, jobs, houses and security – simply asking them to stop whinging and whining and to become part of the solution.

Q: To which three attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: Central Beaches (the most non-racial place in our country), uShaka (one of the greatest Marine Parks in the world), Gandhi settlement and Dr. Dube’s grave.

General

Q: If you could invite any three South African’s from any era to a dinner party, who would you invite and what would you serve?

A: Albertina Sisulu – how did she remain so lovely having lived through such hardship; Beyers Naude to thank him for what he was and did for us, and Brenda Fassie so we can finish the conversation and drinks we had one day on a flight from Johannesburg, just before she died. I would serve a garden salad, my oxtail potje and baked cheese cake for dessert, with lots of good red wine.

Q: Favorite South African brand?

A: (i) ANC and Nelson Mandela, (ii) our wonderful people, (iii) great leisure opportunities.

Q: Where would you like to wake up tomorrow?

A: Durban.

Q: If you had to pick one South African as a mentor, who would it be and why?

A: Oliver Tambo – he led us through the toughest of times but kept his dignity and made sure our African humanity won out.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: Passionate people who live their dreams, committed people who know this is their place and loving people who like chilling out

We’d like to thank Dr Sutcliffe for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him every success for the future.

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