Newly-elected Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero says it is critical to meet the basic expectations of the city's citizens Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo POLITICS The ANC Johannesburg chairperson Dada Morero has been re-elected as mayor of the city of Johannesburg, being the ninth mayor since the introduction of coalition politics eight years ago. Morero secured the position and received 189 votes during a council seating in Johannesburg on Friday, defeating the DA’s Belinda Kayser Echeozonjoku who only received 60 votes. The DA only entered the mayoral race at the last minute, with Echeozonjoku accepting the nomination.
Morero’s election as mayor comes after Al Jama-ah member Kabelo Gwamanda resigned from his position as mayor of the city earlier this week following ongoing discussions among political parties and growing calls for new leadership in Johannesburg. Earlier reports suggested that the ANC had been in discussions with ActionSA to form a new coalition, with the latter making Gwamanda's removal a key condition for their support. Morero, who had served as the MMC for Finance in the City, previously confirmed to City Press he was the recommended candidate by the ANC for the mayoral position.
He is not new to the position as he was first elected mayor of Johannesburg in September 2022, after the DA’s Mpho Phalatse was removed in a motion of no confidence. But Morero served for only 25 days – from 30 September until 25 October 2022 as the Johannesburg High Court ruled that Phalatse’s removal from office and Morero’s election as her replacement were unlawful and invalid. READ: Kabelo Gwamanda resigns as Joburg mayor, ANC’s Dada Morero poised to replace him Delivering his acceptance speech, Morero said it was time to "pause and reset" which did not mean to start from scratch but to acknowledge mistakes and apologise where government had failed the people of Johannesburg.
According to Morero, the people of Johannesburg tasked the government with basic duties of ensuring the following happens such as "water comes out of their taps, lights come on, waste is collected, traffic lights work and people live in safe communities". He said: This is not too much to ask for. The people of Johannesburg are depending on us for a better future.
We have all gone through pain and sorrow but we are wiser and stronger now. We must help the city to move beyond its complex challenges and find simple solutions that remind the people of Johannesburg why it will always remain our first love "Residents of Johannesburg, we must remember that we are winners because many people want to live in our beautiful city. We are winners because we love Johannesburg.
It is the place we call home. It is our first love." In the metro council, the ANC has the most seats with 91, followed by the DA with 71.
ActionSA has 44 and the EFF 29. Smaller parties such as the Patriotic Alliance (PA) have nine seats, the IFP seven, the Freedom Front Plus four, the African Christian Democratic Party three and Al Jama-ah three. The 13-party coalition that controls the metro is made up of the ANC, the EFF, the PA, Al Jama-ah and other minority parties.
However, it now includes ActionSA and the IFP which recently agreed to join the government of local unity. City Press understands that in order for ActionSA to form an alliance with the ANC, the ANC had to give ActionSA the Speaker positions in both Johannesburg and Tshwane, as well as consider the cancellation of the R200 surcharge for prepaid electricity consumers. Morero further went on and announced his executive committee Kabelo Gwamanda was appointed MMC for Community Development.
Eunice Mgcina is MMC for Development Planning Nomoya Daphney Mnisi is MMC for Economic Development Jack Sekwaila is MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Loyiso Masuku is MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services Marget Arnolds is MMC for Group Finance Ennie Makhafola is MMC for Health and Social Development Mlungisi Mabaso is MMC for Human Settlements Mgcini Tswaku is MMC for Public Safety Kenny Kunene is MMC for Transport READ: Joburg mayor Gwamanda ready to resign if coalition demands However, DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga told City Press that the constant changing of mayors in the city was not sustainable. "In Johannesburg, we've seen six mayors in the space of three years and that is not sustainable. We have called for the dissolution of the Johannesburg council and for parties to go back seek a fresh mandate from the voters because what is happening is not sustainable," he said.
"I've said this when Gwamanda was put in place to say this is not sustainable. We are again here where we're talking about another mayor to be elected. Either there's a dissolution of this council and then we go and seek fresh mandate where parties can get a good mandate in order to be able to then put government together.
Or we need to have a conversation as political parties to then say, here's an agreed set of standards of things that needs to be done." He added: Can we agree on these things and then stop these motions of no confidence that are being passed left, right, and centre, and make sure that we stabilise government and we able to then deliver to the people of Gauteng? But if it's under this condition, again, in a couple of months time, we might be sitting with the same thing again Morero added that Johannesburg was the heart of the South Africa and to keep the country alive, it was important to implement the District Development Model (DDM). He said: Alone we will not solve problems affecting Johannesburg.
We therefore call the upon the provincial government to help us to implement our service delivery programs that change lives. We call upon national government to effectively utilise Section 154 of the constitution. Policy, planning and co-ordination is critical to the success of Johannesburg We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives.
Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered. Join News24 today Related Links 'Dada is not it': Experts call for leadership review, financial reforms in Johannesburg I remain committed, says Gwamanda, referencing overhaul plans for City Power, Johannesburg Water Kabelo Gwamanda resigns as Joburg mayor, ANC’s Dada Morero poised to replace him.
