South Africa’s ruling party, ANC lost control of Johannesburg, the country’s largest city and economic hub, as DA’s candidate Herman Mashaba was elected mayor on August 22.
After South Africa’s municipal elections on August 3, the top three parties in the 270-seat Johannesburg council were the ANC with 121 seats, the DA with 104 seats, and the EFF with 30 seats.
DA’s candidate for Johannesburg mayor Mashaba received 144 votes defeating the African National Congress’s mayoral candidate Mpho Parks Tau who got 125 votes.
Tragically newly sworn-in ANC councillor Nonhlanhla Mthembu collapsed and died as Speaker Vasco Da Gama opened nominations for the position of Johannesburg Executive Mayor.
Excerpts of Herman Mashaba’s acceptance speech after being elected Johannesburg Mayor
I feel truly honoured to be standing in front of you. It is my commitment and pledge to the residents of Joburg to bring change which will create jobs.
Over 800 000 people are unemployed – a one-to-three ratio – and this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
We need to create an enabling environment for investment and small businesses to thrive which, in turn, will result in employment. From this evening corruption is declared public enemy number one in this city.
Herman Samtseu Philip Mashaba a short biography
- He was born in GaRamotse in Hammanskraal north of Pretoria on 26 August 1959
- Mashaba’s first jobs were as a clerk at Spark and then at a furniture manufacturer
- He stated selling SuperKurl hair products
- Mashaba launched Black Lime Me with Johan Kriel and Joseph Molwantwa on 14 February 1985 using a R30,000 loan from businessman Walter Dube
- He is married to Connie Mashaba
- Mashaba served as the chairman of the Free Market Foundation (FMF) from 2012 until May 2014
- He joined the Democratic Alliance in 2014
- Johannesburg Mayor (22 August 2016 – present)
