Brink’s fate as Tshwane mayor hangs in the balance
Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink’s future is on shaky ground as political parties gear up for a motion of no confidence against him.
The African National Congress (ANC) has filed a fresh motion after withdrawing a previous one in July.
The earlier motion was halted when the Democratic Alliance (DA) sought an urgent court order to prevent Brink’s removal.
Now, the motion is back on the agenda for Thursday’s council sitting.
Negotiations between political parties are in full swing as the DA fights to retain control of the country’s capital city.
Tshwane’s metro is governed by a coalition, a result of no single party securing a majority in the 2021 local government elections.
Brink, who took office in March 2023, was elected with the backing of several parties, including ActionSA, the African Christian Democratic Party, and the Inkatha Freedom Party.
However, earlier this month, ActionSA declared it would not support the DA in this latest motion.
Mashaba accuses Brink of failing to ensure proper service delivery in the city.
Meanwhile, the ANC is expected to hold a high-level meeting to finalise their voting stance ahead of Thursday’s proceedings.
Gauteng ANC chairperson Panyaza Lesufi had previously said the an earlier attempt to remove Brink was due to what the party believes to be service delivery failures.
The ANC's move to oust Tshwane's executive mayor also came a week after the party removed Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, replacing him with the ANC’s Dada Morero.
"In 2021, during local government elections, the ANC lost all three metros, and we politely took our stand in the opposition benches. It was only when those governments that were established collapsed that the ANC was requested to step in.
“From that period till today, two of the metros that we lost are now back where the ANC is at the helm of those two municipalities.
“There is a huge chance that can happen in Tshwane in the next few weeks," said Lesufi.
He claimed there is a clamour by political parties for ANC to “rescue Tshwane”.
"It is an opportunity that we are willing to work around, but we want to consult our national leadership because there are various dynamics in Tshwane.
“We have to be sensitive to the relationship that has been established with the national government as well.
“We need to look at that posture and make a decision that is in the best interest of the citizens of Tshwane, but most importantly, the citizens of Gauteng," he added.
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