Johannesburg mayor Dad “Dada” Morero is applying “diplomatic sensitivity” to the proposed name change that would turn Sandton Drive into Leila Khaled Drive. The US, which had declared Khaled, a Palestinian freedom fighter, as a terrorist, has threatened to shut down its consulate in Sandton if the street name was changed.
Morero has called for further engagement on the name change, an initiative the ANC began discussing in 2018. Cato Institute, a respected American think-tank, has described Morero as “constructive and not populist at the time of a looming crisis”
The consulate serves as an important diplomatic mission for bilateral relations between the US and South Africa. According to analysts the closure of the consulate will create a gap in communication between Trade and Investment, Cultural and Educational Exchange. The closure may affect Visa Services and decrease tourism to Johannesburg, a city already suffering an economic hit.
A mayor’s role in a street name change is that he or she ensures that the city council turns to a public participation process to gather input from residents regarding the proposed renaming. The mayor, along with the city council, then relies on the outcomes of public input to make a final decision on the renaming of streets.
As the executive leader of the councils executive, the mayor then keeps the public informed about the progress of the renaming process, including updates on the public consultation phase and the final decision. The mayor then plays a role in ensuring that the renaming process adheres to the city's policy on naming streets and public places.
One of the most visible signs of Johannesburg's decline has been its dirty streets. For years, the inner city has been plagued with piles of rubbish, neglected parks, and an overall sense of urban decay. This crisis has caused deep frustration among residents, who have been
The decline of Johannesburg's inner city has been a persistent challenge for city officials for over 15 years. Many buildings have been overtaken by criminals, often from absentee owners or those who have abandoned efforts to earn rental income from their properties.
Morero, who took office amid this turmoil, has committed to tackling these issues head-on. Since his appointment. The recent opening of the new R95 million clinic in Naledi, Soweto, marks a symbolic victory in the city's fight to improve service delivery.
In his March 19 speech at the 2025 SA Nation Brand Forum, Morero outlined his administration's approach to reclaiming the city, focusing on critical areas like water and electricity infrastructure repair. Johannesburg's infrastructure needs are dire, with an estimated 221 billion rand required to bring the city's facilities up to par. “Part of our strategy is to tap into all available resources, including private funding, to bridge this gap,” Morero said during a recent interview.
For now, it seems Morero may have saved the day by not pushing for the Sandton Drive name change amid the diplomatic impasse between South Africa and the US.
While Sandton Drive will not be called Leila Khaled for now, Morero’s leadership will be tested in the coming months as the city prepares to host the G20 summit in November.