Johannesburg's political landscape shifts as ActionSA targets new speaker following Mthembu's removal
The City of Johannesburg council in Braamfontein will vote for a new speaker after ActionSA's Nobuhle Mthembu was axed.
Image: Nhlanhla Phillips / Independent Newspapers
Political parties represented in the City of Johannesburg council are looking to replace speaker Nobuhle Mthembu after she was ousted this week.
ActionSA's caucus leader Lebo Modukanene said the party was fully aware that its refusal to defend Mayor Dada Morero would likely prompt the ANC to retaliate, voting alongside the DA, to remove Mthembu.
'We made it clear that if taking a principled stance came at a political cost, then so be it. ActionSA does not make decisions based on threats or favours - we act on merit, principle, and in the best interests of Johannesburg's residents,' she said.
Modukanene added that since joining the ANC-led Government of Local Unity in July last year, ActionSA has maintained an approach based on specific issues.
'We have never given the ANC a blank cheque. Our support must be earned, not assumed. This position was once again demonstrated yesterday (Wednesday). We could not, in good conscience, defend the ANC's Mayor Morero, whose leadership has failed Johannesburg,' she explained.
According to Modukanene, ActionSA supported the ANC's chief whip, Sithembiso Zungu, whose work in promoting discipline and functionality in the council has been commendable.
'Speaker Mthembu served with exceptional integrity and fairness, and her deep commitment to public engagement set a standard for leadership in this city. Her removal has nothing to do with performance - it is a symptom of the political decay that continues to undermine governance in Johannesburg,' she added.
ActionSA is consulting internally and its leadership will continue engaging the ANC on this and other matters of common interest.
'We will communicate our final position once those consultations have been concluded,' said Modukanene.
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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We need leaders who prioritise our children's future over comfort and convenience. We need governments that understand that education is not charity, but a right; not a burden, but a backbone of true liberation. The calm before the storm is over. It's time for our leaders to invest, reform, and truly educate, or step aside for those who will. What's truly evident, now more than ever, is that, have examples of prolific leadership emerging across Africa. Leaders like Nandi-Ndaitwah in Namibia and President Ibrahim Traore in Burkina Faso ensure that the pessimistic, harmful narratives and prejudices around African leadership are crumbling to pieces. These are leaders who are stepping up to the plate and truly demonstrating commitment. They are aligning their actions with their words and putting the needs of the people at the forefront. The potential for Africa's proliferation is endless when guided by ethical, committed leadership, and we are seeing living examples of this, a little bit at a time. For generations, colonial and neoliberal systems have restricted access to education, gatekeeping opportunities behind tuition walls that excluded the poor, the rural, the working class, and so many more. This profound move by Nandi-Ndaitwah has essentially torn down those walls. African youth have consistently challenged systems that treat knowledge like a commodity instead of a birthright. To drive forward reform in education and succeed is a commendable achievement that cannot be understated. This is truly exemplary of 'the power of the people'. These types of new policies are those that bring about meaningful transformation, especially for children, women, those with disabilities, youth in remote areas, the historically excluded, and so many more. We cannot let uncertainty be an excuse for inaction. 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She is a researcher, columnist, and an Andrew W Mellon scholar at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, UWC. The views expressed are her own. ** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
