Joburg Crisis Alliance Demands Executive Mayor Step Down Amid Service Decline

The Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA), a coalition of civil advocacy groups, has publicly demanded the resignation of Johannesburg's Executive Mayor, Councillor Kabelo Gwamanda, following a considerable deterioration in citizen confidence and trust. This bold call arises amidst a notable backslide in the quality of services provided by the city's administration and its various entities, as painstakingly observed by the JCA since its inception in July 2023. Constituent organizations of the JCA, including the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, Action for Accountability, Defend Our Democracy, and the Johannesburg Inner-City Partnership, have expressed severe concerns regarding the state of service delivery in Johannesburg.

Lapses in leadership and poor handling of municipal responsibilities under Mayor Gwamanda's charge include hefty electricity surcharge implementations, disrespectful dismissals of citizen concerns, erratic water supplies leading to public demonstrations, and a shocking assassination of an investigator probing into municipal corruption. Furthermore, the city's admission of a dire budgetary shortfall demanding a R2.5 billion loan from the French development agency underscores the gravity of the fiscal crisis at hand.

Critical and fundamental services ranging from road upkeep, municipal cleanliness, and affordable housing development have notably declined, signaling what the JCA perceives as the virtual collapse of the city's governance apparatus. This has led to the alliance's insistence on the resignation of Mayor Gwamanda and his Mayoral Committee, arguing an absence of the necessary skill set and compassion required to navigate Johannesburg through this thorny governance crisis.

The coalition's demands are unequivocal, including a review of the latest electrical tariffs, cessation of haphazard water and electricity interruptions, decisive actions in battling corruption, and guaranteeing the protection of municipal staff against retaliation for whistleblower activities. Moreover, the JCA calls for genuine and transparent dialogues involving civil society, business sectors, and the workforce in the city's governance moving forward.

The JCA's stance remains apolitical, underscoring that accountability must permeate the city's leadership regardless of political affiliations. The organization remains steadfast in fostering active community involvement for positive transformation within Johannesburg. To galvanize support and propel their demands into public consciousness, the JCA has organized a large-scale demonstration scheduled to convene at the Joburg Metro Centre on Saturday, 27 July 2024 at 10:00am.

With the city at a crucial juncture, the Joburg Crisis Alliance's advocacy lays down a marker in the history of Johannesburg's politics; calling for responsible leadership and a responsive governance structure that prioritizes the needs and well-being of its residents above all else.