MEC Maile to intervene in Joburg, Tshwane mayoral mayhem
"We will deal comprehensively with the challenges of Johannesburg and Tshwane," said Maile, noting that he would provide practical steps for the way forward.
MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and CoGTA, Lebogang Maile is entering the fray as two key municipalities in Gauteng battle to sort out its mayoral mayhem.
Maile has directed the Chief Whips of parties in the Johannesburg City Council to meet ahead of the anticipated election of a mayor on Wednesday.
The election of a successor to Heman Mashaba was postponed last week in order for a legal opinion to be sought on what constitutes a majority of votes in the council.
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"It's an excuse and a convenient way of avoiding democracy, that is why we insist that the meeting must continue," said Maile.
He says that if a mayor is not elected in Johannesburg on Tuesday, his Department will issue instructions from a provincial level on how it must be resolved.
In addition, Maile plans to hold a press conference on Thursday to announce interventions in the City of Tshwane as well.
"We will deal comprehensively with the challenges of Johannesburg and Tshwane," said Maile, noting that he would provide practical steps for the way forward.
The DA has said it hopes that it will be able to wrap up its internal investigation into Tshwane mayor Stevens Mokgalapa by mid-December.
This is the wake of the so-called sex tape saga that saw him file leave as an internal party probe unfolds.
The other person implicated in the saga, Sheila Senkubuge, handed in her resignation amid a criminal probe into her citizenship status.