With the decline in citizen confidence and trust in the leadership of City of Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, residents, under the banner of the Johannesburg Crisis Alliance (JCA), have called for his resignation.

The Alliance said Gwamanda and his team did not have the “requisite skills and capability” to resolve the deepening governance crisis in Johannesburg.

“Our call for change in the leadership of the city is not made in favour of any political party. We hold the view that whoever assumes leadership in the City must be held to account, irrespective of which political party they represent,” it said.

The JCA noted that the leadership crisis in the city and the specific failures of the mayor are reflected in the “arrogant, uncaring and insensitive” handling of the recent electricity surcharge and tariff increase, as well as ongoing electricity outages across the City.

It highlighted the “contemptuous and disdainful” press statement issued by the mayor, which it said labelled Johannesburg residents who raised their concerns about the electricity surcharge as "stooges".

The Alliance noted the intermittent water supplies since 2023 and prolonged water cuts in recent weeks, and the admission by the MMC of Finance that the city needed to loan an amount of R2.5-billion from Agence Française de Development to cover budget shortfalls.

“The JCA believes that the executive mayor and his mayoral committee must be held accountable for these and other critical lapses in service delivery to the public,” the JCA said.

It said Gwamanda and his mayoral committee seemed to lack genuine concern for the wellbeing of Johannesburg and its residents.

The Alliance also demands a review of the recent prepaid electricity tariffs, an end to unplanned water cuts and emergency water provision to under-serviced communities.

The JCA wants an end to unplanned electricity load reduction, decisive and consistent measures in combatting corruption and the protection of whistleblowers and investigators; as well as open, transparent and proper consultation with civil society, business and labour in the governance of the city.