Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, has had six mayors in the past 22 months. Political leaders bicker over power and cliques, while residents struggle with dry taps, heaps of garbage, and dilapidated buildings. The city’s 270 elected council members recently voted in Kabelo Gwamanda, a first-term city councilor from a political party that got just 1 percent of the vote in the last municipal election.
Residents of Johannesburg have long suffered from the city’s inability to stick with a leader, leading to a municipal mess. From overcrowded buildings to cratered roads, the city’s infrastructure has been neglected. The African National Congress, the country’s largest political party, has recently lost hold of many major municipalities, and may slip below 50 percent in a national election for the first time next year.
In his inauguration speech, Kabelo Gwamanda called for collaboration in bringing back the heartbeat of the city. But with the city’s history of short mayoral terms, it remains to be seen if he will be the one to lead Johannesburg out of its current state.