Riyaz Patel
Geoff Makhubo has been elected the new Mayor of Johannesburg, fending off the challenges of Funzela Ngobeni of the DA and the EFF’s Musa Novela.
Makhubo polled 137 votes, Ngobeni got 101 votes and Novela 30 votes.
Wednesday sitting of the Johannesburg City Council was the second attempt to vote someone into the City’s top post following the resignation of the DA’s Herman Mashaba last month.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Makhubo said he wanted to improve the experience of Johannesburg citizens.
“Robots must be working, taps filled, grass must be cut, as you walk into Johannesburg there must be cleanliness. That’s the focus on my first 100 days. It’s the look and feel of Johannesburg. There will be other transformation programmes that must be introduced,” some of these, he conceded, will be a continuation of Mashaba’s projects.
Last week’s initial vote was delayed when DA Speaker Vasco da Gama stated that legal opinion was needed on what constitutes a majority and by extension a winning margin.
To add to the drama, there’s been indications that two DA councillors voted for the ANC. It’s thought that the also IFP voted for Makhobo.
https://twitter.com/MbuyiseniNdlozi/status/1202235736315121665
The DA’s Mike Moriarty said his party is “disappointed” that somebody who is “thoroughly compromised with allegations of corruption” was voted into office.
He added that the ANC is “mired in corruption and incapable of self correcting,” describing Makhubo’s election victory as a “sad day for South Africa.”
The EFF’s Floyd Shivambu said: “We note the outcome of this process and we will continue to play our role as a robust opposition.”
Reactions from netizens were swift and varied.
