South Africa's Johannesburg to See Fourth Mayor in Two Years

Thapelo Amad has resigned from office just three months after being awarded the mayorship of Johannesburg. His departure marks the latest in a series of quick mayoral exits.

Amad who is a member of the Islamist Al Jama-ah party was preceded by Mpho Phalatse who made history when she became Johannesburg's first woman mayor in 2021. Phalatse was a councillor since 2016 and a mayoral committee member for the Democratic Alliance. She served under Herman Mashaba who was appointed as mayor from 2016 to 2019. He broke away from the Democratic Alliance, the country's official opposition, to form his own political party, ActionSA.

Phalase was removed as mayor following a successful motion of no confidence brought by African Transformation Movement councillor Lubabalo Magwentshu, who argued: "We are not surprised by the executive mayor's inability to deliver services to the poor and marginalised people of Johannesburg."

Phalatse was reinstated after ANC mayor Dada Morero stepped down just 25 days after being in office when the Gauteng High Court declared the motion of no confidence against her was unconstitutional and therefore invalid. Phalatse eventually vacated the office again in January 2023, while the city battled to manage a cholera outbreak, and while poor reticulation of water has left vast areas of the metro without water.

Amad's replacement will come from the ANC-led coalition.