No clear frontrunners on the eve of Tshwane mayoral elections

There are still no clear candidates on the eve of the Tshwane metro’s election for a new mayor. The election follows a vote of no confidence which led to the removal of Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Cilliers Brink last month.

He held the position for 18 months.

Tshwane has more than 200 informal settlements. And residents living in these informal settlements around the capital say they want the new mayor of Tshwane to remember that their dignity matters too.

They say poor service delivery, high unemployment and a lack of opportunities continue to cripple their lives.

They’ve pinned their hopes on Tshwane’s municipal executive who will govern all areas equally and not just focus on affluent areas.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the African National Congress (ANC) is talking to the Freedom Front Plus to secure its support ahead of the special council meeting in which a mayor will be elected.

The ANC is expected to announce their preferred Mayoral candidate between today and tomorrow. Its Tshwane secretary general George Matjila says they will work with anyone who their National leaders support.

While everyone waits for a new Tshwane leader, the acting Tshwane Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, who is also a Mayoral candidate for ActionSA, says there’s no panic as service delivery was not disrupted since the removal of former Tshwane Mayor, Ciliers Brink.

Former Tshwane Mayor Brink hopes for reinstatement

She says she is both qualified and acquainted with the way the City is managed.

“In addition to the qualification even before re-entering Tshwane as the Deputy Executive Mayor I have been in the city of Tshwane as senior manager for four years and I do have understanding and knowledge of local government. I think for the past 9 months, and I think they’ve actually been good to me in terms of getting the re-orientation of my roles and my delivery in terms of service delivery.

Residents in formal settlements say they felt forgotten under the Brink administration and want the new Mayor to also prioritise their needs.

Poor living conditions are their main concern. A lack of sanitation that leads to sewage spillage has left many anxious about their health. Another frustration is the challenges with electricity and water.