City of Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba has announced his resignation from both the DA and his position as the executive mayor during a press conference. Mashaba will step down as a DA councillor on November 27 which will automatically make him relinquish his position as mayor. There has been a rift between DA members since the Afri-Forum performance during the General election in 2019. Some of the people who are likely to be shown the door is the party leader Mmusi Maimane, the close ally of Herman Mashaba.
There is also speculations about racism in the DA, with black members reported to be treated differently. According to the specifications, this saw Lindiwe Mazibuko shown the door, and it was reported at the time by the party that she was going to further her studies at Havard University, which arguably was partially true. The other one who is waiting for the axe to befall is Mmusi Maimane, who is reported to have lost his influence amongst his party members.
Today Herman Mashaba says he is resigning because he could not work under a DA that has elected Helen Zille as the federal council chairperson at the weekend. According to Mashaba, Zille’s victory yesterday was a triumph of people who have been against a pro-black narrative that he has been fighting for.
“The election of Helen Zille as the chairperson of federal council represents a victory for the people in the DA who stand diametrically opposed to my beliefs and value system, and I believe those of most South Africans of all backgrounds,” he said
Herman has been in the DA for quite some time now, today he just wakes up and start to realise that DA has been against the Black Economic Empowerment in South Africa? Unbelievable
“I cannot reconcile myself with a group of people who believe that race is irrelevant in the discussion of inequality and poverty in South Africa in 2019.”
“It is not in my nature to quit anything in life. I succeeded under the darkest days of apartheid when I was told that I could not be a businessman. However, I cannot be a willing participant, in good conscience, in a process that is placing narrow, internal interests of a political party ahead of the needs of the five million residents of Johannesburg,” said Mashaba.
Meanwhile, ANC said Herman Mashaba's resignation as mayor of Johannesburg and from the Democratic Alliance had very little to do with the weekend election of Helen Zille as the DA’s federal council chairperson. Quoted by sowetan newspaper ANC regional spokesperson Jolidee Malton said "His resignation is informed by the dire financial crisis that he has plunged the city of Johannesburg into. He has over time been able to get away with lies about the financial affairs of the city,".
"Just because he lost a battle in the party, he throws his toys out of the cot." he concluded
Rumours doing rounds is that Herman Mashaba is likely to join EFF, he had a good working relationship with the EFF and some point acknowledged the EFF for his strides as Johannesburg Mayor. Julius once claimed that Herman Mashaba is an EFF mayor, more because he was seen to be implementing EFF policies than that of the DA. If you have something to say, Clik comment button to add you view.
