By Johnathan Paoli
The reappointment of Floyd Brink as Johannesburg city manager has garnered mixed responses from opposition and coalition parties, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) accusing the African National Congress (ANC)-led coalition of politicising a position that should serve the city’s residents, not internal party factions.
Brink’s return, confirmed during a tense council meeting on Thursday, comes less than a year after the Gauteng High Court declared his previous appointment unconstitutional, unlawful, and invalid, following a DA court challenge.
Despite this, the ANC and its coalition partners in the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Patriotic Alliance (PA) voted to reinstate Brink, citing his “proven administrative leadership” and experience.
The DA – which has consistently said that Brink is not qualified for the post and that the process to appoint him was not sound — abstained from the vote, saying it refused to participate in an “ANC factional power play”.
DA caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the party’s decision to abstain was deliberate and based on principle.
“The DA Johannesburg caucus is not a branch of the ANC and will not be drawn into its internal factional battles. We do not take instructions from Luthuli House. The appointment of a city manager should be about competence and integrity, not about which ANC faction holds the upper hand between Dada Morero and [finance MMC] Loyiso Masuku,” she said.
Kayser-Echeozonjoku added that the DA would continue to monitor the legality and transparency of the process, warning that “Johannesburg cannot afford another year of instability, court challenges, and factional paralysis”.
Brink’s reappointment followed a protracted recruitment process that had been delayed several times due to internal ANC divisions.
One faction had reportedly pushed for Brink’s return, while another backed former Johannesburg Property Company CEO Helen Botes.
Inside Metros reached out to ActionSA’s Johannesburg caucus, however, spokesperson Cannedy Netshitungulu, while confirming their decision to abstain, refused to comment on the reappointment.
“We abstained in this item, and we are not going to comment any further in this matter,” Netshitungulu said.
Earlier this month, ActionSA caucus leader Marcel Coutriers condemned the process surrounding the reappointment, describing it as the product of a dysfunctional council
“Instead of urgency and cooperation, the sitting was dominated by political games and self-serving interests. Ultimately, the very item that justified the extraordinary session was withdrawn. This marks yet another failure of the governing coalition and governance in the City of Johannesburg,” he said.
ActionSA had previously called for a merit-based process and expressed frustration that the city’s top administrative post had remained vacant for nearly a year.
In contrast, the EFF and PA, both coalition partners in the ANC-led administration, hailed Brink’s reappointment as a victory for continuity and competence.
EFF councillor and MMC for Community Safety, Mgcini Tshwaku, congratulated Brink, saying he had proven his leadership through calm and clarity during difficult times.
“Dr Brink, you have already demonstrated in the most challenging circumstances that leadership is defined not by politics but by commitment to the people,” Tshwaku said.
PA councillor and MMC for Transport, Kenny Kunene, also applauded Brink’s persistence, saying he had worked with all political parties and shown himself to be a city manager who listens to the opposition.
“Even those who once opposed him could not deny his competence. He faced adversity but remained committed to the city and its people,” Kunene said.
The ANC’s Sihle Nguse, speaking in support of the motion, described Brink as a seasoned public servant who held the city together when politics was noisy and the work had to be stabilised.
Nguse dismissed claims that Brink’s appointment was politically motivated, saying it was based on merit after an independent panel scored him the highest among 10 candidates.
Brink reportedly received a score of 114, outpacing Msizi Myeza (104) and Tshepo Makola (90).
The ANC’s eventual endorsement of Brink came amid pressure from the EFF, which allegedly threatened to withdraw support for Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi if the process stalled again.
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