Executive Mayor Mpho Franklyn Parks Tau

Tau brings a unique blend of youth and experience to his new role as Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, South Africa’s premier city.

At the age of 41, he has already served for more than ten years in the most demanding portfolios in the City’s Mayoral Committee in addition to his deep roots in community activism and political structures.

Born and raised in Orlando West, Soweto, he became active in student politics from a young age. In the 1980s, he played a leadership role as SRC President at Pace Commercial College and President of the Soweto Youth Congress. His introduction into resistance politics coincided with the height of government repression of democratic organisations and he was repeatedly detained during the national state of emergency.

The transition from youth politics to broader civic activism came natural to him, occupying various leadership positions in local structures.  At the youthful age of 25, he was appointed Chairperson of the Urban Development Committee, of the then Southern Local Metropolitan Council (SLMC), he was responsible for the planning function.  As Deputy Chairperson of the SLMC’s Executive Committee, he was a driving force in the Transformation Lekgotla that eventually resulted in the creation of a united Johannesburg.

It came as no surprise when he became a Member of the Mayoral Committee following the first democratic local government elections in 2000. He was entrusted with the wide range of portfolios, Development Planning, Transportation and Environment. His voice and ideas were key in the formulation of the development plans which currently shape the current and future of Johannesburg.

The City's Spatial Development Framework, its Environmental Management Plan and the Integrated Transport Plan are all initiatives that were embarked on during his tenure at the helm of the portfolio.

In 2004 he was given the responsibility for the City’s Finance and Economic Development portfolios. As the head of Johannesburg’s finances, he presided over the growth of the City’s annual budget from a mere R14 billion to more than R28 billion for the 2010/11 financial year – reflecting Johannesburg’s continuing success in delivering services to communities and creating a climate for economic growth and development.

To strengthen his hands-on experience in city governance, Tau has continued his studies and is currently finalising a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Management in addition to the several advanced management courses he successfully completed during his career.

Tau is married to Pilisiwe Twala-Tau, and they have four dependents.