ANC resolves to make Loyiso Masuku Joburg finance MMC

ANC regional deputy secretary turned deputy coordinator Loyiso Masuku is expected to be announced as the city’s new finance boss.

The decision was taken in a Tuesday night meeting when the Johannesburg regional office bearers met their party's provincial upper structure to discuss the long-awaited move.

Coalition partners have been squabbling over who should fill the post of finance MMC, which has been vacant for a month since former incumbent Margaret Arnolds of the African Independent Congress was elected council speaker.

Those in mayor Dada Morero’s camp conceded he may not have preferred his political nemesis in the powerful post, especially so close to the much-anticipated regional conference where the pair is expected to go head to head for the leadership of the region.

However, an insider said Morero had to accept the move in the interest of stability in the fractured region.

A faction of the ANC in Johannesburg wanted Morero to appoint Masuku as his new MMC, but there were fears because she will challenge Morero for regional chairperson in an upcoming conference expected to take place in just more than a month.

Sasabona Manganye is vying for a second term as regional secretary (RS), while Morero takes on Masuku, fighting for a second term with Chris Vondo as his slate's candidate for the RS post.

“Looking at her capacity, she has been an MMC for quite some time, having served under previous ANC mayors. She has seniority on her side and her credentials cannot be questioned. Dada is just blocking her because they are political opponents,” a Masuku lobbyist told this publication last week.

Masuku has long been touted for the post, since the current coalition took office last year, but was snubbed because of her rivalry with Morero, who resolved to place the city’s coffers in the hands of the minorities, appointing long-standing ANC ally Arnolds as finance MMC.

“He’s got no options. The majority of our councillors are ward-based, we only have four PR councillors and all of them are MMCs already, excluding the mayor. He does not have the luxury of many PR councillors to choose from, he’s got to give Loyiso this thing once and for all,” said the regional insider in Masuku’s camp.   

In the meeting with provincial co-conveners Amos Masondo and Panyaza Lesufi, provincial coordinator Hope Papo and Tasneem Motara among others, Morero's hand was forced into settling for Masuku.

Meanwhile, the musical chairs in the city continue as her erstwhile office, group corporate and shared services, will now be taken up by Sthembiso Zungu, who serves as the current chief whip of council.

In a quiet corner, the minorities were simmering a revolt, claiming that the finance post should be allocated to them as they were not party to the decision to move Arnolds to speaker, saying “she has always denied that she belongs to a certain ANC faction, which is a reality she is living now.”

In a letter to Morero last week, the minority party bloc including the UDM, PAC and Al Jama-ah urged him to appoint Thapelo Amad to the post in line with their power-sharing agreement.

“While the minority governing parties welcome the recent election of [Arnolds as] the speaker, we wish to place on record that the speaker was nominated by the ANC and not the minority caucus,” the letter said. “As such, it cannot be construed as compensation or a replacement for the finance portfolio. We hereby recommend Thapelo Amad to be appointed as MMC for finance.”

However, their plea has fallen on deaf ears as they have still not received a response to their request for a meeting to discuss the matter.

According to interim minority caucus leader Kabelo Gwamanda, the ANC running a solo show reflects the strained relations in the government of local unity.

“It is seriously concerning the way the ANC is conducting itself. They do not consult with us, they make decisions that we hear of in the media. They are behaving as a party that has got nothing to lose, it’s like they are aware this is their last stint in government. Our main concern is the city we are going to inherit after all of this,” he said.

The minority parties are expected to meet on Thursday to discuss the recent developments and to pave a way forward, which might include a reconfiguration of their relationship with the ANC.

Regional convener and mayor Morero said his office would prepare a statement to make the official announcement.