Makhubo's appointment ‘a problem in our political system’, says Mashaba
Former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba says Geoff Makhubo's election as his successor is a clear demonstration of everything that is wrong with our political system.
Makhubo was elected as the new Joburg mayor with the help of some members of the Democratic Alliance (DA) coalition government.
Several DA councillors also reportedly voted for the African National Congress (ANC) candidate.
Makhubo attained 137 of the votes in council.
The DA’s Funzela Ngobeni received 101 votes while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) - who fielded Musi Novela - received 30.
Makhubo's election follows Mashaba’s resignation in protest of the election of Helen Zille as the DA federal council chair.
In a statement on Thursday, Mashaba said the considerations were all about personal and political benefit and not about the residents of Johannesburg.
"I share the anger of the five million residents of Johannesburg that the work of turning the city around, has been destroyed by the election of Geoff Makhubo.
"More recently, the city has uncovered how another Gupta-linked company associated with Regiments, Cedar Park, took transfer of the land on which the Sandton Gautrain Station is situated, effectively for free.
"The fact that some DA councillors elected to vote for Makhubo over their candidate, demonstrates why I had to leave the DA," Mashaba added.
Meanwhile, political analyst Ralph Mathekga says it is going to be tough for the ANC to redeem itself in the eyes of residents, given that the party is on trial at the state capture inquiry.
"Remember it is not much about the ANC victory, morally they are not in a position to stage a victory, but it is more about the DA having lost a council after the resignation of Herman Mashaba due to internal problems in the DA which are also spreading into Tshwane.”
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