<\/p>\n
Pretoria \u2013 New Joburg mayor Thapelo Amad has promised to hit the ground running in order to fix a raft of issues which have marred the city of gold.<\/p>\n
Amad, who is also the chairperson of Al-Jama-ah in Gauteng, is the first Muslim mayor in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Addressing councillors shortly after his election on Friday, Amad said he would prioritise the city\u2019s finances inorder to get Johannesburg stable again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a mission of fixing the city\u2019s finance, the city is on the brink of collapse. We call on all citizens of the beautiful city to partake and contribute to the rebuilding of the city. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe minimum we ask from you, is to pay for what you have consumed. If you cannot afford, there are other systems in place to assist, please utilise them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amad said he will also focus on fighting and combating corruption.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is another pandemic that is crippling our society and we must all agree that it is our collective responsibility to fight this evil,\u2019\u2019 he said to a cheering crowd.<\/p>\n
During a media briefing, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi congratulated Amad, saying as the ANC they will support his leadership and cautioned him from listening to naysayers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want to spend time in throwing insults\u2026 We have no time for people who think if other political parties work with them, then they are correct and if they don\u2019t work with them, they are bad, that\u2019s childish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amad was elected with 138 votes and was backed by a number of political parties, including the ANC and the EFF.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s understood that Amad will be at the helm for the next six months while the ANC resolves its issues with the EFF concerning the governance of Ekurhuleni. <\/p>\n
The ANC\u2019s Joburg regional chairperson Dada Morero is expected to succeed him after the six month period. <\/p>\n
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