Now is the Time for a Fresh Election for a Stable Joburg

Dear Editor

The DA today launched a petition calling for the Johannesburg city council to be dissolved in order to hold fresh elections. This motion comes after the introduction – and apparent subsequent withdrawal – of the seventh motion of no confidence in Joburg since the November 2021 local government elections. The fate of this motion demonstrates that, far from providing a sustainable solution, no-confidence votes in Joburg have become a political tool to further destabilise our country’s biggest city. The motions have descended into a vulgar fight over positions with extortionist parties like the Patriotic Alliance. The DA will have no part in perpetuating instability or fighting over positions.

Instead, the DA has put on the table a real solution. Following the apparent withdrawal of the no-confidence motion, we will press ahead with introducing a motion to completely dissolve the Joburg city council. We will request that this motion serves before council on 2 November, which marks exactly two years since the 2021 local government elections. The Municipal Structures Act stipulates that a council which descends into instability may dissolve itself two years after the last election. If the motion passes, fresh elections will be held in Johannesburg within 90 days.

The DA calls on other parties to join us in rising above petty political interests and fights over positions in order to put the residents of Joburg first. And we call on the people of Johannesburg to support this constructive proposal by signing our petition, so that we can sustainability address the instability by giving voters an opportunity for a renewed mandate that does not split the vote as happened in 2021.

The root cause of Joburg’s instability is the excessive political fragmentation that followed the November 2021 local government elections. This fragmentation led to no fewer than 18 parties gaining representation in council – with eight of those parties holding the balance of power despite only gaining a single seat each.

If we want to rescue Johannesburg from its downward spiral, voters need to fix this fragmentation through fresh elections where voters unite behind the DA. This will enable us to form a stable and ethical majority government that can begin to restore our country’s biggest city.

We invite residents of Johannesburg to sign our petition and support our clarion call: Fresh elections for a stable Joburg, now!

Regards

Cllr Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku
DA Johannesburg Caucus Leader