Joburg Approves New Deputy Mayor Role With R1.2 Million Salary

Johannesburg has officially given the green light to create a brand new deputy mayor position, a political role that will cost the city just over R1.2 million a year. After a lengthy and spirited debate during Thursday’s council sitting, councillors voted in favour of the move, marking a significant shift in how the city’s leadership structure will operate.

Council Signs Off On A New Era Of Governance

The vote saw 107 councillors support the proposal, 87 oppose it, and 37 abstain. With that, Johannesburg now has the legal go-ahead to appoint its first-ever deputy mayor. The City Manager has been authorised to begin the process, after which a formal election must take place before the province is notified.

The idea of a deputy mayor is not new. It stems from a 2023 recommendation by Gauteng Cooperative Governance MEC Mzi Khumalo, who argued that Joburg’s leadership needed strengthening to meet the city’s growing governance and service delivery pressures.

Why Joburg Says It Needs A Deputy Mayor

Johannesburg, a city now home to more than six million people, has been juggling increasingly complex challenges. Ageing infrastructure, fragile finances, ongoing electricity and water issues, and persistent revenue collection concerns have all placed pressure on the city’s executive.

Officials believe that the deputy mayor role will bolster leadership capacity, help stabilise decision-making, and ensure continuity whenever the Mayor is unavailable. The position will also take on oversight of service delivery projects, a crucial point given the city’s current backlog and public frustration.

Importantly, the new role will incorporate and replace the existing Finance MMC position, meaning the finance portfolio will shift under the deputy mayor’s office. Supporters of the move argue that the R1.2 million salary will be absorbed within the existing 2025/26 budget.

Political Divisions And A Debate Over Cost

Despite ANC support and backing from several coalition partners, not everyone in council was convinced. The Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters rejected the proposal outright, flagging the financial implications at a time when residents are already battling rising living costs.

ActionSA abstained, noting concerns but not fully opposing the restructuring.

Still, the ANC-led coalition maintains that the long-term governance benefits outweigh the cost and could ultimately help the city deliver services more effectively.

Loyiso Masuku Emerges As A Leading Contender

While the position has only just been approved, one name is already dominating conversations: Finance MMC Loyiso Masuku. Her strong showing at the ANC’s regional conference in December 2025, where she defeated current Mayor Dada Morero and secured the regional chairperson title, has elevated her political influence in Johannesburg.

Her emergence as a frontrunner comes on the same day a motion of no confidence against Mayor Morero was postponed following a request for a secret ballot. The ANC-led coalition is expected to consult its partners in the coming days before settling on a final candidate for the deputy mayor post.

What Comes Next

Johannesburg now enters a new phase in local governance. The appointment of the city’s first deputy mayor could reshape how service delivery, finances, and day-to-day executive decisions are managed.

Whether the move strengthens leadership or simply adds another layer of politics is something residents will be watching closely in the coming months.

{Source:The South African}

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