Tensions rising in Johannesburg’s coalition

The minority parties in the coalition governing the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) are reportedly considering pulling out due to disagreements with the ANC.

This marks continued signs of instability in South Africa’s economic powerhouse, which has seen seven mayors come and go in the past four years.

According to a News24 report, former mayor and Al Jama-ah councillor Kabelo Gwamanda, the interim chair of the city’s minority governing parties (MGP), said that the ANC, which leads the coalition, does not recognise the minority parties as the original partners.

Minority parties were key to the ANC regaining power in the city through the formation of the government of local unity (GLU).

Of the 270 seats in the CoJ council, the ANC holds 91, the Democratic Alliance (DA) 70, ActionSA 44, the EFF 29, the Patriotic Alliance 9, and the Inkatha Freedom Party 7.

After ANC’s Dada Morero was elected mayor in August 2024, following his service in the cabinet under minority party mayors, the party formed a coalition called the GLU with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Patriotic Alliance, and the MGP.

The MGP conists of the United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-ah, the African Independent Congress, and the African Heart Congress, which hold a total of seven seats.

This gave the coalition a majority in the house, with a total of 136 seats in the 270 seat council.

The letter to Mayor Dada Morero

Therefore, Gwamanda argues that the coalition can be salvaged if the MGP is given the finance pertfolio.

The position was left vacant by African Independent Congress representative Margaret Arnolds, who recently became council speaker after a fallout with ActionSA.

The MGP sent a letter to Mayor Dada Morero stating that it believed the position should be given to Al Jama-ah councillor Thapelo Amad, who previously served as mayor between January and April 2023.

There is also another executive committee position that needs to be filled, which is the MMC of transport.

The PA’s Kenny Kunene previously occupied this position, but resigned after he was found at murder-accused Katiso Molefe’s home.

Gwamanda argues that when the coalition voted for a new mayor, the ANC promised the MGP two MMC positions in exchange for their votes.

This was initially the case when Morero was elected mayor.

Morero announced that ActionSA’s Nobuhle Mthembu would become speaker, and Arnolds, who had been serving as speaker, would become finance MMC thanks to the former bringing the votes for his election.

The other executive council position held by the MGP is the community development portfolio, which is managed by PAC councillor Tebogo Nkokou.

This portfolio was held by Gwamanda up to November 2024, until Morero sacked him amid fraud allegations.

ANC Greater Johannesburg Regional Secretary Sasabona Maganye argues that while two MMC positions were promised, this changed when Arnolds was appointed speaker.

This speaker position, which Maganye says has a far more influential role in the council, effectively replaces the second MMC position agreed upon during negotiations.

“We took her back as a speaker because she has the expertise. We need an experienced speaker,” Manganye said.

“The ANC will take the MMC finance role. There are allegations that Al Jama-ah has been talking to the opposition. This shows they are not in the coalition. But the coalition is intact and there is no crisis,” Manganye added.

A ‘soft administration’

Gwamanda told News24 that the city is currently under a “soft administration” because of the various role players introduced, such as the presidential task team, District Development Champions, and the “Bomb Squad.”

Recently, Morero received a letter from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, warning that the national treasury may withhold funding unless the city can explain how it plans to tackle ongoing unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful spending (UIFWE).

The CoJ’s consolidated audited financial statements for 2023/24 reveal that the city is bleeding funds: R1.4 billion in unauthorised expenditure, R1.5 billion in irregular expenditure, and R17 million in fruitless and wasteful spending.

Cumulative irregular expenditure, carried over from previous years, has ballooned to R22.2 billion, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure stands at over R705 million.