By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Al Jama-ah councillor Thapelo Amad has resigned as the executive mayor of the economic and financial hub of South Africa, City of Johannesburg.
The announcement was made in a media briefing by several political parties in Johannesburg on Monday evening.
Amad is part of a small grouping of political parties that have coalesced with the ANC and EFF to form majority governments in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
He seemed safe in his position until a few weeks ago when the Patriotic Alliance, which played a role in his election, indicated it would support his removal.
His resignation comes ahead of a motion of no confidence against him which was to be debated in council on Tuesday.
ActionSA had tabled a motion against him, saying it wanted to “save the city from embarrassment”.
“We thank him for preserving the unity of political parties in Johannesburg above his personal interests,” ANC Gauteng chairperson Panyaza Lesufi said on Monday.
“He didn’t resign because of the motion tomorrow, we’ve got the numbers. We were going to crush that motion against him. He’s not running away from the motion. We need to keep this coalition intact.
Lesufi said the coalition partners will defend any motions of no confidence against the speaker.
ActionSA had also filed a motion of no confidence against Speaker of council, Colleen Makhubele. The party has accused her of neglecting her duties.