REMOVE GWAMANDA, WE WILL WORK WITH ANC!

Written by: Tasha Siziba

ActionSA caucuses in the Gauteng Metros have expressed concerns about the terrible conditions of these municipalities, especially in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, and the Senate of ActionSA has convened to discuss issues resulting from its study of the 2024 national and provincial election.

To protect the city from incompetent political leadership and poor governance, the party’s highest decision-making body took this action.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont made the announcement at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Monday morning.

ActionSA has not joined the ANC-led multi-party administration, but it will collaborate with the ANC in Johannesburg should Gwamanda be ousted from office as mayor.

In a statement by the party; “The tenure of Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, like his predecessor, has been an unmitigated failure with the evidence of the downward spiral of Johannesburg evident all around the City.”

ActionSA will act as a constructive opposition, providing support to any Johannesburg government on an issue-by-issue basis, as they have done in Parliament regarding the grand coalition.

“To facilitate this constructive opposition role ActionSA will take up a number of positions in the legislature so that we have the platform to hold any new government to account.

Beaumont said, ActionSA has placed three key conditions on its conditional support of a new government in Johannesburg first of which is the removal of Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda.

“The second condition is the immediate reversal of the R200 surcharge heartlessly imposed by City Power on prepaid users. Thirdly, ActionSA will produce a series of motions the purpose of which would be to position the City to turnaround in key frontline service delivery matters including infrastructure renewal and the rejuvenation of the Inner City.”

ActionSA will not co-govern the executive, sign a coalition agreement, and provide support for a new Mayor based on merits only.

ActionSA remains in a coalition in Tshwane, working on key issues like clean water provision for Hammanskraal residents, despite ongoing challenges.

“Part of the agreement reached is that the ANC will facilitate the resignation of the current ATM Speaker in the City of Tshwane reversing the injustice that was perpetrated in this City with the vote buying that previously transpired.”

ActionSA’s redefining its role in Johannesburg, though not a coalition or co-governing arrangement, is a significant learning from the past.