Following Al Jama-ah’s Kabelo Gwamanda’s resignation on August 13, the Johannesburg City Council is set to elect their eighth mayor on August 16.
Gwamanda’s resignation follows after the ANC, residents, ratepayer associations, religious representatives, and civil society organisations called for him to step down, citing his inability to run the city which continues to fall apart at an alarming rate.
Gwamanda took office in 2023 after his predecessor, and fellow Al-Jama-ah party member, Thapelo Amad, resigned.
The recently-resigned mayor’s leadership was under scrutiny after some of Johannesburg CBD’s roads were still under construction due to the July 2023 underground Egoli Gas leak explosion.
“As the youngest mayor of Johannesburg, I am humbled by the opportunity to have led this city and have stabilised it financially and administratively following the collapse of the multi-party coalition government. I shall continue to serve the people of Johannesburg as a councillor and will forever cherish the experience afforded to me in my tenure as the executive mayor,” stated Gwamanda.
Former mayors include:
• 2023: Al-Jama-ah’s Thapelo Amad was elected in 2023 and resigned in the same year. Read more: Thapelo Amad resigns as Joburg mayor
• 2021–2023: Democratic Alliance’s Mpho Phalatse was elected in 2021 and served until 2023 when she resigned to return to her medical career.
• 2021: Mpho Moerane was elected in 2021, but unfortunately passed away in hospital after being involved in a car crash. Stop-gap Joburg Mayor Mpho Moerane dies
• 2021: Jolidee Matongo was also elected in 2021, but also unfortunately died in a car accident. Read the full story here: President mourns the passing of Joburg Mayor – May his soul rest in peace
• 2019–2021: Geoffrey Makhubo was elected in 2019 and served until 2021, when he died from Covid-19.
• 2016–2019: Herman Mashaba was elected in 2016, but resigned in 2019. Read more here: Herman Mashaba resigns
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