The ANC Joburg region confirmed its mayoral candidate was Finance MMC Dada Morero, during a media briefing at the Council Chambers in Braamfontein on Tuesday.
Morero’s candidacy comes after the anticipated resignation of Kabelo Gwamanda, following heated arguments between the ANC and Al Jama-ah in the past weeks.
Prior to the resignation, there had been mounting calls for Gwamanda to step aside, alleging that the city was poorly managed under his governance, especially with the piloting of the electricity surcharge.
Barely enjoying two years in office, the former mayor said he will serve the city on the benches as a council member.
“I shall continue to serve the people of Johannesburg as a council (member), and will forever cherish the experience afforded to me in my tenure as the executive mayor. My story is one I am hopeful will continue to inspire African children from our city against deprivation, isolation, social and political exclusion and with the absence of friends and peers in the corporate and media hierarchy, one can live and rise on the noble cause of changing the conditions of the poor,” he said.
Despite facing accusations of poor service delivery and mismanagement of state funds, Gwamanda said: “As the youngest mayor of Johannesburg, I am humbled by the opportunity to have led this city and have stabilised it financially and administratively following the collapse of the multiparty coalition government.”
The ANC’s secretary, Sasabona Manganye, confirmed that an in-house special meeting is to be held to discuss the mayor-apparent who is to be appointed from their ranks ahead of a council sitting on Friday scheduled to elect a new mayor.
While the city experienced political instability during Dr Mpho Phalatse’s reign, Manganye stated that the ANC initially enlisted Morero and Mgcini Tshwaku to take over when she was removed from office.
In line with the Government of National Unity, the ANC is forming a broad coalition with the IFP and ActionSA to secure an outright majority in order to appoint a mayor from their ranks.
“The mayor’s decision to resign follows robust engagements between parties and Gwamanda. It makes sense for the mayor to come from the ANC. It is with fact that the ANC has more experience in leading local government,” said Manganye.
He added that the decision for Morero’s candidacy was through the prerogative of the ANC’s national executive, “and the President is well aware of this”.
Boasting that the ANC was committed to rooting out corruption, more than 100 officials were charged with corruption, adding that such acts warranted an in-house mayor-apparent.
Manganye was mum on the scrapping of the R200 surcharge, but maintained it was still under review.
Political parties have flocked in numbers, applauding Gwamanda’s resignation.
As the metro is the leading economic hub, ActionSA Joburg caucus leader Nobuhle Mthembu claimed Gwamanda was incapable of leading a macro metro.
She said: “ActionSA argued from the day of his election that Gwamanda was simply not fit for the role and would certainly be unable to meet the demands of the job. We welcome his resignation as mayor of the city following a tenure that can only be characterised by failure and catastrophic incompetence.”
Build One South Africa’s (Bosa) provincial member of legislature, Ayanda Allie, labelled Gwamanda a “puppet” as he was appointed from a minority party.
She further slammed him for poor service, demanding the surcharge be recalled.
“Bosa welcomes today’s long overdue resignation of the puppet mayor. This brings to an end a calamitous 466-day period of instability, poor service delivery and general malaise in the country’s economic heartland.
“Gwamanda was nothing more than a puppet mayor, given his party won just 0.20% of the votes in local government elections. While politicians benefited, residents suffered,” said Allie.
The Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA), a pact by civic organisations, rallied support for Gwamanda’s removal.
However, this called for critical commitment by the local government to ensure stability and prioritisation of residents.
“The challenges we face, from electricity outages and service delivery issues, require decisive action and resolution. This is what a change of leadership must address and resolve,” said the JCA.
The Star