By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
City of Johannesburg has appointed Tshepo Makola as the acting City manager, marking a critical moment in the ongoing political and administrative turmoil.
Makola’s appointment comes after the Gauteng High Court ruled the appointment of former City manager Floyd Brink, was irregular.
Makola, previously the City’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), assumed his new role on 27 December 2024.
Johannesburg’s governance has been plagued by political instability, with frequent changes in leadership at both the mayoral and administrative levels. The legal battle surrounding Brink’s removal further exacerbated this instability, highlighting the challenges of maintaining continuity in the city’s leadership.
His ascent to the role follows a controversial period marked by the Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA), which last week called for the recruitment process of a city manager to be handled by an independent agency.
The call for external oversight raises questions about the internal dynamics of Johannesburg’s city governance, bringing further attention to the recent High Court ruling that deemed the City of Joburg’s VIP protection policy unconstitutional.
Two weeks ago, reports emerged suggesting that Mayor Dada Morero was reportedly working behind the scenes to influence the selection of Helen Botes, the CEO of the Joburg Property Company (JPC), as city manager – a plan that faced considerable opposition from both the African National Congress (ANC) and other key stakeholders in the city’s coalition government.
In the aftermath of the High Court ruling, Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu issued a statement acknowledging the VIP protection judgment and indicated that her office is carefully analysing the decision.
“We are currently studying the judgment in detail and will take necessary steps required in due course, guided by comprehensive legal advice,” Mthembu said.
The ruling challenged the Council’s resolution from 20 March 2024 which sought significant allocation of personal protection to senior officials, including the Executive Mayor who was to receive ten officers for protection, while the Speaker was allocated eight. The Court ruled this was done without a required threat assessment from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and was therefore unlawful.
Mthembu’s statement said there were discrepancies presented in the media regarding her own protection detail.