Johannesburg to Witness Change in Leadership – ANC Paves Way for New Mayor

The city of Johannesburg is on the cusp of a significant political change with the African National Congress (ANC) regional secretary, Sasabona Manganye, announcing that a new mayor will take office by the end of the week. This move comes after a period of talks regarding the resignation of the current mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda.

Manganye, who spoke to Newzroom Afrika, reaffirmed the ANC's belief that it is their prerogative to lead, citing the administration of 86 wards as evidence of their suitability. This announcement comes despite the party's failure to secure an outright majority in the 2021 local government elections.

The prospect of Dada Morero, who has previously served as the city's mayor and is also the chairperson of the Joburg region, resuming the mayoral role is strong. His past election was met with legal challenges, but Manganye suggests Morero is the favored candidate.

The reshuffling of the city's leadership is not only an internal matter for the ANC but also a result of negotiations with ActionSA. Among ActionSA's conditions for cooperation with the ANC in Johannesburg was not only the replacement of Mayor Gwamanda but also the scrapping of a highly controversial electricity surcharge proposal that had sparked public backlash.

Gwamanda, a representative from Al-Jama-ah, initially took the mayoral position as a compromise between the coalition partners that formed the Government of Local Unity (GLU). The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) had opposed an ANC mayor, leading to Gwamanda's appointment which was seen as a move to maintain the balance of power among the coalition members. However, with the new deal between ActionSA and the ANC, Gwamanda's tenure as mayor is now set to come to an end.

If Morero is reinstated, it could signify a return to dominance for the ANC in Johannesburg, which is South Africa’s economic hub. The party's leadership believes that having control over the mayoral office will facilitate better governance and service delivery, which they claim aligns with the best interests of Johannesburg’s residents.

This transition phase in Johannesburg's political landscape highlights the fluid nature of coalition governments and the ongoing negotiations to achieve a cohesive and effective local administration. The citizens of Johannesburg are surely looking forward to understanding how these changes will affect their daily lives and the overall development of the city.