Former Johannesburg City Manager Floyd Brink is likely to make a dramatic return to the city’s top administrative post after emerging as the leading candidate in the latest round of interviews for the position.

Brink secured an impressive score of 81%, placing him at the top of the shortlist compiled by the selection panel.

His potential reappointment comes less than a year after the Gauteng High Court set aside his previous appointment, citing procedural irregularities in his initial hiring in December.

Despite the legal setback, Brink’s latest performance appears to have solidified his position as the front-runner.

Originally, ten candidates were scheduled to be interviewed for the position, but only eight were ultimately assessed after two applicants withdrew.

Among those interviewed were former acting City Manager Tshepo Makola and former Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) CEO Helen Botes.

Botes has faced scrutiny over her tenure at JPC, with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) previously accusing her of gross negligence that negatively impacted the entity.

Brink, who previously served as the city’s highest-ranking administrative official, overseeing the municipality’s day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning, was ranked highest among all candidates according to a summary of the scoresheet seen by IOL.

The current acting City Manager, Kiba Kenana, has held the role on an interim basis amid a period of instability in the city’s governance.

IOL has sent questions to the city for comment, once received the story will be updated to reflect their response. 

Johannesburg has been grappling with a host of service delivery challenges, including frequent power outages, aging infrastructure, water shortages, and financial mismanagement, all of which have eroded public confidence in the city’s leadership.

Brink’s return would mark a significant moment for the City of Johannesburg, which remains under pressure to stabilise its governance and restore efficient municipal services.

His supporters argue that his administrative experience and knowledge of the city’s internal systems could bring much-needed continuity and leadership, while critics point to the circumstances of his earlier removal as a cause for concern.

The final decision on his appointment now lies with the city council, which will weigh his high evaluation score against the political and legal complexities surrounding his candidacy.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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