Instability continues to plague the City of Johannesburg council as coalition governments in Gauteng metropolitan municipalities look set to collapse in the run-up to the 2024 general elections.
This after DA coalition partners in Johannesburg voted with the ANC to oust DA speaker of council Vasco Da Gama during the early hours of Thursday morning.
The motion was sponsored by the Pan Africanist Congress and seconded by the African Independent Congress which previously voted with the DA to install Mpho Phalatse as the mayor of Johannesburg.
The ANC, which is in majority, said Da Gama’s removal is a strong rebuke of what it called bullying and maladministration which it alleged happened under Da Gama.
“As the ANC we have been particularly vocal about councilor Da Gama’s illegal secondment of an unqualifying and unfit individual that he appointed as acting secretary of council in the City of Johannesburg on a month-to-month basis effective from 1 June 2022,” said ANC regional secretary Sasabona Manganye.
“In executing this illegal action, he overlooked qualified, experienced, and African advocates and lawyers who are capable of acting in this position. He instead saw it fit to elevate a questionable official from the City of Cape Town to perform this important function delegated by council.”
The instability in the Joburg council has been exacerbated by the death of former mayors Geoff Makhubo and Jolidee Matongo. It was expected that Phalatse could also face a motion of no confidence soon.
“We believe in the principles of democracy and good governance and congratulate all the parties that supported this motion of no confidence and equally believe that this development heralds the new dawn for the City of Johannesburg,” said Manganye.
Although the 2024 elections will be at the provincial and national level, what happens in metros has a bearing on which party is likely to win the province of Gauteng, which is the most densely populated and has crucial voters.
The ANC fears losing Gauteng in 2024 and the fights among coalition partners can benefit the ruling party.
To read more political news and views, click here.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
