Johannesburg - It is not yet clear who will be the number one citizen in the City of Joburg following the death of councillor Geoff Makhubo from Covid-19 complications early this month.
Council Speaker Nonceba Molwele earlier said that they were currently working with the Electoral Commission of SA to prepare for the election of a new mayor.
ANC Joburg spokesperson Sasa Manganye said the party was awaiting a meeting of the Gauteng provincial executive committee for the region to present three candidates to the committee.
Manganye said regional politics in Joburg were matured and there would be careful consideration as to who would succeed departed mayor Geoff Makhubo.
The Star understands that among the names being bandied about are Molwele, finance MMC Jolidee Matongo, health MMC Eunice Mgci and former housing MMC Ruby Mathang.
“All of us wish is to conclude this by the end of July but it will depend on the internal process. They know that we cannot leave Joburg to remain without an executive for long, so we are all aware of that (and) want to treat this with a high level of urgency. But at the same time we don’t want to rush it and not give Joburg the best,” Manganye said.
He said the ANC in the city would maintain its coalition government while processes to elect a new mayor were under way. The ANC is in a coalition with the IFP, Cope, ACDP and Al Jama-ah. Molwele said her office would call an extraordinary council meeting where councillors would cast their votes.
The ANC seized back control of the city from the DA through a coalition with smaller parties in 2019.
The DA through an informal relationship with the EFF had been in charge since the 2016 local government elections. A government of local unity is expected to elect another ANC leader as mayor. The coalition between the governing party and its smaller counterparts has seen the ANC government equally sharing mayoral executive positions.
Molwele said sections of the structures dictated that a vacancy has to be filled when necessary.
“It means that after elections of the council, it then says 14 days. But in this instance, when it is necessary.”
Molwele said no agreement on a date had been reached yet.
City spokesperson Nthatisi Mondingoane said an “extraordinary council” meeting would be held “soon” to deal with the election of a new mayor but would not be drawn into committing to a date.
The Star