THE ANC in Johannesburg has slammed mayor Mpho Phalatse’s announcement of a 70% male mayoral committee, saying her appointments undermined gender equality.
Phalatse announced the executive members of her mayoral committee on Monday after a lengthy wait for the council to be set up following the local government elections on November 1, and the results that saw parties forming coalition governments owing to failure to reach majority.
The governing party said it was an indictment on gender equality for the mayor to choose a 70% male mayoral committee in a period where gender equality had been identified as a critical issue across the globe.
“It is indictment, that the first female Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg in a period where gender equality has been elevated as a critical issue across the globe, chooses a 70% male mayoral committee,” said regional secretary Dada Morero on Monday.
“The Executive Mayor must as a matter of urgency review and refocus her agenda on gender.”
Morero said the ANC was concerned about the disregard of the Amended Municipal Structures Act which clearly reviewed powers and functions of the Leader of the Executive Business (LOEB) and the Chief Whip.
“We implore the Executive Mayor to comply with the Amended Municipal Structures Act and call upon the MEC to provide training that will empower the Executive Mayor to understand legislation governing local government,” said Morero.
Morero also slammed the mayor’s appointment of Action SA’s regional leader David Tembe as MMC for Public Safety.
“It is of serious concern to the ANC that firstly, the very Executive Mayor who has a criminal case against her for malfeasance in respect R11.1million awarded to the Field Band NGO together with her accomplice Action SA’s Herman Mashaba has deemed it fit to not only allocate Mayoral positions to them but also allocate the City’s Public Safety Portfolio to a questionable character of a person such as David Tembe as per findings of the Public Protector.”
The regional secretary added that the ANC as the majority party and the main opposition party in Johannesburg will closely observe the appointed leadership to ensure that they are held accountable to deliver efficient and effective services to the people of Johannesburg.
Announcing the new mayoral committee on Monday, Phalatse said “I’m very happy with the team I ended up with.”
She said many of them were known to her and she had previously served with them during her stint as MMC for health.
“I am honoured to lead this team of dynamic MMCs, as we get down to the task of getting things done in the City of Johannesburg. I have no doubt that each member of this multiparty mayoral committee will do everything in their power to ensure the best results for the residents of this great city, in each of their portfolios,” she said.
Phalatse also said it hadn’t been easy for the DA to pull off the 136 seats in the council, as everyone came to the table with their wish-lists, which were informed by their caucuses and a lot of “bargaining and compromising” had to be made.
“A lot of concessions were given by all the parties. I’m really excited that we are finally at this point. At one stage it didn’t look like we would get to this point. It says to me there is hope for South Africa. I believe what we will do with this multiparty government here in Joburg will serve as an example to the rest of the country, as to what is possible under coalition governments. We believe that 2024 (in the general elections) will probably look the same.”
DAs Gauteng provincial leader Solly Msimanga congratulated Phalatse on her mayoral committee.
“While success will not be achieved overnight, we know that Mayor Phalatse and her team are more than capable of turning things around and restoring the shine to the city of gold,” Msimanga said in a statement.
“The DA wishes Mayor Phalatse and her team all the best as they work towards restoring service delivery and getting things done for the residents of Johannesburg.”
The list of the executive mayoral committee is:
Executive mayor: Dr Mpho Phalatse (DA)
Finance: Julie Suddaby (DA)
Group corporate and shared services: Leah Knott (DA)
Transport: Funzela Ngobeni (Action SA)
Development planning: Belinda Echeozonjoku (DA)
Housing: Mlungisi Providence Mabaso (IFP)
Economic development: Nkuli Mbundu (Action SA)
Health and social development: Franco de Lange (FF+)
Community development: Ronald Winston Harris (ACDP)
Environment and infrastructure services: Michael Sun (DA)
Public safety: David Tembe (Action SA)
- Inside Politics
