THE race for a successor to outgoing Executive Mayor Solly Msimanga is already in full swing within the DA ranks.
On the other hand, both the ANC and EFF have not yet declared the manner in which they will approach the succession race.
On Friday, Msimanga announced his resignation with effect from February to focus on his campaign as DA candidate for Gauteng premier in the May general elections.
DA Gauteng chairperson Mike Moriarty told the Pretoria News his party had already called for its members to apply for mayoral candidacy. “The DA has a prescribed process, which involves a call for nominations of applicants, which has already been concluded,” he said.
“The next step will be to allow applicants to go through a selection panel for interviews. The panel will then make recommendations to the party’s federal executive on the successful nominee to be fielded as mayoral candidate during a council sitting.”
Moriarty also dismissed yesterday’s newspaper report indicating that Msimanga was pushed out of Tshwane House. Council speaker Katlego Mathebe is expected to convene the ordinary council sitting for January on Thursday when the council will deal with the matter of Msimanga’s resignation.
Political parties will be allowed to put forward their candidates to be voted (for) by the 214 councillors through secret ballots under the watch of the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
A few names of Msimanga’s possible replacement have already been doing the rounds, among them DA regional chairperson Abel Tau. Mathebe’s name also came up.
Others within the Tshwane political circles have mentioned the MMC for Human Settlements Mandla Nkomo as the likely mayoral candidate. The EFF - kingmaker in council with 25 seats - is believed to have a soft spot for Nkomo.
The DA has 93 seats and the ANC has 89. The rest of the seats are occupied by PAC, Cope, ACDP and FF Plus, which have a coalition agreement with the DA.
ANC regional chairperson Dr Kgosi Maepa said the party had not yet sat down to consider its stance towards the succession race. “We are in the consultation process with both the provincial executive committee and Luthuli House. There will be a provincial meeting on Tuesday (tomorrow) and the matter will be on the agenda,” he said.
Maepa said whatever decision the party would take would be in the best interest of its election campaigns. Asked whether he would like to be the new mayor, Maepa said: “It is not a personal decision; it is an organisational decision. I lead at the behest of the ANC. The party will in the coming week make its decision known and we will communicate it.”
EFF chairperson in Tshwane Moafrika Mabongwana was not immediately reachable for comment, but had been quoted saying the party welcomed Msimanga’s exit. “We are happy that now the mayor is gone and it’s a breath of fresh air in Tshwane.”
The EFF said it would support any mayoral candidate who would provide better services to Tshwane residents.
Msimanga’s resignation was announced on the back of his strained relationship with city manager Dr Moeketsi Mosola over the controversial R12billion GladAfrica tender. However, he dismissed suggestions he resigned because of his bitter rivalry with Mosola. See Page 2 and 4