Johannesburg to Elect Fifth Speaker in Three Years After Coalition Collapse

City hall’s revolving door continues to spin, with Joburg now set to install yet another Speaker following the dramatic collapse of the ANC-ActionSA coalition.

The Johannesburg City Council is gearing up to elect its fifth Speaker in just three years a sign of the ongoing political instability that continues to plague South Africa’s economic powerhouse.

This latest shake-up follows the ousting of ActionSA councillor Nobuhle Mthembu, who was removed via a motion of no confidence brought forward by Al Jama-ah, a minor party that often punches above its weight in local coalition deals.

A Coalition in Tatters

Mthembu’s removal marked the official breakdown of the tenuous coalition between ActionSA and the ANC, which had been cooperating on a delicate power-sharing agreement in Johannesburg. While both parties insist their broader cooperation will continue in other municipalities, the rupture in Joburg spells renewed uncertainty for the city’s governance.

ActionSA, already weakened by internal rifts and public discontent with its alliances, found itself sidelined from the selection of the new speaker after refusing to back ANC Mayor Dada Morero in a recent confidence vote.

Margaret Arnolds: A Likely Comeback?

Insiders believe Margaret Arnolds of the African Independent Congress (AIC) could be the frontrunner for the Speaker role. Arnolds, who currently serves as the MMC for Finance, previously held the speaker’s gavel in 2023 but was removed as part of the ANC-ActionSA pact.

Her possible return reflects a renewed push by smaller parties to gain meaningful positions in council leadership, as concerns grow about the ANC’s outsized influence, especially with both the mayor and council whip roles in its hands.

Arnolds’ appointment would likely trigger a wider reshuffle within the Mayoral Committee, as minor parties leverage the moment to secure more senior roles and influence over city governance.

Turbulent Times for Joburg Council

Since the 2021 local elections, Johannesburg has become something of a political battleground. No party commands a clear majority, and council politics has been shaped by short-lived alliances, constant motions of no confidence, and shifting loyalties.

The result? A city on its fifth Speaker in three years, with past Speakers coming from the DA, ANC, COPE, ActionSA, and now potentially AIC.

This instability has stymied service delivery, planning, and public trust in city leadership, despite Johannesburg being the financial heart of the country.

Social Media and Political Reactions

On social media, residents expressed fatigue with the political circus:

“Another Speaker? Another reshuffle? What happened to actually running the city?” tweeted @ThabisoJHB.

“Joburg’s politics is starting to look like musical chairs with a taxpayer-funded soundtrack,” wrote @Nox_Mahlangu.

Others called for electoral reform to prevent small parties from tipping the scales in council:

“We can’t keep having 2-seat parties holding the city hostage. Time to rethink coalition politics,” one user posted.

The Speaker election is set for Thursday, and if recent history is anything to go by, it’s unlikely to be smooth sailing. With ActionSA sidelined, and the ANC lacking a clear majority, behind-the-scenes negotiations are feverishly underway to secure the votes needed.

In the meantime, ordinary Johannesburg residents are once again left waiting for political stability and for someone to actually get back to fixing potholes, outages, and broken systems.

Johannesburg’s revolving door of speakers reflects a deeper crisis in coalition politics. As smaller parties jockey for power, Joburg’s 6 million residents are left wondering whether the council chambers will ever prioritise stability over political posturing.

{Source: IOL}

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