The African National Congress (ANC) national leadership has reportedly intervened to block the reappointment of Floyd Brink as Johannesburg City Manager, citing concerns over governance integrity, administrative stability, and reputational risk within South Africa’s economic hub.
According to senior party insiders, the ANC’s top brass instructed the City of Johannesburg caucus to suspend plans to reinstate Brink, whose previous tenure was marred by allegations of irregular procurement processes and internal political battles. The move comes just weeks after Dada Morero was re-elected as mayor, following a dramatic council reshuffle that saw the ANC reclaim control of the city with support from smaller parties, including the EFF.
Brink, who served as City Manager from 2023 until his controversial suspension in early 2024, was accused of authorising multimillion-rand contracts without due process. Though he denied any wrongdoing and was later reinstated by the council, his tenure left the city deeply divided. Senior ANC officials reportedly believe his return could jeopardise the fragile coalition arrangement that currently governs Johannesburg.
“The leadership is clear that we cannot risk further instability in the city,” an ANC national executive committee (NEC) member said. “We are rebuilding public confidence and ensuring that service delivery takes priority. Reappointing Brink at this stage would undermine those efforts.”
Sources close to the Johannesburg ANC caucus confirmed that internal disagreements had erupted over the matter, with some councillors pushing for Brink’s reinstatement, arguing he was a competent administrator who understood the city’s operations. However, others, backed by the national leadership, warned that his reappointment would trigger renewed public backlash and strain coalition relations.
Political analysts say the decision reflects the ANC’s broader attempt to restore credibility in municipalities under its control. “The party cannot afford another governance scandal in Johannesburg,” said governance expert Dr. Mlungisi Mkhize. “Blocking Brink’s reappointment is a strategic move to show that the ANC is serious about accountability and good governance.”
Meanwhile, the mayor’s office has not issued an official statement on the matter, though insiders suggest Morero may be under pressure to identify a new candidate acceptable to all coalition partners.
The future of Johannesburg’s city administration now hangs in the balance as the ANC seeks to stabilise governance while navigating competing political interests.
At the heart of the debate lies a critical question — whether political loyalty or administrative integrity should guide leadership decisions in Africa’s most powerful metropolitan city.
