Ex-Joburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse’s Resignation As DA Councillor Throws SA for a Loop, Returns to Medicine

• Dr Mpho Phalatse's time as a Democratic Alliance councillor has come to an end
• Phalatse announced her resignation on Monday, 29 August, revealing her plans to return to the medical field
• The former Johannesburg mayor's withdrawal from politics took some South Africans by suprise

JOHANNESBURG - The sun has officially set on former Johannesburg mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse's time as a Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor.

The embattled Phalatse resigned as a councillor on Monday, 28 August, stating that as a qualified doctor, she will be returning to the medical field.

Mpho Phalatse to return to medicine

Phalatse traded her doctor's coat for a politician's hat when she closed her practice and joined mainstream politics in 2016.

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Speaking on her decision to quit politics, Phalatse said:

“After months of in-depth reflection and consultation with my family, I have come to the conclusion that as a qualified medical doctor with vast experience in healthcare and beyond, I could make a better, meaningful and invaluable contribution elsewhere."

Phalatse added that when faced with the decision between being a councillor or a medical doctor, she was inclined to choose to save a life.

Phalatse shared her resignation letter on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption:

"Yes it's true! I will be back."

Phalatse's tumultuous time as a DA politician

Her time as a DA politician was tumultuous, with her rising in the ranks to become the first female mayor of Johannesburg in 2021. Less than two years later, Phalatse was ousted when 140 councillors supported her removal in a vote of no confidence.

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After her defeat in Johannesburg, Phalatse threw her hat in the ring to become the DA's next leader. She unfortunately lost to DA leader John Steenhuisen after receiving 16%, while Steenhuisen received 84% of the vote at the party's elective conference in April, IOL reported.

Mzansi wishes Phalatse well for the future

Below are some comments:

@Fortunate__ said:

"Another experiment, it was just a matter of time."

@sthedoingthings encouraged:

"That's something she should've done from the beginning, politics and positions are not for her."

@IamEriOluwa praised:

"All the best in all you take on going forward. You were exceptional as a leader."

@galbertyn added:

"Dr Mpho I'm absolutely sure that you will be back. I'm even more sure that it won't be with the DA. Looking forward to your next move."

Mpho Phalatse's dramatic ousting as Johannesburg mayor

In another story, Briefly News reported that the Democratic Alliance had to pick up the pieces after Mpho Phalatse was dramatically ousted as the executive mayor of the metro.

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The party hosted a meeting with its City of Johannesburg caucus to unpack how the DA lost hold of the metro on Friday, 27 January, through the successful motion of no confidence against Phalatse.

After she lost the mayoral position, Phalatse pointed to her party's failure to reach an agreement with the Patriotic Alliance to ensure that the DA-led coalition would continue to govern the metro.

Source: Briefly News