Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday vowed to protect its mayor in Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, as the opposition African National Congress (ANC) seeks to remove him from office.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane will lead a march on Thursday to the Johannesburg City Council in support of the DA-led coalition government.
This comes as the ANC in Johannesburg resolved to move another no-confidence motion against Mashaba and Speaker Vasco da Gama, for alleged financial mismanagement, in the two-day council sitting that began on Wednesday.
ANC Joburg councillors break out in song after their short caucus meeting during the Joburg Council sitting which will see a motion of no confidence in Mayor Herman Mashaba and Speaker Vasco da Gama being voted on Thursday. VIDEO: Siphelele Dludla/ANA
In September, an ANC bid to hold a secret ballot against the pair failed.
Mashaba, a DA councillor, became Mayor of Johannesburg in August last year following a coalition agreement between smaller parties to oust the ANC from power after the local government elections.
ANC Joburg spokesperson Jolidee Matongo speaking on the sidelines of Joburg Council meeting about why the ANC wants to remove Mayor Herman Mashaba from office. VIDEO: Siphelele Dludla/ANA
Mashaba has been on a drive to root out corruption and crime in the City. He has not been shy to remove tainted senior officials at key entities and review some contracts entered into by the City’s former administration under the ANC.
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In a statement, Maimane said that the DA-led coalition government in the City of Johannesburg Metro, under Mashaba, had over the last 18 months made significant progress in delivering on its three broad election commitments of stopping corruption, creating job opportunities and delivering quality services.
"The deliberate interventions by the new government have been so effective that since taking office over one year ago, Mayor Mashaba and his team have achieved what the ANC failed to do in over 20 years," Maimane said.
"Thursday’s motion of no confidence in Mayor Mashaba and Speaker Vasco da Gama is nothing but a ploy by the ANC to regain control of the people of Joburg’s money and reverse the great work of the DA-led administration. The ANC’s priority is not the people, they are focused on looting."
ANC Joburg spokesperson Jolidee Matongo said that they only needed a “simple majority” to oust Mashaba, adding that his party was in talks with other parties in a bid to support the ANC motion.
Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba says he will leave it to the 52% of councillors who voted him into office to decide his fate as the opposition ANC moves with a motion of no confidence against him. "I did not impose myself as the Mayor of Johannesburg. It's not up to the ANC to decide whether I remain in office or not,"Mashaba said. VIDEO: Siphelele Dludla/ANA
Speaking on the sidelines of the council meeting, Matongo said the ANC would table the motion on Wednesday for it to be debated and voted on Thursday as the DA had determined.
Maimane will be joined by DA national spokesperson, Refiloe Nt’sekhe, DA Gauteng provincial chairperson Mike Moriarty and DA Johannesburg regional chairperson Heinrich Volmink at the march.