On 26 February, the City of Johannesburg Council elected former Finance MMC, Loyiso Masuku, as the city’s first-ever Deputy Mayor in a transition that marks a significant shift in the city’s executive structure.
Since there was only one nomination, Masuku was duly elected to the position. The decision follows a recent council motion to stablish a new office that will serve as the second-in-command within the City’s executive leadership to strengthen governance and improve coordination within the metro. With this appointment, the ANC now holds both the Mayoral positions within Johannesburg’s coalition-led government.
Council Speaker, Margaret Arnolds, formally declared the outcome after the official nomination process was concluded.
Accepting the nomination, Masuku said: “I, Loyiso Masuku, accept the nomination for the position of Deputy Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg.”
In addition to her new responsibilities, structural changes within the City’s executive are also underway. The Finance MMC portfolio, which Masuku currently oversees, will be dissolved and integrated into her expanded portfolio as Deputy Mayor.
