Johannesburg’s black mayor resigns over race row

One of the most senior politicians in South Africa’s historically white main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has resigned his post and quit the party over how it handles race.

Herman Mashaba was mayor of Johannesburg for three years.

The election of a black mayor from the DA was seen as a sign of the party could potentially threaten the ruling ANC’s grip on power at national level.

But at a press conference on Monday Mr Mashaba said:

“I cannot reconcile myself with people who believe that race is not important in their discussion of inequalities.”

He said his decision was sparked by the re-admission of Helen Zille, a white politician who provoked widespread anger in 2017 when she praised aspects of colonialism, to the party’s high ranks:

“The election of [Helen] Zille as chair of federal council is victory for people who are opposed to my belief systems.”

Black leaders within the DA believe that the liberal, multi-racial party is going back to its roots of being an all-white organisation, the BBC’s Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg reports.

Mr Mashaba also said his “pro-poor agenda” had been “undermined, criticised and rendered nearly impossible” by the DA. Our reporter says that by “pro-poor”, Mr Mashaba means “pro-black”.

As the first non-ANC (African National Congress) mayor of South Africa’s biggest city since the end of white minority rule in 1994, Mr Mashaba’s election victory in 2016 signalled a major success for the DA.

Self-made businessman Mr Mashaba was seen as a key ally of the party’s first black leader, Mmusi Msimane, in his efforts to increase support among black voters.

Mmusi Maimane (L) succeeded Helen Zille (R) as leader of the DA in 2015

But the DA’s share of the vote dropped in the May general election after conservative whites abandoned the party, and Ms Zille’s return to a senior post in the party is seen as an attempt to regain their support.

Mr Mashaba said he would step down next month, raising questions about whether the DA would be able to retain the mayoral post in Johannesburg.

‘Manna from heaven for their rivals’

Milton Nkosi, BBC News, Johannesburg

News of Herman Mashaba’s resignation exposes deep fault lines within the DA. It’s a far cry from the day when Mmusi Maimane was elected party leader amid much fanfare, his hand clasped by Helen Zille’s as they sang along to loud cheers of delegates.

For the governing ANC, which is itself trapped in seemingly perpetual internal squabbles, the opposition DA’s problems are manna from heaven.

The ANC is weak but the largest opposition party in the country is mutilating itself in a corner, unprovoked.

As for the DA party leader Mr Maimane, he is also fighting for his political life.

Standing side-by-side with Mr Mashaba at Monday’s press conference, Mr Maimane held his hand high saying: “You are my hero! You are my hero!”

Mr Maimane’s fate will be decided in next year’s party leadership congress. But judging by the speed at which events are unfolding, there is no guarantee that he will still be around then.