DA to approach Gauteng govt to force council sitting to elect new Joburg mayor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Johannesburg City Council has decided to approach the provincial government in a bid to force a sitting to elect the late Mayor Geoff Makhubo’s replacement.

Caucus leader Leah Knott has told the publication that while the party had been sympathetic following Makhubo’s death due to COVID-19 complications last month, it was simply taking too long to select a mayoral candidate.

Knott has raised concerns over the metro, which is the country’s economic hub, being leaderless given that its Cabinet was also dissolved following Makhubo’s death.

She also pointed out that in 2019, when Herman Mashaba, a DA mayor, resigned, the African National Congress (ANC) pushed for the election of the new mayor within a week. The ANC won back control of the metro during that period.

Knott’s comments come as the ANC in Joburg finally settled on three names over the weekend, which now needs its national executive committee’s stamp of approval in order to be fielded as mayoral candidates.

While tragic circumstances led to the City of Joburg being without a mayor, the DA said that ANC factional considerations were taking advantage of the Structures Act, which dictated that the post should be filled when necessary. This was different from picking a mayor after council had been elected where there were set deadlines.

The DA caucus leader said that this was a huge blow and she said that the party had decided to reach out to Cooperative Governance MEC Lebogang Maile over the delay.

“The stage that we’re currently doing is now meeting provinces to get the intervention from the MEC,” she said.

The late mayor’s finance MMC, Jolidee Matongo, is the region’s preferred candidate, but his candidacy still needs the approval of the party’s provincial and national executive committees.

-EWN

In other news – Late Rhythm City actor Dumi Masilela’s mom breaks in court – Confesses she was teacher of men who killed her Son

The process of sentencing the five men convicted of murdering Rhythm City actor Dumi Masilela began on Monday, 2 August.

On Friday, 30 July, Judge Papi Mosopa found Bongani Masombuka, Sfundo Nkosi, Khumbuzo Makhuba, Brian Makhubedu and Mashudu Malema guilty. Masilela was killed during a failed hijacking in 2017. Learn More