Ramokgopa all but confirmed as ANC Mayoral candidate

Pretoria Bureau

PRETORIA– INCUMBENT City of Tshwane Mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, will be preferred as the ruling party’s candidate in the forthcoming 2016 municipal elections, Gauteng Guardian can disclose.

This would mean he survives a storm emanating from of an investigation by public protector Thuli Madonsela over the ill-fated prepaid electricity smart meter contract could spell the end of Tshwane mayor Sputla Ramokgopa’s political career

. The R2-billion contract, awarded by the City of Tshwane to Peu Capital Partners in 2013, was cancelled last year after allegations of irregularities emerged.

Alliance partners in the tripartite have been against his retention accuse him of failing to root out corruption.He has dismissed their allegations.A top African National Congress official (ANC) has revealed to this publication the ruling party was satisfied with the performance of his administration in the capital city.

“The chances of him being our mayoral candidate are very high. We cannot reveal our candidates for the purposes of our protocol,” says the source.

In April, ANC President Jacob Zuma, launched the party’s election manifesto in Port Elizabeth, an exercise that is expected to cascade into the provinces, districts and wards ahead of the polls set for August 3.Ramokgopa, the former Tshwane Ward 51 Councillor, has been mayor since 2011, after defeating Democratic Alliance (DA) candidate Gerhardus Pretorius by 92 votes to 49.

If confirmed, Ramokgopa, who succeeded his aunt Gwen, will fight it out with firebrand DA candidate, Solly Msimanga.Msimanga has trivialized his rival’s prospects in the elections.

“The current mayor’s failure is well documented and there for everyone to see,” says Msimanga.

Even if they put a new person, the fact remains that South Africans are tired of ANC shortcomings.”ANC Tshwane spokesperson, Tebogo Joala, however maintains his party’s confidence.

“There are no doubts that we will trounce the opposition in the upcoming elections,” says Joala.ANC and DA are set for a major showdown in Pretoria, where the former won 118 seats to the DA’s 82 in the 2011 municipal elections.