With the Cape Town mayoral chain up for grabs at the end of this month, experts have identified the two frontrunners to replace Patricia de Lille.
Applications and nominations for the City’s top post have closed and political pundits believe the toss will be between Community Safety MEC Dan Plato and Provincial Speaker Sharna Fernandez, reports the
Weekend Argus.
Besides Plato and Fernandez, several DA members have thrown their names into the hat - including Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Housing and Transport Brett Herron; DA Gauteng chairperson Heinrich Volmink; Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson; Mayco Member for Area South, Anda Ntsodo; and Councillor Grant Twigg.
Political analyst Daniel Silke said the DA had a difficult task to fill De Lille’s “big” shoes.
“A mayor is no longer just a party hack. It is someone who has an elevated status in terms of leadership within the council and in the political party.
“They have to appeal to a cross-section of voters,” Silke said.
But political commentator, Simon Grindrod, believes none of the candidates will cut it.
“Those who were part of creating the crisis cannot be part of solving the crisis. The City council needs a reboot and a fresh start,” Grindrod said.
He said the key objectives for the new mayor would be to regain the confidence of citizens, stabilise the administration, unify the caucus, appoint a fresh mayco and sell a clear vision towards 2020 and beyond.
Another source said the instability and infighting in the DA caucus in the City council was far from over and “it was so broken it would possibly be never repaired”.