City of Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba has survived a motion of confidence against him. Mashaba along with Council Speaker Vasco da Gama have been accused by the African National Congress (ANC) of not executing their duties diligently.
Mashaba has been accused of purging senior managers in the City while Da Gama has been accused of being bias.
It was an easy run for the Democratic Alliance (DA) concillors on the line in Thursday night’s council session.
It was clear from the start where the vote would swing with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) indicating during the debate that they would go with the DA.
EFF councillor Silumko Mabona: “We have as the EFF collusion with the poor people of Joburg. Our people deserve the best and the best is to give them quality service delivery and that starts with you speaker. As the EFF we’d like to state it that we reject this motion and vote against it.”
The African Independent Congress (AIC) also expressed its unhappiness at the DA leadership saying Da Gama had been incompetent and bias.
The ANC pushed hard to get the buy-in for the vote especially when it was time for the vote against the Mayor. The party even drew parallels between their argument and EFF CIC Julius Malema.
The ANC is accusing the mayor of purging senior management in the city. It also accuses him of leading by the media and avoiding accountability in council.
However Mashaba still won the vote.
Earlier in the day the DA held a march where leader Mmusi Maimane said the debate was an attempt by the ANC to continue with their alleged corruption in the city.
Maimane addressed hundreds of DA supporters during the#HANDSOFFMASHABA march to the council chambers.
