ActionSA outlines conditions as it partners with the ANC in Johannesburg

ActionSA has set three key conditions for its conditional support of a new government in the City of Johannesburg, the first being the removal of executive mayor Kabelo Gwamanda from Al Jama-ah.

Gwamanda was elected mayor in May 2023 following Thapelo Amad’s resignation. He was elected through the support of the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Patriotic Alliance and other smaller parties.

ACTIONSA GETS INTO BED WITH THE ANC IN JOHANNESBURG

In June 2023, ActionSA filed its first no confidence motion in Gwamanda.

ActionSA’s Funzi Ngobeni said they filed the motion following a Carte Blanche exposé which revealed that Gwamanda is alleged to have defrauded vulnerable people through a funeral scheme as well as serious questions about his claims of academic qualifications. 

During a media briefing on Monday, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said at the heart of the declining condition of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni is the instability that has persisted in these coalitions as coalition partners, especially in Johannesburg, seek to condition their support for governance matters based on extraneous issues to Johannesburg or its residents.

Like his predecessor, Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda’s tenure has been an unmitigated failure. Mashaba said Johannesburg’s downward spiral is evident everywhere.

“ActionSA has contemplated the fact that it holds a significant number of seats in Johannesburg, and we have concluded that the party cannot sit on its hands anymore as the metro continues its downward spiral to the detriment of Joburg residents.

“It is for this reason that ActionSA will adopt the role of the constructive opposition, as we have done in Parliament about the grand coalition, and will make our support available to any government in Johannesburg on an issue-by-issue basis. To facilitate this constructive opposition role, ActionSA will take up several positions in the legislature so that we have the platform to hold any new government to account,” Mashaba explained.

WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?

ActionSA has placed three critical conditions on its conditional support of a new government in Johannesburg, the first of which is the removal of Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda.

Mashaba said the second condition is the immediate reversal of the R200 surcharge imposed by City Power on prepaid users.

“Thirdly, ActionSA will produce a series of motions, the purpose of which would be to position the City to turn around in critical frontline service delivery matters, including infrastructure renewal and the rejuvenation of the inner city,” he added.

Mashaba said part of the agreement reached is that the ANC will facilitate the resignation of the current Speaker in the City of Tshwane, Mncedi Ndzwanana from the African Transformation Movement (ATM).