Joburg mayor 'not running away from media'
Johannesburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene and the city's Group Corporate and Shared Services MMC Loyiso Masuku have defended a decision by Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda to cancel his media engagement.
Gwamada was scheduled to engage the media following the delivery if his maiden State of the City Address on Tuesday.
But the briefing was subsequently postponed to Thursday.
The city said it want to complete the debate on Gwamanda's address before briefing the media on Thursday.
The postponement came despite assurances by council speaker Colleen Makhubele on Monday that Gwamanda would engage the media after his address.
But Kunene defended the move, saying it would be unfair to say that Gwamanda was running away from the media.
This is not the first time that Gwamanda has missed a media engagement in the City of Joburg.
Last month the mayor did not attend a press briefing that would have seen him answer to fraud allegations levelled against him.
This relates to his investment company Ithemba Lama Afrika, which is believed to have defrauded some victims.
Masuku, who also came out in defense of Gwamanda, said members of the mayoral committee were also empowered to speak to the media on issues emanating from SOCA.
“The executive mayor has presented the state of the city, it is a collective State of the City Address. That is why members of the committee who are part and parcel of his mayoral committee, are able to speak to the media on any follow up issues.
"This was a comprehensive State of the City Address, to give hope to the people of Johannesburg a comprehensive State of the City Address to tell you what plans each and every member of the mayoral committee is expected to do in their respective departments.”
Gwamanda is expected to brief the media on Thursday.
