City of Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda has resigned from his position. In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Gwamanda confirmed that he had submitted his resignation to the council speaker.
Story Summary:
- Gwamanda steps down as mayor of Johannesburg.
- He will continue to serve as a city councillor.
- The ANC is expected to announce his successor later today.
Kabelo Gwamanda resigns as Joburg mayor
Gwamanda, who was the youngest mayor of Johannesburg, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the city.
He highlighted his efforts to stabilise the city’s finances and administration after the collapse of the multiparty coalition government.
“As the youngest mayor of Johannesburg, I am humbled by the opportunity to have led this City and to have stabilised it financially and administratively following the collapse of the multiparty coalition government,” he said.
Despite stepping down, Gwamanda stated that he would “continue to serve the people of Johannesburg as a councillor.”
Who will replace him? – Here’s what you must know
The African National Congress (ANC) is set to announce the next mayor of Johannesburg later today.
Gwamanda’s resignation comes just before the ANC’s scheduled announcement on the “reconfiguring of government in the City of Johannesburg,” which will take place at 14:00.
Gwamanda’s appointment as mayor was a result of a compromise between the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), both of which are part of a governing coalition that includes several other parties.
The new mayor is expected to be chosen from within the ANC.
The governing coalition in Johannesburg includes the Patriotic Alliance, African People’s Convention, Cope, African Heart Congress, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Good Party, African Independent Congress (AIC), and, more recently, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
Gwamanda’s tenure as mayor, like his predecessor Thapelo Amad, was relatively short.
He was seen as a compromise candidate in a city plagued by political instability and frequent changes in leadership.
The ANC’s announcement will provide clarity on who will take over the role and the direction the city’s leadership will take in the coming months.