Brink is believed to be closely associated with the EFF, which has been a concern for some ANC councillors.
The Johannesburg city council on Thursday approved the appointment of Floyd Brink as city manager.
This comes after months of delays in filling the position.
Brink is not new to the role; he has served as city manager before.
Last year, the Johannesburg High Court found that his appointment was irregular. It ordered him to step down from the role.
He was then interviewed again by a panel, along with other candidates, and received the highest score.
Brink is an experienced public servant. His first task since his return will be to help the city deliver a successful G20.
He also walks into the role as the city struggles with several issues, including water and electricity shortages, dysfunctional roads and a growing number of informal settlements in the metro.
Appointment delayed
Last week, the ANC withdrew a report recommending Brink’s appointment to the council. The party told The Citizen that this was due to minor details that needed to be addressed, but The Citizen understands that a faction in the ANC had reservations about Brink’s appointment.
On Thursday, the ANC endorsed Brink’s appointment.
“We rise in support of Floyd Warren Brink as a city manager. He is not a stranger to this institution, and he has already carried its weight, leading this administration as a chief operations officer, acting city manager, and city manager, with a record of holding the centre together when the politics were noisy and the work had to be stabilised.
“He is a doctor and a seasoned public servant with more than two decades [of experience] in government, including more than 16 years as a senior manager,” said the ANC’s Sihle Nguse.
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Praise
The EFF’s Mgcini Tshwaku also expressed confidence in Brink’s ability to steer the city in the right direction.
“Dr Brink, you have already demonstrated in the most challenging circumstances that leadership is defined not by politics but by commitment to the people, performance and principle. You have navigated this city through adversity with calm, clarity and courage,” he said.
The PA’s Kenny Kunene criticised the DA for going to court to have Brink removed as city manager in the past.
“Madam speaker, even those who did not want him before could not resist but to score him high; they scored him to be number two, and when number one fell off, they decided to frustrate and sought to destroy him,” he claimed.
DA abstains
The DA abstained from the process of approving Brink as the city manager.
Questioned on their decision, DA caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the party did not want to get involved in the internal battles of the ANC.
“The DA Johannesburg caucus is not a branch of the ANC and will not be drawn into its internal factional battles. We do not take instructions from Luthuli House.
“Our decision to abstain was deliberate and based on principle. The DA makes evidence-based decisions in the best interests of Johannesburg residents, not ANC factions.”
ANC factions
The Citizen understands that a camp led by Loyiso Masuku was in favour of this appointment, while the mayor’s faction was not.
National leaders of the party had to be called in to resolve the matter, but The Citizen understands that even they were divided on the issue, with Paul Mashatile and Fikile Mbalula in opposing camps.
The ANC was under pressure to appoint Brink after the EFF threatened to support a motion of no confidence in Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi. The motion is being brought by the DA in Gauteng.
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