DA concerned about stability in Joburg following Gwamanda's exit
Meanwhile, the ANC has nominated Dada Morero to take over the reins at an extraordinary council meeting on Friday.
FILE: Former Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda. Picture: X/KabeloGwamanda
JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg says it's concerned about stability in the city, following mayor Kabelo Gwamanda's resignation.
The Al Jama-ah councillor tendered his resignation to Speaker Magaret Arnorldon on Tuesday.
Gwamanda has been at the helm of the Joburg metro since his election in May 2023.
His resignation follows negotiations between the African National Congress (ANC) and several other political formations.
READ: Kabelo Gwamanda resigns as City of Joburg mayor
DA Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the chopping and changing of mayors has a negative effect on service delivery.
"Service delivery has not been up to standard; it has been collapsing. This merry-go-round of mayors is a challenge for us, because we don't know whoever becomes mayor. Is that mayor going to be there until 2026 or we're going to have another mayor stepping down in a few months?" Kayser-Echeozonjoku wondered.
Meanwhile, the ANC has nominated Dada Morero to take over the reins at an extraordinary council meeting on Friday.
At the same time, the ANC in Gauteng has welcomed the resignation of Gwamanda.
As part of political talks and coalition agreements – the party says the time has come for Joburg to be under new leadership
Gwamand’s party - Al Jamah-ah wanted him to remain in power until at least the end of the year
The ANC in Gauteng, however, wants Morero to take over the reins.
ANC provincial secretary TK Nciza says Morero has always been their preferred candidate from as far back as 2022 - when the court's set aside his election.
"There were some technicalities in one of our regions, specifically in Ekhurhuleni which necessitated that we must look for a different candidate outside of the ANC so that we can assure those party's we are working with in making sure we stabilise our metros so that there can be some trust amongst ourselves."
Nciza has thanked Gwamanda for the work he has done as mayor for more than a year.
"Of course he was not working alone, he was working with a team. But he always knew that the African national Congress within its framework, even when we agreed with him that he should be the mayor, that he will be a caretaker Mayor, and we did inform him."