Johannesburg – Dada Morero – Joburg African National Congress (ANC) regional chair – was elected Executive Mayor of Johannesburg Friday.
As widely anticipated Morero, the City of Joburg’s Finance MMC, was voted in to replace Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda of the minority Al Jama-ah party who resigned earlier this week.
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Morero defeated the Democratic Alliance (DA) candidate Cllr Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku.
The parties that supported the ANC’s Morero against the DA candidate included ActionSA, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Patriotic Alliance, IFP, FF+, ACDP, Al Jama-ah, AIC, AHC, Good, ATM, UDM, Cope, PAC, UIM and the APC.
Unhappy with the outcome, the DA said: “The events that unfolded in the Johannesburg City Council today will predictably have dire consequences for the City”.
The DA said it tabled a motion calling for the dissolution of the council so that new elections can be held.
“This motion was rejected. All other parties united behind the ANC to elect Councillor Dada Morero as the City’s 12th Mayor in eight years,” the DA said.
“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.
“Those responsible for sinking the ship that is Johannesburg, will not be the ones to rescue it.”
This was the second time Morero was elected Joburg mayor. A year ago the court ruled Morero’s election as irregular and he was removed as mayor a month into the job.
This time around, even the EFF said it “notes and welcomes” the election of Morero of the ANC as the mayor of Johannesburg.
“We also welcome the reappointment of Commissar Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku and Fighter Ennie Makhafola as MMCs for Public Safety and Public Health, respectively.”
