Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda Resigns: A Political Shakeup in South Africa’s Largest City

Kabelo Gwamanda, Johannesburg’s youngest mayor and a member of Al Jama-ah, has resigned from his position. His resignation, announced amid growing political maneuvers within the ANC and its coalition partners, sets the stage for a new mayoral appointment, likely from the ANC. In a significant development for South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda has officially resigned from his position. Gwamanda, who made history as the youngest mayor of Johannesburg, announced his resignation on Tuesday morning, marking the end of his brief tenure in office. A member of the Al Jama-ah party, Gwamanda was initially a compromise candidate between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), two of South Africa’s major political parties.

Gwamanda’s departure comes at a time of intense political maneuvering in Johannesburg. In his resignation statement, Gwamanda reflected on his time in office, saying, “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.” Despite stepping down from the mayoral office, Gwamanda assured residents that he would continue to serve the people of Johannesburg as a councillor.

The announcement of his resignation precedes a scheduled announcement by the ANC regarding the “reconfiguring of government in the City of Johannesburg.” This announcement, set for 14:00 on Tuesday, is expected to reveal the ANC’s new mayoral candidate. Among the frontrunners is former Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero, who is reportedly one of the three candidates selected by the ANC’s regional executive committee during a meeting on Monday night.

The backdrop to Gwamanda’s resignation involves complex negotiations between various political parties. ActionSA, a key player in Johannesburg’s municipal politics, recently indicated a willingness to collaborate with the ANC on a case-by-case basis if the ANC agreed to certain terms, including the removal of Gwamanda. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba emphasized that the party’s priority was competence in leadership, irrespective of party affiliation. However, he acknowledged that it made sense for the new mayor to come from the party with the most council seats—in this case, the ANC, which holds 91 of the 270 seats.

Gwamanda’s appointment as mayor was originally a compromise solution between the ANC and EFF, who struggled to agree on a suitable candidate to lead the city. Both parties are part of a broader governing coalition in Johannesburg that includes several smaller parties, such as the Patriotic Alliance, African People’s Convention, Cope, and others. The ANC’s alliance with the EFF has been somewhat precarious, and securing ActionSA’s cooperation could provide much-needed stability, not just in Johannesburg but also in other key Gauteng metros.

The timing of Gwamanda’s resignation is also notable, as it will become effective “from a date to be determined by the speaker,” according to Margaret Arnolds from the African Independent Congress (AIC). The AIC is one of the smaller parties within the governing coalition, and ActionSA’s demands also include replacing the current council speaker with a representative from ActionSA. Reports indicate that the ANC has agreed to this condition, signaling further changes in Johannesburg’s political landscape.

As the city awaits the appointment of a new mayor, all eyes will be on the ANC and its coalition partners to see how they navigate this latest political challenge. The outcome will not only shape the future of Johannesburg but could also influence broader political dynamics across South Africa’s Gauteng province.