Thapelo Molefe
THE African National Congress (ANC) in Johannesburg says plans are afoot to recall Executive Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda and its spokesperson Masilo Serekele said on Wednesday that it was only a matter of days before the city appoints a new mayor.
Serekele said as things stand now, engagements with coalition partners within the metro were currently being completed.
“We have already engaged with Al Jama-ah where Gwamanda comes from, and in principle they have agreed that when the time comes he will vacate the position of mayorship and give space to the ANC to take over the position of mayorship,” Serekele said.
Mayoral Member of Council (MMC) for Finance Dada Morero is expected to replace Gwamanda.
ANC Provincial secretary Thembinkosi Nciza also confirmed that a new mayor was anticipated.
“Investors must have confidence in us, businesses must have confidence in us. We need to make employment. Who is the best person to lead that cohort in making sure we turn Johannesburg around and, now that we all agree, we will be able to do so by the end of next week,” Nciza said.
Last week Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks said Gwamanda was going nowhere, but according to Serekele, that stance has subsequently changed as an agreement has been reached between the two parties.
Serekele said engagements were complex, having to iron out some agreements concerning certain terms and conditions, however the parties are expecting to conclude the negotiations next week.
“As a matter of principle, the ANC will want to conclude this by this week but as you know these matters are not as simple as one could want them to be. We have seen how the negotiations of the GNU were previously, they were back and forth of letters and disagreements until their final agreement. The same approach happens here in Joburg,” Serekele said.
In the past weeks civic organisations and political parties have demanded the removal of Gwamanda as the mayor due to allegations of corruption, poor service delivery and the R200 electricity surcharge levied on Joburg prepaid customers.
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