Yesterday, the ANC in Johannesburg said it was only a matter of days before the city appoints a new mayor, implying that the current mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda from Al Jama-ah Party, would be recalled. This comes after ActionSA and the DA called for his resignation, citing lack of service delivery and corruption. Gwamanda has since come out to say that the two parties thought they were impenetrable in the City of Joburg.

CALLS FOR HIS RESIGNATION

In July, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said his party was willing to work with the ANC in the metro but on condition that Gwamanda is removed as the mayor. The country's economic hub is currently under the ANC-led coalition government. The parties have called for Gwamanda's resignation following allegations of corruption, inadequate service delivery and the controversial R200 electricity surcharge impacting customers.

According to ANC Joburg spokesperson Masilo Serekele, they've put plans in place to replace Kabelo Gwamanda. Serekele confirmed that the party is finalising engagements with coalition partners and has reached an agreement with Al Jama-ah for Gwamanda to vacate his position. "As things stand now, we are finalising engagements with our coalition partners. We have already engaged Al Jama-ah and, in principle, have agreed that when the time comes, Kabelo Gwamanda will vacate the position of mayorship and give space for the African National Congress to take over the position. In terms of the time frames, you will understand that these kinds of engagements are complex. We believe that in the next number of days, we will conclude talks - there is a serious back and forth," Serekele said.

LET THEM COME

Addressing the memorial service of EFF councillor Moshe Mphahlele, Gwamanda hit back at those who have called for him to resign. "They thought they were impenetrable, ActionSA and DA; it's the truth. We fought for the City of Johannesburg to be where it is right now. We fought for the employees in the City of Johannesburg who were purged," he said. The mayor continued: "They call me incompetent because I refused to have tea with their white friends. That makes me incompetent? Let them come.' Gwamanda had said in the past that he would not resign from his mayoral position unless the parties in the ANC-led coalition say so, which is what seems to be happening now. "I'm not saying that I will not be resigning, I'm saying it's a collective decision that will be taken not by the ANC but by the coalition to come to a determination as to whether the assignment that I have been deployed to achieve has been achieved or I failed dismally," the mayor said.

His party has also backed him with its leader, Ganief Hendricks, emphasising that Gwamanda has done a good job, achieving clean audits as proof. "The widespread protest is a political protest; it's not on merit. It's to put the DA and the Zionists back into power, to put the whites back into power. That's why there's a white protest by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse," Hendricks said.