Kabelo Gwamanda has resigned as mayor of Johannesburg, submitting his resignation to Speaker Margaret Arnold on Tuesday. This decision follows weeks of intense negotiations led by the African National Congress (ANC) as the party seeks to regain control of the mayoral office.
Although stepping down, Gwamanda will continue to serve as a councillor in Johannesburg’s city council. His resignation will take effect on a date determined by the Speaker, at which point the council will elect a new mayor. Gwamanda expressed his appreciation to the residents of Johannesburg and city employees for their support during his time in office.
Gwamanda, a member of the Al Jama-ah party, succeeded Thapelo Amad, who also resigned after a brief stint as mayor. Both Gwamanda and Amad, despite representing one of the smallest parties in the council, rose to the mayoralty through a coalition agreement involving the ANC, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the Patriotic Alliance (PA).
The ANC is expected to back Finance MMC Dada Morero as Gwamanda’s successor. Morero briefly held the mayoral office in October 2022 before a court ruling deemed his election unconstitutional. As the ANC’s regional chairperson, Morero is considered the front-runner, despite rumors of a potential challenge from corporate and shared services MMC Loyiso Masuku.
