ActionSA, the political party, has decided to withdraw the motion of no confidence against Kabelo Gwamanda, the Mayor of the City of Johannesburg.
The motion, which was set to be discussed at a council meeting this week, was filed by ActionSA in response to allegations of fraud and questions about Gwamanda’s academic qualifications, as revealed in a *Carte Blanche* exposé.
The party had expressed concerns about having a mayor from a small party with alleged ethical issues at the helm of the city.
However, on Monday, 28 August, ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont announced the withdrawal of the motion.
This decision was influenced by the Democratic Alliance (DA), another political party, confirming that they would not support the motion to remove Gwamanda.
Beaumont explained that without the support of the DA, the motion would not succeed and continuing with it could harm the reputation of the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa, a coalition of various parties.
ActionSA, along with partners including the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), and United Independent Movement (UIM), intends to utilize the temporary withdrawal to engage with the DA.
The goal is to encourage the DA to consider broader interests beyond their regional focus, as well as to seek unity among the coalition parties.
DA Gauteng Calls for Dissolution of Johannesburg City Council
In a separate development, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has called for the dissolution of the Johannesburg City Council.
Fred Nel, the DA Chairperson in Gauteng, announced the party’s intention to propose an amendment to the motion of no confidence against Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda.
The proposed amendment aims to postpone the motion until 2 November, allowing for the council’s legal entitlement to dissolve itself after two years have passed.
Nel explained that the proposed amendment seeks the dissolution of the Johannesburg council as soon as possible.
This would pave the way for new elections and by-elections across Johannesburg within 90 days.
The DA envisions this process as an opportunity for voters to choose a new and more stable city council, with the objective of addressing the challenges facing South Africa’s largest city.
These developments highlight the complex political landscape in Johannesburg and the efforts by various parties to navigate issues related to leadership and governance.