Joburg Unity Government Under Strain

(The Post News)- The City of Johannesburg’s Government of Local Unity (GLU) is under strain, as minority parties express growing frustration over the African National Congress (ANC)’s failure to consult them on city operations and critical decision-making processes.

According to Kabelo Gwamanda, chairperson of the Minority Parties Forum, there is a lack of clarity regarding accountability within the current governance structure.

“There are multiple forums or committees that operate outside of the official city framework. They assist in various ways, but we don’t know how to hold them accountable. For example, there’s the presidential task team—they call them the District Development Model Champion—and the recently formed Bomb Squad. We don’t know who to hold responsible for their outcomes,” Gwamanda told Newzroom Afrika.

In June, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero launched the Bomb Squad—a task team made up of seasoned public servants, led by ANC veteran Snuki Zikalala.

The Bomb Squad was created to oversee and ensure the implementation of service delivery in the city.

However, the introduction of the Bomb Squad has sparked concern among civil society organizations, particularly regarding issues of transparency and accountability.

“There is not a single coalition partner who can tell you exactly what the Bomb Squad is. We haven’t seen the terms of reference, we don’t know what they do, who they report to, or whether their role is political or administrative in nature,” Gwamanda said.

He added “We can’t afford to have sensitive city information handed over to people whose appointments are not guided by the legislation that governs our operations.”

Gwamanda also raised concerns about the lack of consultation from the ANC, citing a recent example where minority parties were excluded from discussions around the appointment of the city’s acting manager.

He said coalition partners accepted the decision at the time, prioritizing the interests of Johannesburg residents. However, he emphasized that such unilateral decision-making by the ANC undermines the unity of the GLU.

“It’s very important for every political party that forms part of a government to be treated with respect. Unless you have an outright majority, you must consult your partners when making and implementing decisions.”

He further stressed that all parties in the coalition are equally accountable to their constituencies and political organizations.

“If your role in the city depends on other political parties who must also account to their own constituencies, then you need to consult and consult extensively on critical matters,” he concluded.

Despite these tensions, minority parties say they will continue to engage the ANC in an effort to restore collaboration and accountability within the city’s governance