DA claims allegations of dodgy dealings against new Joburg mayor

Gwamanda was elected as the city's new mayor during a special council sitting on Friday. 

But a mere two days after being elected as mayor, allegations of fraud have surfaced against Gwamanda.

The DA’s Fred Nel says Gwamanda needs to come clean and prove whether the allegations of his involvement in a dodgy funeral investment scheme are true. 

“The DA is of the opinion that the mayor needs to come clean as to whether these allegations against him is true or not so that it can be put beyond doubt the DA will also be referring the matter to the speaker for investigation.

“We are very concerned that these are serious allegations that could even lead to criminal charges are if it's found to be true and unless this matter is cleared up the DA is very concerned about mayor Gwamanda's ability to manage the city and its major budget of R70 billion.”

Meanwhile, political analyst Goodenough Mashego says the city's residents need to decide if they want a mayor or an executive mayor.

“Residents of the City of Johannesburg need to ask themselves difficult questions. Why does the ANC want these weak individuals to become mayors and whether the City of Johannesburg really needs an executive mayor? 

"At the rate things are going, at the rate of coalitions, you come to realise that the moment you have an executive mayor it becomes more of the problem that you are experiencing now with ping-pong mayors.

"Maybe the city needs to start thinking about the whether the position is an executive one or they just want a mayor without an executive position.”

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