The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are helping to bring back the African National Congress (ANC), the same party that has been running the municipalities into the ground for the past 28 years, which must be disappointing to voters who rejected the ANC in the November 2021 local government elections. All eyes are now on Ekurhuleni as the EFF and Patriotic Alliance try to restore the ANC to power following the so-called “coalition of the corrupt,” as the Democratic Alliance likes to refer to it. This coalition saw the ANC seize control of important ministries in Johannesburg.

Despite being rejected by voters who preferred anything but the ANC, the notion that all opposition parties aim to remove the ANC from power has been proven wrong by the EFF and Patriotic Alliance, who are now working with the party they campaigned against and accused of ruining the country.

Today, former convict and businessman-turned-politician Kenny Kunene was sworn in as a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) in Johannesburg, taking one of the two remaining MMC positions that needed to be filled. Ennie Makhafola was also sworn in as the MMC for Health and Social Development as part of the new administration led by Johannesburg Mayor Thapelo Amad.

Kunene assured voters that his criminal record would not hinder his role as an executive member and stated that he could be trusted with the city’s public funds. He served more than five years in prison in 1997 after being convicted of running a Ponzi scheme.

Although Kunene says that delivering services to the city is the top priority for the new mayoral committee, he has yet to announce his office’s agenda. On Thursday, newly elected Johannesburg Mayor Thapelo Amad announced eight of the MMCs.