Thapelo Amad is a South African politician and imam, and a former mayor of

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

. A member of the Johannesburg City Council, Amad is affiliated with the

Al Jama-ah Al Jama-ah (, ) is a South African political party. It was formed in 2007 by present leader Ganief Hendricks and contested the 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024 national elections. The party aims to support Muslim rights and interests, though the part ...

party. On 27 January 2023, he was elected

mayor of Johannesburg The mayor of Johannesburg is the highest elected position in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Since 2000, they are the chief executive of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality council. On 16 August 2024, the council elected D ...

with the support of the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a political party in South Africa. It originated as a liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid and has governed the country since 1994, when the 1994 South African general election, fir ...

(ANC). His election made him the first

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

to serve as mayor of Johannesburg. He resigned as mayor on 24 April 2023 to avoid being defeated in a motion of no confidence.

Background

Amad was born in

Soweto Soweto () is a Township (South Africa), township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for ''South Western T ...

in present-day

Gauteng Gauteng ( , ; Sotho-Tswana languages, Sotho-Tswana for 'place of gold'; or ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts f ...

. He holds a degree in Islamic Sciences and a NQF Level 4 qualification in entrepreneurship and a NQF Level 5 qualification in gender mainstreaming in the public service, which he obtained through the National School of Government. He is a fellow of the ASRI Future Leaders program. At present, he is studying for a certificate of competence through the South African Local Government Association. He is also an

imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...

Political career

Amad is a Johannesburg city councillor and the provincial chairperson of

. In October 2022, he served as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Development Planning in the short-lived administration of former ANC mayor

Dada Morero Sello Enoch Dada Morero is a South African politician who has been the Mayor of Johannesburg since 16 August 2024, a position which he previously held for 25 days, from 30 September 2022 until 25 October 2022 when the erstwhile Mayor, Mpho Phalats ...

Mayoralty of Johannesburg

Selection

After

Mpho Phalatse Mpho Louisa Phalatse (born 7 November 1977) is a South African medical doctor and politician who was the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. A member of the Democratic Alliance, she served in the position fr ...

was voted out as mayor in a

motion of no confidence A motion or vote of no confidence (or the inverse, a motion or vote of confidence) is a motion and corresponding vote thereon in a deliberative assembly (usually a legislative body) as to whether an officer (typically an executive) is deemed fi ...

on 26 January 2023, it was revealed that Amad would likely succeed her, since he was supported by the

(ANC), the largest party in council and its coalition partners. The ANC said in a statement that Amad would serve as an interim mayor until the party finalises a coalition agreement with the

Economic Freedom Fighters The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a South African communist and black nationalist political party. It was founded by expelled former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema, and his allies, on 26 July 20 ...

(EFF), the

kingmaker A kingmaker is a person or group that has great influence on a monarchy or royal in their political succession, without themselves being a viable candidate. Kingmakers may use political, monetary, religious, and military means to influence the ...

s in council. During the council meeting the following day, Amad, Phalatse and

ActionSA ActionSA is a political party in South Africa established in 2020 by Herman Mashaba, a former mayor of Johannesburg, shortly after he left the Democratic Alliance (DA). The party states that it has been established to "set South Africa free fr ...

's Funzi Ngobeni was nominated for mayor. Amad was elected mayor by 138 votes, compared to Phalatse's 81 votes and Ngobeni's 46 votes.

Tenure

On 2 February 2023, Amad announced to the members of his mayoral committee. The committee consisted of five ANC councillors, and a single councilor each from the EFF, the

African Transformation Movement The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is a political party in South Africa. It was formed with the backing of the South African Council of Messianic Churches in Christ (SACMCC), which together are supported by millions of congregants. Hist ...

, and the

Patriotic Alliance The Patriotic Alliance (PA) is a right-wing political party in South Africa, formed in November 2013 by, among others, businessmen and convicted criminals Gayton McKenzie and Kenny Kunene. Since 2024, it is a part of the current South African ...

. Amad resigned as mayor on 24 April 2023, a day before a motion of no confidence was to be held against him. He was succeeded by fellow Al Jama-ah councillor Kabelo Gwamanda as mayor.

Post-mayoral career

On 21 November 2023, Amad posted a picture of him holding an

assault rifle An assault rifle is a select fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge, intermediate-rifle cartridge and a Magazine (firearms), detachable magazine.C. Taylor, ''The Fighting Rifle: A Complete Study of the Rifle in Combat'', F.A. Moyer '' ...

to his X account with the caption: "We stand with

Hamas The Islamic Resistance Movement, abbreviated Hamas (the Arabic acronym from ), is a Palestinian nationalist Sunni Islam, Sunni Islamism, Islamist political organisation with a military wing, the Qassam Brigades. It has Gaza Strip under Hama ...

, Hamas stands with us, together we Palestin icand Palestin icwill be free. With our souls, with our blood, we will conquer Al AQSA." He later removed the post. Amad's posts were widely condemned on social media. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies condemned Amad's posts, calling them "reprehensible". The

Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (; ) is one of the most important Cabinet of Israel, ministries in the Government of Israel, Israeli government. The ministry's role is to implement Israel's foreign policy, and promote economic, cultural ...

called the post "pure antisemitism of the worst kind."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amad, Thapelo Living people People from Soweto Al Jama-ah politicians 21st-century South African politicians Mayors of Johannesburg Mayors of places in South Africa South African Muslims Year of birth missing (living people)