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Loyiso Masuku Makes History as ANC’s First Woman Leader in Johannesburg
A new chapter has begun for the ANC in Johannesburg, as Loyiso Masuku steps into history. With 184 delegate votes, she has become the first woman to serve as the party’s regional chair. Her win also marks the end of Dada Morero’s tenure as chair, although he continues to hold the city’s mayoral office.
The results were confirmed on Friday during the ANC’s elective conference at Cedar Woods Hotel in Sandton. Delegates gathered to decide who would steer the region through some of the most daunting challenges the city has faced in decades.
The election outcome
Along with Masuku’s victory, the conference confirmed new leaders across key positions in the Johannesburg region. The final tally included:
Regional Chairperson
Loyiso Masuku: 184
Dada Morero: 149
Regional Deputy Chairperson
Eunice Mgina: 143
Masilo Serekele: 188
Regional Secretary
Sasabona Manganye: 205
Lebogang Shabalala: 128
Regional Deputy Secretary
Mnisi Nomoya: 157
Lerato Bob: 187
Regional Treasurer
Maxwell Nedzamba: 233
Muzi Nkosi: 98
It was a reshuffle that reflected both continuity and a push for new leadership energy.
Johannesburg’s mounting challenges
Just a day before the vote, Morero addressed the region’s escalating service delivery crisis. He highlighted ongoing difficulties such as weak revenue collection, worsening debt, poor infrastructure maintenance, and the city’s battle with hijacked buildings and crime.
Residents are increasingly vocal about water shortages, power cuts, potholes, and broken traffic lights that have become part of daily life. Despite these struggles, Morero insisted that progress had been made under his leadership, arguing that structural and financial issues dating back to the DA-led coalition government have repeatedly compromised the city’s stability.
He urged delegates to elect leaders capable of tackling these complex problems. The world is watching, he reminded them.
What happens to Morero now
Morero was elected executive mayor in August 2022 and previously served as MMC for Finance. With the chair position lost, the ANC must now decide what comes next. Will he remain mayor until the end of the local government term in November 2026, or will Masuku’s election shift the political balance within the city?
Insiders and analysts alike are watching closely as the party weighs its options.
Breaking new ground and expectations ahead
Masuku’s election has generated excitement within ANC circles and beyond. Many have pointed to the significance of a woman leading the Johannesburg region for the first time, especially amid public demands for stronger accountability and decisive action.
She now carries the hopes of ANC members and residents who want to see visible improvements where it matters most. Service delivery, infrastructure repair, and financial recovery are not simply political talking points. They shape the daily lives of the city’s people.
From Sandton’s business district to the crowded inner city, pressure is mounting for fresh leadership that delivers on promises rather than speeches. Masuku’s historic win gives her the platform. Now comes the hard work of turning confidence into results.
Johannesburg is waiting.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Business Day
