ANC recalls two mayors amid questions over Morero’s position

The African National Congress has asked two of its mayors to step down in quick succession, prompting debate about why the party has not acted similarly in Johannesburg where Dada Morero remains in office.

Who was recalled and why

The party said Sipho Radebe was asked to resign as mayor of Emfuleni Local Municipality because of service delivery failures. In Madibeng Local Municipality, Douglas Maimane was recalled amid internal party disputes and allegations that he tried to decampaign the ANC ahead of the elections.

Party statement and response

In a statement, the ANC said it is acting “in the best interests of its constituency” and stressed its commitment to municipalities focused on community needs, service delivery, job creation, economic opportunity and safety. The statement emphasised that both public representatives and public servants are expected to discharge their responsibilities diligently.

“The discipline of the movement’s public representatives remains under careful watch and will continue to be upheld, consistently and lawfully, in the interests of the communities we serve.”

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu was quoted:

“The needs of the people come before the ambitions of any individual.”

Political analysis and accusations of double standards

Political analyst Wayne Duvenhage told The Citizen the party may be engaging in last-minute crisis management ahead of elections and trying to show it is acting against non-performing officials. He said the ANC can change mayoral candidates where there is criticism and non-performance, but that this approach cannot be applied uniformly.

Duvenhage pointed to Johannesburg as a more complex case, saying the city’s coalition government requires the support of smaller parties and makes changes more difficult.

Morero left in place

Late last year, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the party would not recall Joburg mayor Dada Morero because it would not be wise to recall a sitting mayor in an election year, and that the ANC in Johannesburg should focus on winning the upcoming elections.

Legal action and next steps in Madibeng

The ANC said the matters concerning Madibeng are the subject of a legal process and the party will allow that process to take its course. It said the recall is a new process and will be matched with proper legal action on an urgent basis. The source also reported that Maimane had taken the party to court challenging his removal.

What the recalls highlight

The recall of Radebe and Maimane has prompted questions about consistency and timing in the ANC’s disciplinary actions, with critics and analysts characterising the moves as targeted interventions in municipalities where the party faces pressure.