Mmamoloko Kubayi dismisses ANC suggestion that she run for Johannesburg mayor

Minister of Justice and Constitutional DevelopmentMmamoloko Kubayihas declined a request by seniorANCmembers, including a parliamentarian, that she contest the Johannesburg mayoral race. The ANC in the region is struggling to find a suitable candidate to take on Democratic Alliance federal council chairHelen Zilleand ActionSA presidentHerman Mashabain the upcoming local government elections. While the ANC is searching for a candidate, Mashaba and Zille have begun campaigning in a bid to win over voters before the November elections.

The party’s top leadership will be conducting interviews for prospective mayoral candidates. Speaking to theM&G, a senior ANC member in Johannesburg said the party had approached Kubayi to stand as its mayoral candidate but she had declined. “Imagine being a minister and they say you must go and fix a mess.

Parks Tau was also approached and he declined,” they said. TheM&Greached out to Kubayi, who declined to comment. After the ANC’s contested Joburg regional conference in December, where current chair Loyiso Masuku defeated Dada Morero, the region has been divided into two factions.

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One faction, sympathetic to Morero, is seen as aligned to the party’s secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, while Masuku’s faction is viewed as closer to Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Mbalula and Mashatile will probably vie for the party’s presidency in the 2027 elective conference. The source said that after Tau had declined, Kubayi had been approached but had also turned down the request.

“In Ekurhuleni, they want to bring back Mondli Gungubele,” the source added. Sources close to Kubayi confirmed she had been approached but said she had declined, believing the proposal was not genuine.

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