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Who will be Joburg’s deputy mayor? Coalition tensions rise as EFF name surfaces
Johannesburg’s political chessboard has shifted again. This time, the move is not about who leads the city, but about who could stand beside the mayor.
The ANC has confirmed it is in discussions with its coalition partners in the City of Johannesburg to fill a newly created deputy mayor position. The post was approved by the council last month after a majority of councillors voted in favour.
Now the real question is not whether the city will have a deputy mayor. It is who will get the job.
ANC confirms talks, but keeps cards close
On Friday, ANC Johannesburg spokesperson Mantombi Nkosi confirmed that conversations are underway with coalition partners about a possible candidate. She declined to give further details while talks continue but made it clear that the role will be filled before the upcoming local government elections.
That timeline alone has raised eyebrows. With elections on the horizon, every appointment carries political weight.
At the centre of the city’s leadership is Mayor Dada Morero, who represents the ANC. The creation of the deputy mayor post has prompted debate within the coalition about whether the position should also go to the ANC or to another partner.
Minority Governing Parties push back
The Minority Governing Parties, part of the current coalition in Johannesburg, have publicly opposed the idea of the deputy mayor’s seat going to an ANC candidate. Their argument is straightforward: with Morero already serving as mayor, handing the deputy role to the same party would tilt the balance too far in one direction.
They have suggested that if the post was created simply to manage internal tensions within the ANC, they would not support that approach. According to the group, the city’s leadership should reflect the broader coalition arrangement rather than internal party dynamics.
At the same time, the MGP has said it supports the principle of a deputy mayor. In their view, the position could strengthen governance and bring more stability to the City of Johannesburg.
There is also a growing view among some coalition partners that the EFF, as the second biggest party in the Government of Local Unity, could be considered for the role while the ANC retains the mayoral position.
That possibility alone has fuelled intense political speculation across the city.
Political management or better governance?
Political analyst Andre Duvenhage from North West University has added another layer to the debate. He believes the deputy mayor position was created primarily for political reasons rather than to improve administration or service delivery.
The new role is expected to cost the city an additional R1.25 million per year. In a metro already grappling with financial strain and service delivery backlogs, that figure has become part of the public conversation.
Duvenhage argues that South Africa has a long history of expanding political structures to accommodate coalition arrangements and internal party diversity, even when service delivery remains under pressure.
In Johannesburg, residents are more concerned about water leaks, deteriorating infrastructure, and inconsistent basic services than about titles and political negotiations. In suburbs such as Westedene, water running down the streets has become a symbol of deeper governance challenges.
For many Joburgers, the core issue is simple: will this new position translate into better service delivery, or is it just another seat at the political table?
The legal green light
The City of Johannesburg has confirmed that all legal requirements were followed in creating the post. The process was carried out in line with the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act.
The city also received guidance from Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Lebogang Maile, on the steps required. Council has now completed the approval stage, meaning the position formally exists and can be filled.
In other words, the debate is no longer about legality. It is about politics and priorities.
What happens next for Joburg?
As coalition partners negotiate behind closed doors, the city waits. Will the ANC retain both the mayor and deputy mayor roles, or will the EFF or another partner step into the number two spot?
With local government elections approaching, the decision could reshape alliances and campaign strategies across Johannesburg.
For residents, however, the real measure will not be who occupies the office, but whether City Hall starts delivering on the basics.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Central News South Africa
