The City of Johannesburg has had over five mayors since 2021.
The Johannesburg City Council is expected to elect its 11th mayor in eight years today. Picture: Neil McCartney / The Citizen
The DA in the City of Johannesburg is expected to call for fresh elections in the city.
On Friday, the Johannesburg council will vote for a new mayor following the resignation of Kabelo Gwamanda who lasted over a year in the position.
A new opportunity for residents to vote
DA caucus leader in Johannesburg Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said dissolving council and holding fresh elections would give the residents of the city another chance to vote for a competent government.
“As the Johannesburg City Council meets today to elect its 11th mayor in 8 years, the DA will once again call for the dissolution of the council and a new election to enable voters to make a fresh start for South Africa’s beleaguered financial capital,” said Kayser-Echeozonjoku.
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While questions swirl around whether the DA will vote in Friday’s council sitting, Kayser-Echeozonjoku told The Citizen “you will unfortunately have to watch council to see what happens”.
Revolving door of mayors
Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the revolving door of mayors in the City of Johannesburg would not solve the current service delivery issues.
“Given the merry-go-round of mayors, who have tried and failed to hold together Johannesburg’s unwieldy and ungovernable coalitions, it is time to recognise that the 2021 local election delivered such a fragmented result, that it has proved almost impossible to put together a workable government,” she said.
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There have been over five mayors in the City of Johannesburg since the 2021 local government elections.
Dysfunctional coalitions
Kayser-Echeozonjoku described the coalitions that have been formed since the last local government elections as being dysfunctional, leading to a number of problems.
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“When this kind of impasse arises in other democracies, a solution is often found in giving voters the chance to rectify the situation in a new election,” she said.
The DA believes the same must now happen in Johannesburg, to stop the city’s further unravelling.
It was offered a chance to be a part of a new government in the City of Johannesburg but it declined.
The new coalition arrangement is expected to include the ANC, ActionSA, Inkatha Freedom Party, Patriotic Alliance and some smaller parties.
