Who holds power in Joburg?
270 seats. Nobody has 136. Ten mayoral changes since 2016. Scroll to watch the coalitions shift.
Hung council after first coalition-era election
The 2016 local election delivered no majority. Herman Mashaba (DA) was elected mayor with EFF external support — the first hung Joburg council.
Mashaba resigns
Mashaba resigns from the DA and steps down as mayor. Council prepares to elect a successor.
Makhubo (ANC) elected mayor
Geoff Makhubo elected mayor with EFF support. Coalition dynamics flip.
Makhubo dies of COVID-19
Makhubo dies while in office. Mpho Moerane serves as acting mayor.
Source: News24Matongo elected, then dies 39 days later
Jolidee Matongo elected mayor 10 Aug 2021; killed in a car crash 19 Sep. Three ANC Joburg mayors die within a year.
Second election: deeper hung council
270 seats, no majority. Mpho Phalatse (DA) elected via a multiparty coalition against the ANC-EFF bloc.
Phalatse ousted, Morero mayor for 25 days, then reinstated
A motion of no confidence removes Phalatse; Dada Morero (ANC) is elected. The court rules the ouster unlawful and Phalatse is reinstated 25 days later.
Al Jama-ah (3 seats) takes the mayor's chair
Phalatse ousted again. Thapelo Amad of Al Jama-ah — a party with 3 of 270 seats — is elected mayor.
Amad resigns; Gwamanda elected
Amad resigns amid controversy over a claimed water-tanker deal. Kabelo Gwamanda (Al Jama-ah) elected mayor.
Gwamanda out, Morero in — 'Government of Local Unity'
Gwamanda resigns. Dada Morero (ANC) elected with 189 votes. The Government of Local Unity forms (ANC, EFF, PA, IFP, Al Jama-ah, AIC; ≈184 seats).
Speaker Mthembu removed 212–48
Speaker Margaret Arnolds (AIC) returns after ActionSA's Nobuhle Mthembu is removed by a 212–48 vote.
EFF votes with ANC to pass R97.1bn budget
The 2026/27 city budget of R97.1bn passes with EFF backing the ANC-led bloc.
Local government elections
Joburg votes again. Declared mayoral candidates (alphabetical by party): DA — Helen Zille · ActionSA — Herman Mashaba · PA — Kenny Kunene · ANC — TBC (unconfirmed). Register or check your registration via the IEC.
Source: IEC