ANC steps in on Joburg coalition standoff

The African National Congress (ANC) is intervening in the standoff between the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for Johannesburg’s transport portfolio.

Joburg’s position of Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport has been vacant for nearly a month since PA deputy president Kenny Kunene resigned.

On Tuesday, during an ANC press briefing, the party’s secretary general touched on the matter, saying that he did not understand why there was conflict regarding the position.

“We don’t understand this standoff because Kunene resigned from the municipality and left the transport position that belongs to the PA, as agreed upon within the coalition government,” Mbalula said.

“So when Kunene leaves, the PA brings in a replacement for him. Why should there be a fight about who replaces Kunene in the transport position?”.

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

After ANC’s Dada Morero was elected mayor in August 2024, the party formed a coalition called the Government of Local Unity (GLU) with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Patriotic Alliance, and several minority governing parties.

The PA was only assigned the Transport MMC portfolio following the formation of the coalition.

Since Kunene’s resignation, PA leader Gayton McKenzie has said that 24-year-old newcomer Liam Jacobs will replace him.

However, according to McKenzie, the delay is not because of Jacobs’ appointment but because the EFF wants the Transport portfolio in exchange for one of theirs.

Reports suggest that the EFF want to exchange the Public Safety portfolio, held by Mgcini Tshwaku, for the transport portfolio.

McKenzie says that the ANC has approached the PA about the exchange, which they declined.

Newsday reached out to the EFF but did not receive comment by publication.

Kunene under investigation

Kunene resigned from the position after he was found by authorities at the Sandton home of murder accused Katiso “KT” Molefe.

Authorities were investigating Molefe in connection with the 2022 murder of Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka at the time.

When police arrived at Molefe’s home to arrest him, they found Kunene with two other individuals, one of whom Kunene said was a journalist and the other someone who had set up an exclusive interview with the murder accused.

He told the SABC that he has no relationship with Molefe and was escorting a journalist from his online publication, African News Global, for an exclusive interview with the murder accused.

McKenzie suspended Kunene for 30 days pending an investigation following the controversy.

The PA leader said this process has been particularly challenging for him, given his brotherly relationship with Kunene. However, he will go about the investigation as he would with any other party member.

Tensions rising in Joburg coalition

Earlier this month, the minority parties in the GLU considered leaving the coalition due to disagreements with the ANC.

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.

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

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

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

However, Gwamanda argues that the coalition can be salvaged if the MGP is given the finance portfolio.

In a letter sent to the Mayor, the MGP said that it should be given the finance portfolio after African Independent Congress representative Margaret Arnolds, who is part of the MGP, was appointed Speaker.

However, the ANC said that because the MGP’s representative holding the MMC portfolio was assigned to the council speaker, they would not also be receiving the finance portfolio.

This position would instead be given to the ANC.