Christopher Nceba Faku

Christopher Nceba Faku was born on 11 February 1956 in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth.

Faku received his education at the Cowan High School and Lovedale College in Alice. He completed his matric in 1978 while serving a thirteen years’ prison term on Robben Island.  

Following his release from prison, Faku was elected as regional organiser of the Eastern Cape African National Congress (ANC) and also held an ANC/South African Communist Party (SACP) local government portfolio. In 1994, Faku was elected chairperson of the Port Elizabeth Transitional Local Council.

After South Africa’s first democratic local elections he was elected as first Black Mayor of the City of Port Elizabeth (now Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality) on 6 November 1995.  As mayor of Port Elizabeth, Faku invited Queen Elizabeth II of Britain whilst she was on her official visit to South Africa.

Faku received several awards and honourary memberships, including the Eastern Cape Communicator of the year 1994, PMR Silver Arrow Award for Most Admired Mayor 1998 and the PMR Golden Arrow Award for Most Effective Mayor 1999. He is a patron of numerous cultural, sporting and community initiatives in the Port Elizabeth area.  

He is currently member of the Eastern Cape Local Government Association.