McKenzie quits mayoral race, supports motion

Last week, Gayton McKenzie, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader and Central Karoo district mayor, threw his hat into the ring to become the next Johannesburg mayor amid a proposed motion of no confidence against Thapelo Amad as reported by the Sowetan Live. Amad is expected to be ousted through a motion brought by ActionSA, a political party led by former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba.

However, McKenzie announced that he was withdrawing from the race to become mayor after the Democratic Alliance (DA) requested him to be lenient with illegal immigrants. McKenzie is known for his strong stance against illegal immigration, and the DA feared that his views could negatively impact their political agenda.

Despite pulling out of the race, McKenzie assured the public that the PA was still trying to remove Amad from office. The PA met with coalition partners to explain its reasons for losing trust in Amad.

In response, ActionSA expressed disappointment in Amad’s performance, calling him a “puppet mayor.” The party’s caucus leader in Johannesburg, Funzi Ngobeni, criticized Amad’s inability to articulate a coherent plan of action and vision for the city. Since his election, service delivery in Johannesburg has rapidly deteriorated, with heaps of rubbish on the streets, Ngobeni said.

The proposed motion of no confidence against Amad is expected to proceed, with the PA and other opposition parties supporting it. The outcome of the vote remains to be seen, but it is clear that there is growing frustration among residents and politicians over the lack of progress in addressing the city’s challenges.

Photo: Facebook / @Gayton Mckenzie