Thapelo Amad, elected first Muslim Mayor of Johannesburg

A councilor from a Muslim party has been elected first Muslim mayor of Johannesburg.

Thapelo Amad, of Al Jama-ah party, was voted in by the city council to replace Mayor Mpho Phalatse, a member of South Africa’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance

Amad, 41, said he was “humbled” and “overwhelmed” at being the first Muslim to helm the country’s biggest metropolis.

He told the council after the vote that it marks history in South Africa.

Amad promised to make the fight against corruption his top priority.

Amad was elected with support of the governing African National Congress (ANC) party, which holds the most seats in the council but fell short of an outright majority at the 2021 city elections.

His predecessor, Phalatse, 45, was removed in a vote of no-confidence earlier this week.