DA’s Joburg Power Play: No-Confidence Showdown Targets Mayor, Speaker

Council faces two-day debate on collapsing services, alleged political interference and a city in crisis.

The gloves are off in Johannesburg. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is going head-to-head with the ANC-led coalition in a high-stakes no-confidence showdown that could shift the balance of power in South Africa’s most important metro.

The City of Johannesburg council is bracing for heated debates on June 25 and 26, after the programming committee greenlit the DA’s motion of no confidence in Mayor Dada Morero, Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu, and Chief Whip Sithembiso Zungu.

It’s a dramatic moment in the city’s turbulent political history—one that underscores a deeper question: Is Joburg being governed, or mismanaged into the ground?

The DA’s Charges: ‘This City Is Falling Apart’

The DA’s motion doesn’t mince words. It paints a grim picture of the metro under Morero’s leadership: collapsing basic services, crumbling infrastructure, and a patronage-driven political culture that’s grinding local government to a halt.

“Johannesburg deserves better,” the DA’s statement declared. “Instead of service delivery, residents are getting empty promises and political games.”

Morero, who also serves as the ANC’s Joburg regional chairperson, is accused of failing to lead with integrity, surrounded by a culture of secrecy and alleged mismanagement.

But it’s not just the mayor in the crosshairs.

Speaker Under Fire: Is Mthembu Biased?

Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu, from ActionSA, has drawn ire from the DA for allegedly shielding the executive from scrutiny, failing to uphold impartiality, and “turning council into a political playground.”

The DA says her conduct has eroded the democratic process and blocked effective oversight—especially as Joburg continues to suffer rolling service delivery crises, including power outages, water failures, and poor road maintenance.

“Her disregard for procedural fairness shows she is no longer neutral, but a political ally of the mayor,” the DA said.

A Divided Coalition and Political Tensions

The current government of local unity—a fragile coalition led by the ANC with ActionSA, EFF, Patriotic Alliance, IFP, AIC, Al Jama-ah and PAC—has managed to keep control of the metro, but not without infighting and political compromise.

In January, ActionSA’s Sarah Wissler beat the DA’s Solomon Maila to chair the Public Safety Committee by 169 votes to 67, highlighting the DA’s isolation in council despite being the largest opposition party.

With such alliances at play, the outcome of the no-confidence vote is far from guaranteed—but politically explosive nonetheless.

Residents’ Voices: Tired of the Circus

On social media and in community WhatsApp groups, Joburg residents are voicing frustration. While some support the DA’s stance against a dysfunctional administration, others see it as another chapter in the ongoing political circus, with no tangible relief for ordinary people.

“Fix our roads and water first—then fight in council,” one user posted on X.

“They’re all the same. We’ve had five mayors in three years and still no service,” said another.

The Stakes: More Than Just Seats

The DA is urging councillors across party lines to vote with conscience, not loyalty. It argues that Joburg can’t afford another year of instability, with service backlogs mounting and political theatre replacing real leadership.

“We owe it to every resident to fight for a council that works,” the party insisted.

But the ANC’s hold—backed by a patchwork coalition, may prove hard to crack, especially if smaller parties vote to protect the status quo.

The upcoming debate is more than just procedural drama. It’s a litmus test for local democracy, for coalition politics, and for the future of a city that, by many accounts, is teetering on the edge.

Stay tuned for updates from the June 25–26 debate. Will Joburg’s leadership survive the storm—or will the city get yet another reboot?

{Source: IOL}

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