There’s no instability in Joburg – Gwamanda
Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda denied claims of instability in the city since he took over as the first citizen.
Gwamanda is Joburg’s fourth mayor in less than a year after Mpho Phalatse, who had been reinstalled after heading to the courts to overturn the process that saw her ousted and replaced by Dada Morero late last year, was successfully removed in a motion of no-confidence in January.
Phalatse was replaced by Thapelo Ahmad, who resigned on the eve of a motion of no confidence against him.
Now Gwamanda himself faces a motion of no confidence, which is sponsored by Action SA, following allegations he was involved in a dubious funeral scheme iThemba lama-Afrika that reportedly duped unsuspecting Soweto residents.
READ: Joburg Speaker launches investigation into alleged corrupt councillors
Earlier this month, the financial sector conduct authority confirmed it was investigating the claims against Gwamanda.
“The government of local unity is intact. The government of local unity and its 11 strategic priorities is what is holding this administration together,” Gwamanda said during a visit to Diepkloof on Wednesday.
The mayor said he was confident there would be no disruption to service delivery despite the motion hanging over his head.
“In the bigger scheme of things, who becomes mayor from the government of local unity is inconsequential to the commitments that we’ve made to our residents because we conduct oversight beyond the mayoral committee – on a political level – to ensure that the bare minimum is achieved, which is service delivery.”
He said the motion to push him is due to Action SA’s lack of creativity in trying to take power.
“It’s not my fault that it’s their only approach to any form of political attack. Whilst the government is conducting the business of the day they are grasping on straws and the only thing that they rely on is motions of no confidence,’ Gwamanda said.
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