DA picks Phalatse as mayoral candidate

Cape Town – The DA has reportedly said it wants former Johannesburg mayor, Mpho Phalatse, to reoccupy her former position following the resignation of Mayor Thapelo Amad on Monday.

Amad’s resignation comes after months of squabbling and a day before he was due to face a no-confidence vote, according to reports.

Phalatse indicated her interest to take up her former position as the city’s mayor following the tabling of motions of no confidence against Amad and speaker Colleen Makhubele on Friday, reported TimesLIVE.

According to the reports, Phalatse has 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.

The ANC lost the local election on 1 November – its first worst showing at the ballot since the advent of democracy in 1994.

The city council chose Phalatse to lead the city, the first black woman to do so, and the first woman since 1946.

Phalatse was ousted as the City’s mayor after three motions of no confidence were brought against her at the first ordinary council sitting of the year in January, reported News24.

The report said 140 councillors voted in support of the first motion, with only 129 members of council against.

Despite abstaining from the vote to move the motion of no confidence forward on the agenda, ActionSA said it would vote with the DA against the removal of Phalatse, the report said.

“The ANC-EFF-PA coalition does not yet have a ‘compromise candidate’ to replace Amad, and behind the scenes, horse-trading for positions has commenced, ignoring the interests of residents of Johannesburg. The DA will nominate Dr Mpho Phalatse as our mayoral candidate. Dr Phalatse has a proven track record and an understanding of the needs of the people of Johannesburg,” the report quoted Nel as saying.

However, it is unclear where the DA will get  the votes to ensure Phalatse’s election since the DA angered critical political allies in the Johannesburg council when party leader, John Steenhuisen, refused to negotiate with PA insisting the party end its ties with the ANC, the report said.

Meanwhile, ActionSA has welcomed Amad’s resignation and hopes that it opens the door for a stable coalition that can oust the ANC-EFF in Johannesburg.

The party said work to fix Johannesburg had just begin, adding that it would not give up on the people of Johannesburg and their commitment to fix Johannesburg through a multi-party coalition that provided ethical and effective leadership at all levels of government.