Buckle up because the saga of the Johannesburg mayoral merry-go-round is hitting a new high (or low, depending on your perspective). It seems like every week we’re asking, “Who’s the new mayor?” This time, the ANC has confirmed that a new mayor will be stepping into office by the end of the week. This comes amidst swirling controversies and heated debates about the current occupant, Kabelo Gwamanda.
The Gwamanda chronicles
Al Jama-ah’s Kabelo Gwamanda came into office on 5 May 2023, making him the sixth mayor of Joburg in less than 22 months. Despite Al Jama-ah only having 3 seats in the municipal council, Gwamanda received the backing of the ANC, EFF and minority parties putting him in the top spot, above ActionSA’s Funzi Ngobeni and DA member and former Joburg mayor, Mpho Phalatse.
Gwamanda’s tenure has been a rollercoaster of corruption allegations, service delivery woes, and a controversial R200 electricity surcharge. With various civic organisations and political parties calling for his departure, the pressure has been mounting. ANC Gauteng secretary-general Thembinkosi Nciza weighed in, noting, “Investors must have confidence in us, businesses must have confidence in us. We need to make employment. Who is the best person to lead that cohort in making sure we turn Johannesburg around?”
Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks has been a thorn in the side of this political shuffle, suggesting Gwamanda should remain until Christmas. Hendricks argues, “Our doors are open for the ANC,” and seems to prefer keeping Gwamanda in place rather than risking the unknown with a new candidate. Al Jama-ah’s concern about removing Gwamanda is rooted in the instability it could bring to the city’s already shaky governance.
Potential contenders and the drama
Amid the chaos, rumours have been circulating that Finance MMC Dada Morero could replace Gwamanda. Morero has previously held the mayoral position in 2022, lasting only 25 days.Now that’s what we call a cameo!
The battle for mayor is not just a battle of words. There’s also a report on alleged financial misconduct by municipal officials, which has further complicated the scene. MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services, Loyiso Masuku, welcomed the report, citing it as evidence of a government dedicated to unravelling corruption. She assured, “The city we are building is a city that is entirely focused on serving residents and totally intolerant of corruption and malfeasance.” Masuku’s name has also been thrown in the hat to potentially take up the role of mayor, so stay tuned.
A revolving door of leadership
Joburg has seen more mayors in recent years than most cities see in a decade. Johannesburg has seen a revolving door of mayors, with the city’s leadership seeming to constantly shift. Under a coalition government that includes the ANC, EFF, and Al Jama-ah, Gwamanda’s rise to mayor was a compromise from the start. The political landscape has been anything but stable, with different parties pushing their own agendas and vying for control.
As ANC national executive committee member Parks Tau put it, “We have made a deliberate decision … to make sure that the coalition’s task team is able to help resolve the problems that we have there and stabilise the situation in Johannesburg.” But, of course, stabilising Johannesburg is no easy feat with the constant political manoeuvres.
The big players and their plans
Kabelo Gwamanda’s days as mayor of Johannesburg are numbered. He is expected to resign this week, paving the way for a special council meeting next week. The ANC in Johannesburg is scrambling to negotiate with other parties to form a government of local unity (GLU) and stave off ActionSA’s demand to appoint its member as speaker.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear that the ANC’s focus is on municipalities, with Johannesburg being a top priority. During the ANC national executive committee meeting last week, Ramaphosa blamed the party’s electoral losses on the instability, dysfunction, and poor performance of metros, including Johannesburg.
“During this month, the national task team on coalitions will be engaging, starting in Johannesburg, and it will help to restore, rebuild, and renew structures so we are able to better serve our people,” Ramaphosa said. He is reportedly backing Morero’s bid for the mayoral seat, which is expected to receive the nod from party officials on Monday. However, regional deputy secretary Loyiso Masuku, supported by ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane, is also a contender.
Of course, in true Joburg fashion, this potential appointment isn’t without its own drama. Herman Mashaba, the ActionSA leader, is adamant that Gwamanda has to go. He’s also laid down some conditions for his party’s support, including securing speaker positions in both Johannesburg and Tshwane.
Handing the speaker position to ActionSA, led by Herman Mashaba, so close to the 2026 local government elections is seen as a gamble. Mashaba’s popularity was evident in 2021 when ActionSA gained 44 seats in council, becoming the third-largest party after the DA. ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said, “There are no other options we are willing to consider. The speaker position is vital. We need to ensure we control the investigative function of councillors and accountability in the council where this empty suit of a mayor has gone.”
The ANC hopes to gain EFF support when voting for a new mayor, which would help counter ActionSA’s speaker position demand. EFF City of Joburg councillor and caucus leader Sepetlele Raseruthe noted that negotiations with the ANC have not yet begun. “Only after negotiations will all questions be answered,” he said.
The ANC has considered including the FF Plus in its GLU but has yet to hold a meeting with the party. On 1 August, the ANC formed a coalition with FF Plus in the Oudtshoorn municipality, ousting the DA from government. “If they want to accept the three-seat FF Plus and think they don’t need the 44-seat ActionSA, I would suggest mathematically they are having a problem,” said Beaumont
As Gwamanda prepares to possibly take his final bow, the city remains on edge. Will a new mayor bring the stability Johannesburg craves, or will it merely be another chapter in a never-ending political saga?
