Joburg minority parties confident no-confidence motion against Phalatse will succeed
Al Jama-ah leader Thapelo Amad says they are confident the latest motion of no confidence against Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse will pass.
This is the second motion against Phalatse in as many months. She was reinstated in October after the High Court nullified her removal and subsequent replacement with Joburg ANC leader Dada Morero.
Minority parties have fielded Amad’s name as the potential candidate to take over from the Johannesburg mayor while talks between the ANC and EFF continue.
“If we don’t find each other, the second option is that the minority, because we are in constant talks with both the EFF and ANC, if we all agree that instead of us giving it to the Democratic Alliance which has already failed and compromised the city’s financials - we would rather get an alternative mayor who will come from the minority to arrest the situation and champion service delivery for the citizens of Johannesburg,” Amad said.
Chair of the minority parties Margaret Arnolds has been quoted as saying Morero would take over once the two parties had resolved their differences.
Earlier this month plans to remove Ekurhuleni Mayor Tania Campbell failed after talks between the ANC and EFF collapsed over disagreements on who should take over as mayor.
A week later, the ANC announced it would charge Ekurhuleni caucus leader Mzwandile Masina
The party on Thursday announced Masina’s resignation as councillor, a move which Amad says spells victory for the Joburg takeover.
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“Mzwandile Masina, who caused a bearing on the City of Johannesburg was suspended, moreover he resigned. So, on those basis we are still confident that we are pulling through.”
Gauteng ANC chairperson Panyaza Lesufi, who mediated talks in Ekurhuleni, is around the chambers.
Meanwhile, Phalatse has said she is unfazed by the motion against her as she continues to focus on improving service delivery.
