Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
16 August 2024 | 15:44 CAT

ANC regional chairperson Dada Morero has been tipped to become the new executive mayor of Johannesburg. (Photo: Gallo Images/Luba Lesolle)

Undoubtedly, the relentless civic pressure, though unacknowledged by the ANC, was a significant force in compelling Johannesburg’s mayor to step down.

After electrical reductions and two instances of city-wide water outages, calls for Kabelo Gwamanda’s head grew louder and finally reached a turning point when residents and civic organisations marched on the council in July.

Then came ActionSA with an olive branch to the ANC on condition that Gwamanda stepped down.

The mayor’s removal was a condition set by ActionSA, which required it to add 44 councillors to vote with the ANC in the council. The votes were necessary because the ANC’s coalition partner, the EFF, did not always back it during motions.

Finance MMC Dada Morero from the ANC is likely to be Gwamanda’s replacement at the vote on Friday, but NGO leaders, who called for a new mayor, are still determining if he is the right man for the job.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, Outa, has welcomed the resignation of Kabelo Gwamanda as Joburg mayor.

Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage says the move is long overdue.

Outa is among the civil society organisations calling for Gwamanda to quit for allegedly deteriorating service delivery in Joburg.

Duvenage says while Outa doesn’t have a preferred mayoral candidate, the ANC’s Dada Morero is a bad choice.

“Joburg is in a dire situation. It’s crumbling by the day, and the longer we wait to deal with the leadership, the bigger this hole will get,” says Duvenhage.

Duvenage articulates OUTA’s apprehensions about Morero’s proposed appointment, hinting that his past role as the MEC of Finance on the mayoral committee has not shown any promise of addressing Johannesburg’s financial issues.

Duvenage says that without visionary leadership to guide Johannesburg in the right direction and ensure accountability, the city will continue to deteriorate.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage here.