The frenzy around the election of Johannesburg’s first Muslim mayor Thapelo Amad could be shortlived. Amad was backed by the ANC, EFF and other parties in council until the two negotiated a deal for control of South Africa’s commercial hub.
Amad’s election Friday afternoon was the culmination of negotiations between the heavyweight opposition parties. They had banded together to ensure the latest attempt to oust the DA’s Mpho Phalatse materialised.
Sponsored by the ANC and EFF, he had 138 votes in his favour against 81 for Phalatse and 44 for ActionSA’s Funzi Ngobeni. However, Amad is expected to occupy the position until negotiations between the ANC and EFF are concluded in Ekurhuleni.
It is believed the ANC did not field Dada Morero as its mayoral candidate until both parties found a way to regain the Ekurhuleni municipality. They would also have to put a co-governance agreement in place once this happened.
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Ekurhuleni
It turns out matters in Johannesburg do not unfold in isolation, especially with coalition politics. The ANC in Johannesburg on Friday confirmed that once negotiations with the EFF have successfully concluded, it will return for the mayoral position.
The parties’ backing of Amad on Friday was merely an interim solution.
In November 2022, talks between the two parties in the City of Ekurhuleni collapsed when the EFF refused to back an ANC candidate for the mayoral position. They had successfully ousted Tania Campbell through a motion of no confidence, only for her to be re-elected with EFF-backing a week later.
The ANC’s Johannesburg chairperson Dada Morero – who also had a stint as Joburg mayor – confirmed he will contest the mayoral position once the EFF agrees to support him in council.
“I’m still the candidate mayor for the ANC and once the negotiations have been concluded there will be a handover process and the ANC will take Joburg and EFF will take over Ekurhuleni,” he told EWN.
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Well-wishers
Though Al Jama-ah’s control over the city may be short lived, the news of Amad’s election was received warmly by the Muslim community and apprehension by others. Some Twitter users wondered what experience he might have brought, while analysts quickly labelled him an ANC mayor.
However, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said everyone’s views had been taken into account when the ANC endorsed Amad for mayor.
“We are of the view that there must be no one that thinks they are big brothers and others are small brothers. There must be no one that thinks that other views of political parties do not count. We have the strong view that everyone’s view counts and everyone’s view must be respected and everyone’s, we must be listening to their differences,”
Amad, for his part, said partnerships had to be forged as unity was required in order to fix the city.
“Today I humbly request that you all hold my hand as we purposefully unite to address the pressing challenges bedevilling our city. We must accept that as this administration, we will not be able to achieve much if we do not work with broader society. We must foster partnerships and where they exist, we must strengthen them,” he said.
The City of Johannesburg has had at least seven mayors in the last two years. Coalition politics, which have destabilised the city since 2016, has ensured a high turnover of administrations. It has also made public the battle for the soul of the city of gold.
