Steenhuisen defends Tshwane city manager as calls mount for his removal

TSHWANE - The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane alleges the African National Congress (ANC)’s push to remove City Manager Johann Mettler from his position stems from his efforts to prevent the ANC from misusing public funds.

The ANC insists on Mettler’s dismissal, arguing that his appointment during the previous DA administration was irregular.

Speaking to journalists in Tshwane on Friday, DA leader John Steenhuisen questioned why the ANC is so determined to see Mettler gone.

“It is no wonder the ANC and ActionSA are trying so hard to get rid of Johann Mettler because they don’t want good and clean governance. They want to be able to steal,” said Steenhuisen.

Steenhuisen addressed this and other matters in the capital city, where the DA officially announced Cilliers Brink as the party’s mayoral candidate for next year’s local government elections.

Steenhuisen said he believes the former Tshwane mayor is the strongest candidate to lead the city.

Brink served as Tshwane mayor for 18 months before being removed from office through a motion of no confidence last year.

Steenhuisen added that Brink has proven to be the most capable candidate to run the country’s capital city.

“He’s got the track record of delivering; he’s the person who did it from 2023 to 2024. The person who is going to do it again. He is not prepared to stand by and witness its decline. Its decline, in his view, is not inevitable. He sees the rise of Tshwane and is committed to rescuing it.”