Dr. Nasiphi Moya of ActionSA has been officially elected as the new Mayor of the City of Tshwane, securing a significant political victory with the backing of influential parties, including the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
In what was widely anticipated, the Democratic Alliance (DA) once again failed its councillor and former mayor, Cilliers Brink, for the mayoral seat. Brink, however, had been ousted the previous week through a motion of no confidence sponsored by the ANC, with support from the EFF and ActionSA. The same coalition of forces that engineered his removal rallied behind Moya, nominating and seconding her candidacy for the top post.
The election saw only two nominees—Moya and Brink—vying for the mayoral position. With 214 council members casting their votes, Moya emerged victorious in the City Council chamber in Pretoria on Wednesday, winning 122 votes to Brink’s 86. Parties such as the Good Party, the African Transformation Movement (ATM), and Defenders of the People (DOP) joined forces with ActionSA, the EFF, and the ANC, collectively securing 117 seats.
Despite three council members being hospitalised, arrangements were made for them to cast their votes from the chief whip’s office, ensuring full participation in this pivotal election.
The shift in leadership comes at a time when the ANC is calling for Tshwane to return to its former prominence. At a press briefing earlier on Wednesday, the party expressed its dissatisfaction with the city’s governance under DA rule, citing a decline in service delivery and infrastructure.
“Since the DA took over Tshwane in 2016, the Capital City has experienced a dramatic and sustained deterioration with regard to governance and service delivery to communities,” the ANC stated. “Eight years of DA-led coalitions and five mayors have achieved nothing other than driving the Capital City to the brink of administrative collapse.”
Dr. Moya’s election marks a new chapter for Tshwane, as her leadership will be under intense scrutiny from both her supporters and critics. The ANC, EFF, and ActionSA are hopeful that the city’s governance will improve under this new alliance, while the DA’s defeat signals a potential shift in the political landscape of the Capital City.
