Randall Williams (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.

Randall Williams
Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality
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 Flats, Cape Town, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Political partyDemocratic Alliance
OccupationAttorney
Politician

Early life and career

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

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. "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.
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