The Mogale City mayor in the West Rand of Johannesburg, Tyrone Gray from the Democratic Alliance (DA), was removed from office through a motion of no confidence, on Thursday, from an alliance between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

The decision came after the High Court reinstated ANC and EFF councillors, who were unlawfully removed. Also underway is the removal of the current Speaker of Council Jacqueline Pannal.

According to ANC Gauteng Provincial Secretary TK Nciza, his organisation has been clear from the onset, following the provincial conference, to reclaim lost ground.

“Our analysis was correct that the budget of the DA would never speak to the pro-poor, and it was very clear if you go through all of the townships here in Mogale city, it is the worst. For the first time in a long time, they caught a qualified audit, which shows that they cannot even handle their own finances,” he said.

He attributed the Mayor’s removal to the mismanagement of funds.

“You’d know that it is ANC mayors who are taking the flack when there is no service delivery, because many of the wards out there are of the ANC. We know that the DA has a tendency of not delivering services deliberately, in fact, it is sabotage to us so that our communities get angry with us, hence we are reclaiming these municipalities,” said Nciza.

He further accused the DA of not being democratic and said the DA’s tactic was to set up a Moonshot Pact which he pronounced to be anti-ANC. He said this was why the ANC preferred to work with small parties that are pro-poor.

“Look at the Speaker of Council who just wakes up and fires councillors because she does not want to put a motion into a programme, that just tells you of the kind of party you are dealing with. Then she ran away from this particular council, three times and she later comes and does something that is illegal yet as a party, they cannot even account for their own flaws,” he said.