Whereas the new Mayor of Johannesburg is likely to have a name, I have not learned it.

Whereas the new mayor of Johannesburg is likely to have a name, I have not learned it. I
have not spent any time reading up on his political views and have little knowledge of this
qualification. To be clear, I have nothing against him, other than that he is a puppet that
represents the very worst of local politics and coalition governance.
I do know that despite it being summer he chose to wear a scarf with “Palestine”
emblazoned on it for one of his earliest public appearances. This means one of two things:
that he is either not very good at geography, or that spelling is not his forte. This, given that
it is the people of Johannesburg he is meant to represent. And where we might feel
tremendous empathy for the people of Palestine, I would hope that it is Johannesburg
residents who are his priority.
It is the very least that we should expect from our mayor.
As we head closer to a national election in 2024 there a feeling of both optimism and of
concern. There is a sense that although it is unlikely that any of the opposition parties will
win the election outright, that South Africa might follow the example of the many countries
around the world who are governed by coalition governments.
This, like anything has advantages and disadvantages. In the case of South Africa, it could
mean a move away from an African National Congress government for the first time since 1994.

It could mean a broader based representation, depending on who is invited to the
party, which brings more ideas, energy, and problem-solving skills. Much needed if one
considers the mess that the ANC has created in almost every sphere of its involvement.
The disadvantage to a coalition government is that in some instances, parties that hardly
represent the will of the people can become “King makers” and candidates with little
mandate assume powerful roles. As is the case with the new Johannesburg mayor. A further
concern for those hoping for a new dispensation, is a potential ANC and EFF alliance.
Something that is becoming a concern if one looks at municipal politics.
None of the above, however, is as much risk as is the ability of the opposition parties to
work constructively together. If the larger municipalities are a microcosm of the South
African political landscape, South Africans have reason to be concerned. The inability to
“Play well together” has impacted on several cities and has contributed to a situation where
a mayor with an ill-chosen scarf is positioned to lead the country’s largest metropolis and
economic hub.
This is something that should be taken very seriously.
Because if this is a sign of what is to come, then this can have an enormous and negative
impact on the future of the country following an election in 2024.
Although the Democratic Alliance and the Freedom Front have displayed an ability to work
together, the capability to form a stable coalition with Action SA is a worry. The same could
be said for Build One South Africa. Personal history and mistrust have had a major impact on
these relationships and has been seen to be played out in the public space.

The capacity of these parties to “get it together”, to put personal history aside, to leave egos
out of the equation and to put the country ahead of one-upmanship is critical of South
Africa is to move ahead without the ANC and possibly the EFF as the governing coalition.
The bad news is that they have not yet given South Africans the confidence that they have
the maturity to do this, and yet the good news is that they do have the maturity. They have
in common a love for the country, insight, and qualifications to solve problems and to lead,
and that they have at the helm, people of integrity and vision. They clearly have what it
takes to take the country forward.
If there is anything positive about the election of the new Johannesburg mayor, let it be that
it provides a warning to other parties what can happen in 2024 if they lose sight of what is
important. And that in 2024 it is “South Africa” that they wear with pride around their
necks.