The deal between the ANC and EFF is taking shape after two of the latter’s councillors are expected to be sworn in as MMCs in the City of Johannesburg.
The city on Thursday announced the list of members who will form part of newly elected mayor Thapelo Amad’s mayoral council. The EFF and PA will each have two seats in the mayoral committee while the ANC will have four.
The swearing in of MMCs was postponed from Friday to Monday because two of the new MMCs had not yet been sworn in as councillors. They were expected to be sworn in on Friday.
EFF regional chairperson in Johannesburg Sepetlele Raseruthe will head public safety, while his colleague councillor Ennie Makhafola will be sworn in as health and social development MMC.
Aside from the EFF, in a surprising move, Patriotic Alliance Deputy president Kenny Kunene will also feature in the newly reconfigured mayoral committee as roads and transport MMC.
Kunene will be sworn in as a councillor today (Friday). He replaces former PA councillor Ashley Sauls, who has been seconded to the Western Cape.
Speaking to Sowetan, Kunene revealed that Sauls was the PA’s premier candidate in the Western Cape.
“I’m replacing Ashley Sauls as councillor. He’s been deployed to be deputy chair in Western Cape and the premier candidate and mayor in Beaufort West,” Kunene said.
On his new responsibility, Kunene said he never thought he’d be a councillor but added "you go where the party deploys you".
“That’s why I’ve said I’ll donate the salary to the needy but I’m there to serve. The party believes I can do more and had to prepare myself psychologically. People think it’s easy to work in government but it’s a big challenge. I’ve come across bigger challenges and overcame them and I’ll overcome this one as well,” he said.
Kunene was reluctant to speak about the plans he had, asking to be given time to meet with the department’s executive and learn the ropes first.
Prior to the ousting of Mpho Phalatse as mayor of Joburg on Friday and the swearing in of Amad as her replacement, the EFF had not made any moves in the council of 270 seats.
This declaration stalled discussions around which positions parties would take. However, on Thursday afternoon discussions wrapped up.
ANC Joburg chairperson Dada Morero, who briefly wore the mayoral chains before Mpho Phalatse won them back through court action, is set for the MMC for finance position.
Other experienced MMCs returning are Loyiso Masuku, who previously served as MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services and Eunice Mgcina who was MMC of Health and Social Development under the ANC-led coalition.
Below is the list of City of Johannesburg's new MMCs:
- Finance: Dada Morero;
- Group corporate and shared services: Loyiso Masuku;
- Environment and infrastructure services: Jack Sekwaila;
- Public safety: Sepetlele Raseruthe;
- Development planning: Eunice Mgcina;
- Economic development: Nomoya Daphney Mnisi;
- Housing: Anthea Natasha Leitch; and
- Community development: Lubabalo Magwentshu
Meanwhile, in Ekurhuleni, the DA continued to face an uphill battle as it struggles to retain control in the municipality.
During Thursday’s council meeting, council speaker Raymond Dhlamini confirmed the resignations of chief whip Khetha Shandu and ward councillor Pieter Henning.
Prior to resigning, Shandu was facing a motion of no confidence alongside Dhlamini.
ActionSA, who were DA coalition partners for most of the nearly 14 months of the current city government, said on Thursday that the resignation of the two was “indicative of the implosion currently taking place as a result of the DA’s failure to lead coalitions and to address the decline service delivery in Ekurhuleni.”
“We, therefore, ask that executive mayor, Tania Campbell, and her mayoral committee to accept their failure and resign in favour of better leadership within that multi-party coalition,” added the ActionSA media statement.
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