MagRush | October 21, 2019
Entrepreneur and founder of Black Like Me brand or company (producing hair food and related products) Herman Mashaba has stepped down as Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor and mayor in the Johannesburg Municipality.
Herman Mashaba has bitten the bullet and quit as the Executive mayor of Johannesburg Municipality effective November 27, 2019.
His resignation was not unexpected. He promised to resign should the FedEx chair position be filled by “right-wing elements” after the October 20, 2019 council meeting in Joburg.
Former DA Leader and Western Cape Premier Helen Zille prevailed against deputy federal council chairperson Tomas Walter, Ex-Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip and Mike Waters, Ex-deputy chief whip.
She succeeded James Selfe who held the FedEx chairmanship for a whopping 19 years.
In his media statement on Monday October 21, 2019, Mashaba explained his reasons for bowing out:
“The election of Helen Zille as the Chairperson of Federal Council represents a victory for people in the DA who stand diametrically opposed to my beliefs and value system, and I believe those of most South Africans of all backgrounds.”
Although DA Leader Mmusi Maimane has congratulated Zille on her new DA job, upon receiving Mashaba’s resignation news he said, “today is a difficult day for the people of Johannesburg.” Mashaba chronicled his achievements of the past 3 years since he became DA councillor and Joburg mayor in his announcement of leaving his highly contentious post.
Among his milestones, Mashaba shone a spotlight on the “insourcing programmes that has benefitted over 7000 families and contained contractual costs” which DA was against because it fell out of its policy instruments.
Herman Mashaba became the Joburg mayor in 2016 after the August municipal or local elections through a coalition pact between DA and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The multiparty government arose where there was no clear winner during the local elections. On that score, “coalitions are the future of SA politics,” Mashaba said in his statement of resignation.
His departure has thrown into speculation the coalition arrangement with the rabble-rousers, EFF, which brought DA into government in Johannesburg.
Today’s tectonic developments – ignited by the eventful weekend’s rearrangement of the deck chairs – have certainly left those in the opposition benches licking their lips.
Herman Mashaba did not signal his next (political) move if any. However, his reasons that he could not “reconcile” himself “with people who do not see that South Africa is more unequal today than it was in 1994” and “that race is irrelevant in discussions of inequality and poverty in South Africa in 2019” are enlightening.
Mashaba emphasized that his pro-poor policies were antogonised from within by the hardliners of the movement. He wanted to depart (as councillor and mayor) with immediate effect. However, DA begged him to stay until a replacement is found. Later today the (DA) party will hold an urgent press briefing relating to Mashaba’s standing down.