ANC councillors now hold half of the 10-member mayoral committee positions announced by the City of Joburg’s new executive mayor Thapelo Amad.
The new committee members are to be sworn in later this week.
They have been appointed in portfolios crucial to the core stability of SA’s largest and richest metro.
Al Jama-ah’s Amad, who was elected as the city’s mayor in January after the DA’s Mpho Phalatse was ousted through a no-confidence vote, included no DA councillors in the mayoral committee.
Political analysts say Amad’s hands were tied regarding the composition of his mayoral cabinet and that this arrangement is as a preview of what is likely to happen after the provincial and national elections in 2024 should there be a need for a coalition government.
Political analyst Levy Ndou, an expert in coalitions, said Amad’s mayoral committee was not surprising as councillors from the ANC held 91 seats in the 270-seat Joburg council.
The DA holds 71 seats, followed by ActionSA with 44 and the EFF with 29.
“If you want stability you will have to give the ANC more positions. But it’s also not by choice. He has to appoint people who supported him,” Ndou said.
“Every party wants power, the ANC supported him to become mayor, he must pay back. He has no choice, unfortunately. It’s a matter of you scratch my back, I scratch yours.”
Amad appointed ANC caucus leader Dada Morero as the city’s new finance MMC. The other ANC councillors appointed to the mayoral committee include Loyiso Masuku (group corporate and shared services), Jack Sekwaila (environment and infrastructure services), Eunice Mgcina (development planning), and Nomoya Daphney Mnisi (economic development).
The public safety portfolio went to EFF Johannesburg chair and caucus leader Sepetlele Raseruthe, while the health and social development portfolio will be headed by his fellow councillor Ennie Makhafola.
The transport and housing portfolios will be headed by Patriotic Alliance councillors Kenny Kunene and Anthea Leitch, respectively. ATM councillor Lubabalo Magwentshu was appointed community development MMC.
Stellenbosch University political analyst Amanda Gouws said: “I think we need to take a lesson from this. If we have coalitions in 2024 after elections, it’s going to go the same way where we have these under-the-table deals [which] most likely are not to the benefit of citizens.”
The mayoral committee has to address pressing service delivery challenges affecting Joburg’s 6-million residents. These include a cash flow crisis, ageing infrastructure, water leaks, an energy crisis, potholes, hijacked buildings and mushrooming of informal settlements.
Amad reached out to the metro’s bureaucrats to work with the government of local unity in a “cohesive and integrated manner”.
“We must work together for and with our residents. We further urge senior management to instil professionalism and increase productivity that is performance driven ... Our city has lost a lot of time due to indecisive leadership over the past few months. It is time for us as the government of local unity to get back to the basics and serve our residents,” Amad said.
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