A City Adrift: Joburg’s Top Officials Locked in a ‘Cold War’ as Manager Dives into ANC Fray

Johannesburg, a metropolis of millions, is reportedly running on autopilot as a bitter “cold war” between its two most senior administrators spills into the fractious internal politics of the ANC. The deepening feud between City Manager Floyd Brink and Executive Mayor Dada Morero has taken a startling turn, with Brink attending a closed-door ANC regional lekgotla in the Vaal over the weekenda move critics condemn as a blatant breach of the apolitical neutrality required of his office.

According to sources present, Brink told the ANC gathering that he answers to the party’s regional chairperson, Loyiso Masuku, and not to Mayor Morero. This declaration lays bare the factional fault lines within the ANC that now directly govern City Hall. Masuku has long been a vocal supporter of Brink’s appointment, while Morero, who lost his position as ANC Johannesburg chair but remains mayor, allegedly tried to block it.

“They Are Not Working Together”

The animosity is paralyzing. “They are not working together. They are both doing their separate things,” a source told The Citizen, noting that Morero has admitted he “cannot stand the man.” This breakdown at the very top threatens to cripple service delivery and strategic decision-making for South Africa’s economic heart.

A Defence and a Denial

The City defended Brink’s lekgotla appearance, stating he was invited in his professional capacity to present on the state of municipal-owned entities and did not participate in other proceedings. The ANC regional spokesperson, Mantombi Nkosi, argued that inviting senior managers is a long-standing practice to inform political leadership.

However, the DA caucus leader, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, slammed the move as “unbecoming of a city manager” and a violation of constitutional principles requiring a professional, impartial public administration. Further allegations that Brink funded buses for the ANC’s January 8 celebrations were denied by the party.

Governance Held Hostage

The incident exposes how Johannesburg’s administration has become a proxy battleground for ANC internal conflicts. With the city manager and mayor openly hostile and aligned with opposing party factions, coherent governance is held hostage. For residents, the political theatre translates into a city on autopilotwhere essential services and long-term planning risk being secondary to the survivalist politics playing out in the corridors of power. The question is no longer just about who reports to whom, but who is actually steering the city.