Johannesburg — The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has reportedly recommended its deputy president, Kenny Kunene, to be considered an option for the vacant mayor of Johannesburg position.
The proposal was made during a multi-party meeting.
News24 reported that the meeting, which was held on Thursday, saw the DA, ActionSA, FF Plus, ACDP, PA, and IFP make a last-minute effort to develop a working coalition for the sake of choosing a mayoral candidate for the city with a special council sitting set to take place on Friday.
“That was the PA’s proposal, but they did indicate that it was not a set condition,” a party leader was quoted as saying.
However, the DA reportedly favoured former Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse as its preferred candidate, while ActionSA councillor Funzi Ngobeni’s name was also thrown in the mix as a suitable candidate for support.
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The DA has reportedly said it wants Phalatse, to reoccupy her former position following the resignation of Mayor Thapelo Amad.
According to TimesLIVE, Phalatse said she is available to take up her former position, should the opportunity be offered.
The DA caucus leader became Johannesburg mayor in November last year, replacing the ANC’s Mpho Moerane.
Meanwhile, PA leader Gayton McKenzie who resigned as mayor of the Central Karoo District municipality in the Western Cape stated that he will not be putting his name in the hat for the vacant Mayor position.
Despite having initially displayed interest in leading the City of Johannesburg, McKenzie made it clear that his resignation as mayor of the Central Karoo District had nothing to do with the vacant mayoral position in Johannesburg.
He said he was “not in the race anymore”, and will be embarking on a tour of SA to canvass support for 2024.
I am not in the race anymore. I will be embarking on a tour of SA to canvass support for 2024. I’m eagerly awaiting to see who will emerge eventually in order to give them maximum support. https://t.co/GVL0eHww7L
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) May 3, 2023
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
