Randall Williams (politician)

Randall Williams
Williams in 2021
Mayor of Tshwane
In office
30 October 2020 – 13 February 2023
Preceded byStevens Mokgalapa
Succeeded byMurunwa Makwarela
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development and Spatial Planning of Tshwane
In office
26 August 2016 – 21 February 2019
MayorSolly Msimanga
Preceded bySubesh Pillay[1]
Succeeded byIsak Pietersen
Personal details
Born
Randall Williams

Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
OccupationAttorney, politician

Randall Williams is a South African politician and attorney who served as the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality from October 2020 until February 2023. Previously, he served as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Economic Development and Spatial Planning and as the Chairperson of Municipal Appeals Tribunal between 2016 and 2019. Williams is a member of the Democratic Alliance.

Early life and career

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Williams was born on the Cape Flats in Cape Town.[2] He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from UNISA and a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in International Investment and Trade Law from Stellenbosch University.[3]

Williams worked as the chief director of International Trade and Economic Development at the Department of Trade and Industry before he was elected to the City of Tshwane council.[3]

Political career

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After the 3 August 2016 municipal elections, the Democratic Alliance gained control of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. On 26 August 2016, the newly elected DA mayor, Solly Msimanga, appointed Williams as the member of the mayoral committee (MMC) responsible for economic development and spatial planning.[4] He was also appointed chairperson of the Municipal Appeals Tribunal.

In January 2019, Msimanga announced his intention to resign as mayor. The DA shortlisted Williams as a possible mayoral candidate,[5] but later chose Member of Parliament Stevens Mokgalapa as their preferred mayoral candidate.[6] He was elected mayor of the municipality on 12 February 2019. On 21 February, Mokgalapa announced his mayoral committee. Williams was not returned to the mayoral committee.[7]

Mayoral career

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In early-February 2020, Mokgalapa announced his decision to resign. The DA then announced on 17 February that they had selected Williams as their candidate to replace Mokgalapa.[8] However, in March 2020, the Gauteng provincial government placed the municipality under administration and dissolved the council.[9] After months of legal challenges, the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the provincial government's decision on 27 October 2020.[10] On 30 October, Williams was elected as the new executive mayor by defeating the EFF's MoAfrika Mabogwana. He received 97 votes compared to 25 for Mabogwana. The ANC abstained from voting.[11] On 5 November, Williams announced the formation of his first mayoral committee.[12]

On 23 August 2021, DA leader John Steenhuisen announced that the DA had selected Williams to be the party's mayoral candidate for the City of Tshwane for the local government elections on 1 November 2021.[13] At the election, no party won an outright majority and the DA lost 24 seats in council, becoming the second largest party after the ANC.[14]

Williams was re-elected as mayor unopposed at the inaugural sitting of the City of Tshwane municipal council on 23 November 2021 after the ANC declined to put forward their candidate.[15][16] On 14 December, Williams announced his new mayoral committee consisting of DA, ActionSA and Freedom Front Plus councillors.[17] Williams said he was "relieved" that the DA could form a majority coalition government.[18] The coalition government consists of five parties: the DA, ActionSA, the FF Plus, the Congress of the People and the African Christian Democratic Party.[19]

Resignation

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On 13 February 2023, Williams announced his resignation as mayor with effect from midnight, saying in his resignation letter that "it is in the best interest for continued stability of the coalition in the city." Williams had been under pressure from coalition partners to resign after the City of Tshwane received an adverse audit opinion from the Auditor-General for the 2021/22 financial year during which the metro racked up R1.2 billion in wasteful expenditure.[20][21] Williams later that same day submitted a second resignation letter that amended his resignation date, changing it to take effect from midnight on 28 February 2023.[22] Finance MMC Peter Sutton was then appointed as acting mayor as Williams went on leave until 28 February.[23]

Williams submitting two resignation letters caused controversy and confusion, on whether he was still mayor or not. EFF members stormed Tshwane House on 16 February 2023 and demanded the removal of political staff and members of Williams' mayoral committee whom the party claimed were no longer in office.[24]

The speaker of council, Dr Murunwa Makwarela, announced on 21 February 2023 that his office had sought legal advice on the two resignation letters and that the legal opinion had found that Williams' first resignation letter was legally binding and valid and the subsequent amended, second resignation letter was concluded to be invalid, which meant that Williams' resignation took effect on 13 February and that the metro was now without a mayor.[25][26][27]

References

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  1. ^ Ngobeni, Tshegofatso (26 July 2016). "Ramokgopa says last goodbyes". RekordEAST. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  2. ^ Madisa, Kgothatso (25 February 2020). "Randall Williams aims to uplift Tshwane". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Randall Williams". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  4. ^ Ngoepe, Karabo (26 August 2016). "Msimanga announces 'most diverse' mayoral committee". News24. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  5. ^ "DA shortlists four candidates for the Tshwane mayoral post". BusinessDay. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  6. ^ "DA announces Stevens Mokgalapa as preferred Tshwane mayoral candidate". EWN. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Tshwane Mayor #StevensMokgalapa announces mayoral committee". IOL. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Randall Williams gets DA's nod for soon-to-be vacant Tshwane mayor post". The Citizen. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  9. ^ Nicolson, Greg. "Tshwane placed under administration, elections in 90 days". The Daily Maverick. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  10. ^ "SCA rules in DA's favour, dismisses Gauteng govt decision to dissolve Tshwane council". News24. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Randall Williams elected as new executive mayor of Tshwane". The Citizen. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  12. ^ Mitchley, Alex. "Meet the City of Tshwane's mayoral committee". News24. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  13. ^ News, Eyewitness. "Here are DA's mayoral candidates for major metros ahead of local govt elections". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 18 December 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ "Tshwane Election Results | 100 percent complete: Coalition government? ANC wins 75 seats, DA 69". The South African. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  15. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT: DA's Randall Williams retained as mayor of Tshwane thanks to ActionSA boost". 23 November 2021.
  16. ^ Mafolo, Karabo (23 November 2021). "LOCAL GOVERNMENT: DA's Randall Williams retained as mayor of Tshwane thanks to ActionSA boost". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  17. ^ Mahlakoana, Theto. "Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams names multi-party mayoral committee". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  18. ^ Mahlakoana, Theto. "Williams relieved Tshwane council could secure major coalition govt". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  19. ^ Mahlati, Zintle. "DA secures coalition govt for Tshwane with backing from other parties". News24. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  20. ^ Ditabo, Malaika. "Randall Williams says resignation as Tshwane mayor in 'best interest' of coalition government". News24. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Why Tshwane executive mayor Randall Williams resigned". The Mail & Guardian. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  22. ^ Njilo, Nonkululeko (13 February 2023). "METRO SHAKES: Tshwane mayor Randall Williams steps down, thus avoiding another motion of no confidence". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  23. ^ "5 important things happening in South Africa today". BusinessTech. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  24. ^ Mahlathi, Zintle. "EFF storms Tshwane offices to demand removal of MMCs, staff after mayor's resignation". News24. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  25. ^ Goba, Thabiso. "Tshwane without mayor after legal opinion rejects Williams' amended resignation". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  26. ^ Moatshe, Rapula. "Tshwane urgently needs new mayor after first resignation letter by Randall Williams deemed valid". Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  27. ^ Zulu, Nompilo (21 February 2023). "Randall Williams' amended resignation letter 'not valid'". Sunday World. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
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