By Nangamso Mabindla
2 October 2006

IMPROVING customer services, instilling organisational values and bringing in investment are just some of the areas Buffalo City's new municipal manager, Gaster Sharpley, wants to focus on during his five-year term.

The 36-year-old was named the City's new boss last week at a council meeting. Talking about his appointment, Sharpley, who was the chief executive of the Buffalo City Development Agency (BCDA), said he was humbled by the fact that so many people had confidence in his abilities.

"I think that I'm blessed and humbled because Buffalo City is not a small municipality; being the municipal manager is a big responsibility," he says. "But I'm also happy that there is a good team in place and that it is a well-run municipality. I'm only here to ensure that the good things that are there continue, [but] also make changes where necessary."

Sharpley has extensive experience in local government and the private sector. He has also written three books. My Small Business is a guide for small business owners based on his own experiences; Yesterday is a story of the struggle in Wentworth, in Durban; and a third book deals with marriage.

Sporting a BCDA shirt, Sharpley talks about the differences in responsibility between the agency and the municipality. "With the agency I was starting something new with a small staff complement. I had the very big responsibility of changing the face of the city from the beachfront up to areas like Dimbaza."

However, turning to the municipality Sharpley feels that with a budget of more than R2-billion most of the things are already in place and it is all about managing. "I would like to increase money spent on infrastructure so that I achieve my three main goals, namely improved customer service; organisational values, meaning that I would like staff to take pride in the city; and, of main importance, bring investment to the city."

Another area Sharpley sees as important is the relationship between councillors and officials. "I think we need to be sensitive to the needs of the councillors. They are closest to the people we serve and I feel we need to respect them and work closely with them."

The first thing Sharpley will do when he takes the reins as the City's boss in November, will be to introduce himself to staff members. "I think it's important that I introduce myself to staff; and with this I hope to encourage an open-door policy to my office," he says, adding, "but within reason."

Asked about the legacy he wants to leave when his term ends, Sharpley says that it is not about the individual but about the people he serves. "I would like to fulfill the mayor and council's vision because the municipality is not a one-man show. But the legacy I want to leave is a City that has a happy staff working for it and, of course, an improved perception of the City in the public's eye."