The City of Johannesburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda says ActionSA is trying to damage his reputation by claiming that he is responsible for the city's poor service delivery.

HE WON'T BE TOLD BY ACTIONSA

Gwamanda, despite many calls for his resignation, insists that he will not resign from his mayoral position unless the parties in the African National Congress (ANC)-led coalition say so. "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.

BASELESS CALLS

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) are in support of those calling for Gwamanda's resignation, suggesting that there's been little to no service delivery and a financial crisis in the city. "I'm not the only mayor who has challenges; it's just that I'm the only one that they feel should take the responsibility and blame for it, which, in my view, is hypocritical. The calls to my removal are baseless, in my view. I can without a fear of contradiction say it's a clarion call from those that have united against a black child to send a strong message to stay in your place or suffer the consequences." In a press briefing earlier in the week, ActionSA announced its intention to join forces with the ANC in the metro, but one of its conditions was if Gwamanda is removed as mayor. Gwamanda was elected to the position in May 2023 through the backing of the ANC, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and minority parties.