The fragile coalition governing Johannesburg has shown fresh signs of strain following the ousting of Council Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu of ActionSA in a motion of no confidence passed on Thursday afternoon. Mthembu was removed with 212 councillors voting in favour of the motion and 48 against, with no abstentions. The motion was brought by Al Jama-ah and received backing from the ANC, EFF, and DA. This move comes amid deepening tensions within the Government of Local Unity (GLU), particularly between the ANC and ActionSA. ActionSA publicly supported a motion of no confidence brought by the DA against Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero (ANC), citing his failure to improve service delivery. In what appears to be a retaliatory move, the ANC then supported the motion to remove Mthembu from her position as Speaker. Meanwhile, both Mayor Morero and ANC Chief Whip Sthembiso Zungu survived similar motions against them. Morero’s motion was defeated with 144 votes against, 75 in favour, and 43 abstentions well short of the 136 votes needed in the 270 seat council. Chief Whip Zungu also survived, with 179 councillors voting against his removal, 69 in favour, and six abstentions.
These developments will have broader implications for the Government of Local Unity and are likely to further fuel instability within Johannesburg’s coalition government. The removal of an ActionSA Speaker with ANC support following ActionSA’s opposition to the ANC mayor highlights deteriorating trust and coordination between coalition partners. This could severely impact governance and decision-making in the metro. Moreover, the breakdown in Johannesburg may have broader implications for ANC ActionSA relations in other metros where similar coalition arrangements exist. This political retaliation moves suggest that what was once a tenuous partnership may now be unravelling, raising questions about the sustainability of coalition governments across Gauteng and other provinces. The events signal an urgent need for coalition partners within the Government of Local Unity to revisit their agreements and renew commitments to stability, or risk further political fallout and administrative paralysis in key cities.
Photo credit: ActionSA Website
Author: Boikanyo
