After surviving the nearly unbearable heat, South Africa's economic heartland was relieved with continuous rain that started on Tuesday night. By the next afternoon, the streets of Johannesburg were almost uncharacteristically wet - given the recent drought. Traffic moved a little slower, a bit more frustrated. Pedestrians shared umbrellas, some wore raincoats and others covered themselves with plastic bags. The weather was not severe, but the rain was non-stop. The City of Gold had turned grey.
In the centre of the city, local politicians - well dressed as they always are - gathered in a warm, dry room. Their day, unlike the situation outside, was filled with anxiety and anticipation. Undoubtedly also with last-minute whispered negotiation. By the time their business was concluded, power had changed hands. Johannesburg had a new mayor, a new administration. Outside it was still raining.
Three years after voters showed the ANC in Johannesburg the door the party managed to find a way back into the driving seat. With opposition benches comes the crucial resource of time - necessary to conspire against your enemy.
"Please allow me to take this opportunity to thank the residents of Johannesburg for their call for the ANC to come back to govern the City," Geoff Makhubo said in a presumptuous statement on the morning of his first day in office. Surely the people's new representative is fully aware that not a single rain-enduring citizen played any part in this tragedy.
By Thursday morning, it had become abundantly clear that it was not the residents, but backroom deals that secured Makhubo his position as Johannesburg's first resident. His predecessor perhaps summed it up best: "The 5 million residents of the City had no say in who got elected. Politics is not working for people," Herman Mashaba Tweeted. It still rained outside.
The nature of Makhubo's ascent set the tone for his time in office. It is also reminiscent of his past. The practice by parties to install individuals with very questionable track records into public office - a blatant middle finger to the people in plain language - is South Africans' incessant reality.
The new mayor's character and conduct is anything but inspiring. His true intentions possibly embodied by Ace Magashule, who joined his comrade in celebration. Apart from the rain, the outcomes of Wednesday was not in the public's interest.
Soon the skies will clear, but Johannesburg will remain grey.