By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Gauteng ANC’s newly elected leaders, Morakane Mosupyoe, Tasneem Motara, Panyaza Lesufi, Thembinkosi Nciza and Nomantu Ralehoko. (Photo by Christopher Moagi).
The ANC Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee has called a special meeting to deliberate on governance and coalitions.
On Thursday, we saw DA councillor Vasco da Gama been voted out as council speaker of City of Johannesburg.
He was accused of unlawfully appointing an acting council secretary and concealing the matter.
The motion of no confidence was brought by opposition political parties, including the African Independent Congress.
It was supported by the ANC and the EFF, who hold substantial numbers in the council. But the opposition block did not have enough numbers to remove Da Gama on their own.
The is also strong push from the ANC Gauteng PEC for David Makhura to be removed as premier and replaced by Panyaza Lesufi.
Lesufi was recently elected as provincial chairperson of the ANC in the province.
The push to move Makhura has been explained as avoiding “two centres of powers” following the provincial conference.
There was division on how soon the leadership swap should happen, with some in the PEC seeking it to happen immediately and others calling for it to happen at the end of the year.
This afternoon, the PEC meeting could finalise whether Lesufi will be elected as premier.
Another concern was whether Makhura could be moved to a national position. The request for this had already been made to President Cyril Ramaphosa.