Johannesburg - The DA is on Thursday expected to close the online nomination process to find the next candidate who will stand as the mayor of Joburg.
This week, Gauteng DA leader John Moodey said that the nominations began on Friday. Moodey was unable to give details of candidates, saying the nomination process was only submitted online.
It is yet unclear how long the opposition party has to fill the mayoral post, which was left vacant when former businessman Herman Mashaba announced his resignation last week, with former DA leader Mmusi Maimane also quitting soon afterwards.
On the day he resigned, the mayor said he could no longer reconcile himself with some of the policies adopted by the party.
On hearing of Maimane’s resignation, former president Thabo Mbeki said: “The DA has an imperative obligation to reassure the nation, practically, unequivocally and transparently, that it is conducting and will conduct itself in terms of all its internal and public policies and programmes in a manner that truly helps to transform South Africa into a non-racial country.”
Meanwhile, once a candidate has been nominated, the party is also set to inform its coalition partners, which include the EFF.
Speculation is rife that the city’s new mayor may come from the EFF.
Mashaba’s last day in office is on November 27.
One of his legacies includes the closure of the M2 bridge that was left dilapidated under the ANC administration.
Mashaba was also outspoken on the issue of illegal migrants in the city and on several occasions was described as xenophobic by foreigners for his remarks. Staff Reporter