Patricia De Lille will vacate the mayor’s office, after she announced her resignation on August 5.

Her decision to leave office before the end of her term was preceded by an ugly fight between her and the DA, which saw the Cape Town caucus disintegrate into a factional battle between her supporters and critics.

Lovely.

IOL interviewed political analyst Daniel Silke to get his insight into the race for mayor.

“A mayor 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.

Simon Grindrod, a political commentator, disagreed and told IOL that he believes that 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.”

Regardless, now that De Lille is out, the applications are in for the next mayor of Cape Town. Let’s see who’s in the running:

Mayco member for Urban Housing and Transport, Brett Herron

Mayoral committee member for transport and urban development Brett Herron has confirmed his application, stating that he wants to rebuild trust between Cape Town and the DA.

Here’s the Mail &Guardian:

“I have agreed to stand as a candidate for Mayor. Cape Town is a world class city. We must restore the trust and hope that our residents — and the world — has for our city, our government and our country,” Herron said.

Very moving, but I’ve heard it before.

Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson

Ian Nielson has served as deputy mayor to Patricia De Lille for the past seven years. He was also briefly given the chance to act as mayor, when Patricia was accused of mismanaging the province’s drought situation.

He lasted three whole days before revealing his incompetence in an interview.

And that’s all you really need to know.

DA Gauteng Chairperson Heinrich Volmink

Heinrich Volmink was born in District Six in the mid-1970s. He plans to return to local government to implement better governance of Cape Town, with a focus on social justice.

Volmink, the incumbent DA Gauteng regional chair, said he returns with ideas centred around infrastructure and service delivery. “I have ideas on how to enhance governance in the City.”

Volmink, who is a medical doctor, said District Six was a complex issue that needed to be sorted out as soon as possible.

“The issue goes over generations and the impasse involves issues that go across all spheres of government. But the underlying issues of social inclusion and cohesion and social justice covers what we need to be looking at,” he said.

When asked if he thought Capetonians would welcome someone from Jozi, Volmink said that “he identified as Capetonian”.

Let’s see you “drive” in the rain. It’s a surefire way to tell.

Councillor Grant Twigg 

Grant Twigg is the DA metro chairperson, and has made no secret of his disdain for Patricia De Lille.

He has been very vocal about his disapproval of the way that De Lille handled the water crisis, and was instrumental in the spat that caused the divide in the DA before De Lille resigned.

Mayco member for Area South, Anda Ntsodo

The City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member, Anda Ntsodo, says that he’s offering Cape Town a scandal-free candidate.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

Dan Plato

Dan Plato is currently serving as the Western Cape’s Community Safety MEC.

Plato served as Cape Town mayor from May 2009 until June 2011. He also served as ward councillor for Belhar and Ravensmead when he ascended to the mayoral position.

Now he’s throwing his hat into the ring again.

The DA has said that it hopes to build unity in the caucus after De Lille leaves.

“This is an opportunity for the caucus to unite and to focus on its core business. That’s what we are focusing on now,” Portia Adams, the spokesperson to DA leader Mmusi Maimane, told the M&G shortly after De Lille resigned.

A shortlist of candidates will be interviewed by the party’s federal executive, who are set to decide on who will be the city’s next mayor by the end of September.

All we ask is that whoever it is, they’re competent.

We can live in hope.

[source:mail&guardian&iol]