DA councillor Randall Williams has resigned as mayor of Tshwane ahead of an impending motion of no confidence against him.
Williams said he was resigning in order to ensure the stability of the multi-party coalition in Tshwane.
“I do not want the political instability that has taken place in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni to spill over into Tshwane,” Williams said in a statement.
“I resign today because I believe it is in the best interest for continued stability of the coalition in the city. Being executive mayor of the capital city has not been without its difficulties, but I have embraced every challenge that has come my way in the execution of my duties, all of which have allowed my own personal development.”
“I resign today not in frustration, resentment or anger but in peace, knowing that I have been given an incredible opportunity and I have fulfilled my duties to the best of my abilities. When I was first elected executive mayor of Tshwane at the end of October 2020, the city was in an incredibly challenging position. We had just removed the ANC administrators who had mismanaged the city and our country was still in a state of Covid-19 lockdown. Having inherited a R4bn deficit at the time, my immediate goal was to stabilise the city’s finances,” Williams said in the statement.
DA leaders John Steenhuisen and Solly Msimanga thanked Williams for his service.
Steenhuisen thanked Williams for the dedication and commitment to improving the levels of service delivery for all of Tshwane’s residents.
“At times the challenges seemed insurmountable, but he never took his hands off the wheel. That is the embodiment of the DA promise to those who live in metros and municipalities where the DA governs,” said Steenhuisen.
Said Msimanga: “The fact that he is prepared to stand down in order to ensure stability in the Metro speaks volumes of his commitment to the residents as well as the political process.”
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