Mayhem over mayor issue
After urgent behind the scene talks and negotiations, former cabinet minister Thoko Didiza has been named as a compromise mayoral candidate for Tshwane.
Mayhem erupted in parts of Tshwane this week over the ANC‘s choice of a mayoral candidate for the local elections.
The city centre, Mamelodi and the west and north of the city resembled a war zone at times.
With at least one death reported, 22 buses were torched and several roads were blocked by burning tyres.
A police vehicle was overturned and trucks and cars were set alight,
The ruling party announced on Monday that incumbent mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa would be ousted by former cabinet minister Thoko Didiza.
Should the ANC retain the Tshwane metro in the 3 August local elections, she would be the new mayor.
The violent reaction to the news came within hours.
In an attempt to control the violence, all police members, even those on rest days, had been called in for duty. A joint operations centre had also been established.
Ramokgopa called for calm on Tuesday and distanced himself from the violence being committed in his name.
But protesters vowed to continue on their destructive path until the ANC reversed the naming of Didiza as mayoral candidate for the capital.
Ramokgopa urged the community, residents and ANC structures to embrace the “unifying” decision to name Didiza.
“The foundation laid (by the ANC) in Tshwane over the past five years will be executed diligently by the new council and executive posts on 3 August,” Ramokgopa said.
He visited several protest hot spots on Tuesday, starting in Atteridgeville, moving to Mamelodi, Hammanskraal and Soshanguve before entering the inner city.
Monday’s announcement by ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe followed weeks of speculation and uncertainty.
The burning question was who would take the ANC in Tshwane metro through the upcoming municipal poll – regarded by experts and observers as the most important one since 1994.
Trouble already started on Sunday as ANC members waited at the Tshwane Convention Centre for news of who would be named as mayoral candidate.
At that stage the choice was between incumbent Ramokgopa or his current number two in the Tshwane council, Mapita Matsena.
An ANC member was shot dead as unknown gunmen opened fire at those waiting at the centre when it became known that Didiza was actually the front-runner.
On Monday morning, announced from Luthuli House in Johannesburg that Didiza Mantashe.
She formerly headed the public works ministry after being minister of agriculture and land affairs.
She is widely seen as a compromise appointment to prevent strife and violence between the factions supporting Ramokgopa and Matsena.
The fact that Ramokgopa was not named as mayoral candidate took many by surprise as he is currently ANC regional leader.
Regional leaders traditionally took the position as mayor but this was the first year that the ANC actually named individual candidates.
Speculation is rife that Ramokgopa was made the scapegoat for divisions in within the ANC and its alliance partners in Tshwane.
On Saturday, the ANC announced all its mayoral candidates except the one for Tshwane.
On Saturday, Mantashe also announced that Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau would return as the party’s candidate.
Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Mzwandile Masina would be the Ekurhuleni candidate. This meant that current mayor Mondli Gungubele would not return.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, current mayor Danny Jordaan would remain the candidate.
In Mangaung, Olly Mlameli would replace current mayor Thabo Manyoni. The Cape Town mayoral candidate was Xolani Sotashe, in eThekwini it was Zandile Gumede with Xola Pakati in Buffalo City
Didiza was born on 2 June 1965 in Durban and holds a BA Hons degree. She is married and has five children.
In 2008, she was one of nine ministers who resigned their positions when former President Thabo Mbeki stepped down as president.
Also read:
Violence forces ANC alliance partners to postpone briefing
Major roads closed as Tshwane burns
Three police officers injured during protest
Man dies after shooting at ANC event
Shop ransacked and man shot in Pretoria west chaos
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