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Al Jama-ah’s Kabelo Gwamanda elected as new City of Joburg mayor

Al Jama-ah councillor Kabelo Gwamanda has been elected the new executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg.

Gwamanda beat ActionSA’s Funzi Ngobeni and Democratic Alliance (DA) Joburg leader Mpho Phalatse by 139 to 59 and 68 votes respectively on Friday.

The metropolitan municipality convened a special meeting in the City of Joburg Council Chamber to elect former mayor, Thapelo Amad’s replacement after failing to do so on Tuesday.

‘We have to provide services’

Gwamanda, who hails from Soweto, immediately delivered his maiden speech after being sworn in, saying that his mayorship was bound by a sense of duty.

“It is not a mere title of glamour, prestige or celebrity status like most of us would like to believe. As such the outcome of this democratic process should not be misconstrued with narratives that seek to cast aspersions and suggest that we as the people are incapable of self-determination, and further insinuate from a position of ignorance that this is a doomsday coalition simply because the events that are unfolding seem unfortunately beyond their rationale,” he said.

The new mayor said the government of local unity, which include the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and African Transformation Movement (ATM), would bring stability in Johannesburg.

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He told the council that his main goal was to improve the quality of service to the city’s residents.

“Therefore, in managing our contradictions as different political parties, with unique ideological facets, we have collectively resolved on a bare minimum that is common to all political parties in this council including the opposition. That bare minimum is service delivery,” Gwamanda said.

“Our approach as government needs to be respectful to the residents. We have to provide services that are at least worth paying rather than demand payment because it is legislated.

“It is, therefore, a fundamental imperative for this administration to adopt a qualitative approach in attempt to trigger the pulse of the City of Johannesburg post the monumental calamity caused by the previous regime.”

He dismissed the suggestion that change in mayors affected service delivery and further confirmed that he would use the State of the City Address to detail the plans of the Government of Local Unity.

“Our interest is for the City to succeed and we are prepared to work with all political parties represented in council.”

Concluding his address, Gwamanda said: “I am well aware of the vast challenges our city faces. I am a permanent resident of the City of Johannesburg… born and bred in the dusty streets of Soweto before there were tar roads, shopping centres, recreational facilities or infrastructure of any sort. I am the product of the severe condition that the majority in this country is subjected to”.