Msimanga denies outgoing Tshwane mayor was pushed
The DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga has denied claims that the party pushed out Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams.
Msimanga briefed the media on Thursday following the party’s alternative State of the Province Address in Johannesburg.
“No we did not remove him,” Msimanga said.
“We said what is the plan for you to turn the situation around. Do you have a plan to deal with the issue of finances? Do you have a plan and the energy to ensure that there is political stability going forward? Given the fact that there’s been instability to some of the coalition partners who have wanted him out, and given the fact that he has already submitted the turnaround strategy. He feels like he has been targeted by some of the coalition partners that he might not be able to implement fully what he will want to implement in the City of Tshwane.
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"That is why he decided that even with a plan in place, someone else might be able to see it to fruition. But also the other reason is that his health is not the greatest. As you know, he spent quite a lot of time in hospital as well.”
Williams’ resignation, which is due to come into effect at the end of February, comes amid a damning report from the auditor general which flagged over R10 billion in irregular expenditure in the city.
The report saw the EFF call for the mayor to resign, while the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has demanded that he account for the missing billions.
