Johannesburg councillors have voted for the full time executive position of deputy mayor at a cost of more than R1.28 million per year without clear performance targets, a defined time frame or evidence that existing executive structures have been fully evaluated, the Good party said. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg also slammed the move as “appalling”, saying its own calculations showed that this office would cost residents at least R10 million to set up. The Johannesburg council on Thursday approved the creation of a deputy mayor position for the first time in the city’s history.
The motion was passed with 107 councillors voting in favour, 87 against and 37 abstaining, council speaker Margaret Arnolds announced. The new position follows the structure of the City ofTshwane, which already has a mayor and a deputy mayor. ANC regional chairperson and Johannesburg member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for financeLoyiso Masukuis being considered for the deputy mayor position, as theMail & Guardianpreviously reported, although no formal appointment has yet been made.
Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero, also from the ANC, leads a coalition government that has faced continued criticism over service delivery. The city has grappled with electricity supply interruptions, water shortages and deteriorating infrastructure. Morero is facing a motion of no confidence brought by coalition partner Al Jama-ah.
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The motion, which had been scheduled for Thursday, was deferred to a later date. The council vote on the deputy mayor position reflects divisions within the city’s political leadership. Several councillors opposed the creation of the post, while a number abstained.
Supporters of the motion said the deputy mayor position would assist the mayor in managing the executive and ensuring continuity in decision-making. Good party representative Matthew Cook said continuity of leadership was important but should be institutional, not dependent on adding another political office. DA councillor Alex Christians said the new position would not serve the residents of Johannesburg.
“The DA in Johannesburg is appalled that the ANC-led coalition partners voted in favour of the creation of a deputy mayor position while the city and its residents suffer under broken service delivery,” Christians said in a statement. “This office, as per the DA’s own costing in 2016, will cost the residents at least R10 million to set up. This, while taps run dry, and rubbish is uncollected.”
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