/ 22 August 2016

Herman Mashaba elected Johannesburg mayor, marking the end of ANC rule in the city

Herman Mashaba of the Democratic Alliance is Johannesburg's new mayor.
Herman Mashaba of the Democratic Alliance is Johannesburg's new mayor.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday won control of Johannesburg, the country’s economic hub, unseating the ANC, which has run the municipal council since apartheid ended 22 years ago.

The victory gave the DA control of both Johannesburg and Tshwane, the nation’s capital, following heavy losses in urban areas by the ANC at the August 3 local elections

By taking over the two major cities, the DA has reshaped the political landscape in South Africa, where the ANC has ruled unopposed since it ended white minority rule in 1994.

“We are going to bring change that is going to bring jobs to our people. Let’s get this city working again,” said new mayor Herman Mashaba, who is an entrepreneur.

The ANC took 45% of the vote to the DA’s 38% in the elections – short of an outright majority. The DA rallied smaller parties to back Mashaba, who won by 144 votes to mayor Parks Tau’s 125. The EFF became kingmakers after emerging as third in the city.

The DA last week took over Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay, which includes manufacturing hub Port Elizabeth, also with the support of smaller parties .

The DA has been running Cape Town since 2006.

The ANC still won the most votes overall during the election and was working to form coalitions in the municipalities where it lost its majority. â€“ Reuters