Newly elected mayor lays out plan for Joburg renewal drive

Newly elected Johannesburg executive mayor Dada Morero says his administration will soon engage with the CEOs of banking institutions and property development companies in a move aimed at turning around the fortunes of SA’s largest metro and financial hub.

“We want them to play a particular role on issues of property, business and how we position Joburg as an economic hub. We must make sure we protect the success of the city,” Morero said at the weekend.

“These are some of the immediate things we are going to do. We want them to contribute to infrastructure development, we require them to also help us with other instruments and models we can use to raise the capital that we require.”

On Friday, Morero succeeded Al Jama-ah councillor Kabelo Gwamanda, who resigned as executive mayor last Tuesday. His resignation followed months of sustained calls from civil society organisations and opposition parties for him to step down over deteriorating service delivery in the country’s financial and economic hub. Johannesburg contributes nearly 20% to Gauteng’s GDP.

Morero, who served as the city’s finance MMC in Gwamanda’s mayoral committee, is the 10th mayor of Joburg since 2016. He beat DA Joburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku 189 votes to 60 for the position.

In an interview with TV news channel Joburg Today, Morero said the major task ahead was to turn around the country’s biggest-budget municipality “for us to be re-electable”. The metro, he said, would focus on infrastructure development and maintenance in areas of water and electricity.

“We are also going out aggressively into the market to raise capital ... and get projects funded ... [to] move much quicker to save our infrastructure.”

He said it was important that all political parties in the council were engaged on pertinent matters requiring their buy-in.

He also promised political stability, saying: “We can give assurance we will finish the term”, and that the municipality would strive to deliver on the interests and aspirations of its 6-million residents.

Residents would get value for their money through better water and electricity provision, refuse collection, roads and traffic lights.

“In the 24 months remaining [until the next local government elections in 2026] we will ensure critical issues affecting residents are responded to timeously,” Morero said.

However, Kayser-Echeozonjoku suggested that Morero’s election as mayor “will predictably have dire consequences for the city”.

“Those responsible for sinking the ship that is Johannesburg will not be the ones to rescue it ... today, the road to 2026 has been laid out clearly in the Johannesburg council chamber. The DA’s role in opposition and oversight body has always been focused and strong. We will always put the residents of Johannesburg first,” she said.

ActionSA Joburg caucus leader Nobuhle Mthembu welcomed Morero’s election, saying her party recognised that he faced an “incredibly daunting task, assuming responsibility for a city plagued by widespread breakdowns in service delivery, limping city entities, lawlessness, decaying infrastructure and a declining economic standing”.

“Fortunately, ActionSA has stepped up to provide the mayor with the necessary framework to overcome this crisis and get the city back on track towards progress and growth. We offer our solutions in recognition that residents are not interested in grandstanding but in constructive collaboration to ensure that this city works,” Mthembu said.

ActionSA supported Gwamanda’s removal based on previously agreed terms with the ANC that ActionSA would take the speaker position and five committee chair positions.

Mthembu called on Morero to deal decisively with nonpaying city customers; tackle corruption, patronage and profligacy; rejuvenation of the inner city; address illegal trading; and focus on undocumented foreign nationals in the metro, among other issues.

“While the election of a new mayor is only the first step, rebuilding Johannesburg will require the execution of a sustained programme of action, informed by a clear plan, political will, the abandonment of patronage and profligacy and, most importantly, the best interests of residents,” she said.

African Independent Congress (AIC) councillor Margaret Arnolds, who resigned as speaker moments after Morero’s election and filled his position as finance MMC, said: “Morero has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the people of Johannesburg, and I am confident that his leadership will bring about the positive change our city needs.”

EFF Gauteng chair Nkululeko Dunga welcomed Morero’s election, saying: “We also welcome the reappointment of commissar Mgcini Tshwaku and Fighter Ennie Makhafola as MMCs for public safety and public health, respectively.

“However, the EFF wishes to express grave concern over the frequent changes of executive mayors in the city. This instability has a negative impact on the city’s administration, governance, planning, monitoring and, ultimately, service delivery.”

Dunga said while no single party could constitute government on its own in the Joburg council, “the residents of Johannesburg expect political organisations to act with maturity and logic to bring about stability”.

Morero’s mayoral cabinet remained largely unchanged from Gwamanda’s except for two positions. The former speaker Margaret Arnolds is now finance head, while the erstwhile mayor Gwamanda is now community development MMC.

Meanwhile, as part of the partnership deal, ActionSA is expected to take over the speaker position when the council reconvenes on Wednesday. Whoever they nominate will replace the AIC’s Arnolds.

Business Day understands that the contentious implementation of a R200 monthly surcharge on prepaid electricity will also be placed under review by the new executive because it is one of ActionSA’s preconditions for the deal with the ANC.

The party in the city also has two vacancies, which are expected to be filled only after the August 28 by-election.