Randall Williams (politician)

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Alderman
Randall Williams
Randall Williams (politician).jpg
Williams in 2021
Mayor of Tshwane
Assumed office
30 October 2020
Preceded byStevens Mokgalapa
Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development and Spatial Planning
In office
26 August 2016 – 21 February 2019
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 serving as the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality since October 2020. Previously, he served as the Mayoral Committee Member (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[]

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

After the 3 August 2016 municipal elections, the Democratic Alliance gained control of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. On 26 August 2016, 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[]

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 ahead of the local government elections on 1 November 2021.[13] In the election, no party won an outright majority and the DA lost 24 seats in council.[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 six parties: the DA, ActionSA, the FF Plus, the Congress of the People and the African Christian Democratic Party.[19]

References[]

  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.
  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.
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