Kabelo Gwamanda of Al Jama-ah is Joburg’s new mayor

Al Jama-ah councillor Kabelo Gwamanda has been elected to serve as Johannesburg’s new mayor.

Gwamanda was voted into power with a whopping 139 votes, while the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Mpho Phalatse and ActionSA’s Funzi Ngobeni received 68 and 59 votes respectively.

After nearly two weeks of Johannesburg being without a mayor, a councillor from a minority party has once again been elected to lead the country’s economic hub.

Gwamanda’s rise to leadership follows the resignation of fellow party member Thapelo Amad, who left office ahead a vote of no confidence last week.

He was elected into the position by the backing of the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the Patriotic Alliance, and other minority parties.

While Gwamanda’s win is a victory to his political party, his predecessor from the same party received much criticism during his tenure.

But the ANC said it believed Gwamanda was more than capable to hold the top office of a city that operates on a R70 billion budget.

The new mayor is set to be inaugurated next week, with his mayoral committee expected be announced thereafter.

-EWN

In other news – Zoleka Mandela prepares for her funeral

South African author and activist Zoleka Mandela is celebrating finally finishing radiation treatment therapy for her brain.

The mum of six who has terminal cancer has been sharing updates about her journey as her cancer returned for the third time. Zoleka survived breast cancer twice and was diagnosed with stage three bones, lung and liver cancer. She was also recently diagnosed with brain cancer. Learn More