Maile warns election of mayor in Tshwane will be ‘shortest in history’

Gauteng Premier David Makhura announced last week that the city would be placed under administration following the failure by council to elect a new mayor to succeed Stevens Mokgalapa.

Makhura made the announcement at a joint media briefing with Cooperative Governance MEC Lebogang Maile.

But the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane defied the directive, opting to forge ahead with a council sitting on Tuesday.

The DA's John Moodey says it hopes to elect a mayor and city manager during the sitting.

"It's totally unnecessary for the premier to want to continue to have the city place under administration.

"So tomorrow on the agenda is the election of a mayor, the appointment of an acting city manager and the passing of the adjustment budget for the City of Tshwane."

Maile warns that any mayor elected during the council sitting will only have a ceremonious title.

"Even if a mayor can be elected tomorrow that mayor will be one of the shortest serving mayors in the history of Tshwane and South Africa. That mayor will just have the title in the CV and that's all so it's not going to affect the decision.

"Our decision remains and our decision is waiting for concurrence from the minister and the National Council of Provinces," Maile adds.

Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and the chairperson of National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Amos Masondo have 14 days to sign off on Makhura's decision to place the city under administration.

The African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Tshwane both confirmed to Jacaranda FM News that the parties would not attend the sitting.

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