Dada Morero ascend to Johannesburg mayoral ship

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Dada Morero has been re-elected as the new mayor of Johannesburg in a secret ballot piping DA caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku who was also nominated.

The former Finance MMC was voted in 189 to 60 votes for Kayser-Echeozonjoku at an extraordinary council sitting on Friday.

The outgoing mayor Kabelo Gwamanda who held the reign for a year and eight months resigned on Tuesday following calls for him to step down has been named community development MMC.

Kayser-Echeozonjoku said Morero’s re-election will predictably have dire consequences for the City.

She stated that in order to deal with the inherent instability of Johannesburg’s fractured, multi-party coalition, the Democratic Alliance (DA) tabled a motion calling for the dissolution of council so that new elections can be held. However, the motion was rejected.

Kayser-Echeozonjoku took a swipe at the parties that supported the ANC against the DA candidate.

“These parties could have sided with the DA’s track record of service delivery, good governance, and accountability. But they decided to align themselves with the ANC’s legacy of corruption and decline.

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“Those responsible for sinking the ship that is Johannesburg, will not be the ones to rescue it. Parties were given an alternative to the ANC today. 

“Instead of doing the right thing by Johannesburg residents, they chose positions in a coalition that has already demonstrated its incapacity to govern,” she added.

Concerns over frequent changes of mayors in Johannesburg

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng said it welcomed Morero’s appointment but expressed grave concern over the frequent changes of executive mayors in the City.

Provincial chairperson Nkululeko Dunga highlighted that the instability has a negative impact on the City’s administration, governance, planning, monitoring, and ultimately, service delivery.

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“Despite the fact that no single organization can constitute government on its own, the residents of Johannesburg expect political organizations to act with maturity and logic to bring about stability.

“The EFF opposes the notion that an individual, specifically the executive mayor, should be
singled out to shoulder responsibilities when results are unsatisfactory.

“The mayoral committee, municipal officials, and the organizations in council should all play a collective
role in building a City that effectively serves its residents,” he expressed.

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Dunga stated that they vehemently opposed to the pursuit of power for power’s own sake without a clear conviction and plan to provide services to residents.

Meanwhile, Margaret Arnolds has resigned as speaker of the Joburg Council after being appointed to newly elected mayor Dada Morero’s mayoral committee.

“It has been an honour and privilege to serve the City of Johannesburg in this capacity, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together,” she said.

Arnolds acknowledged the challenges faced during her tenure but praised the spirit of unity that prevailed in working towards a better future for the City.

“Your dedication to public service and your relentless efforts in addressing the needs of our communities have been a source of inspiration .

“Though I may be stepping down, my faith in the potential of this City and its leadership remains unwavering. I leave knowing that Johannesburg is in good hands,” she remarked.