Mayor survives, speaker falls, and residents are left wondering who’s really in charge

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has narrowly escaped being booted from office, walking away from a heated council session on Wednesday with his seat and his political skin intact. While his survival was met with applause and celebratory singing from ANC councillors, the bigger question looms: what now for the City of Gold?

Morero secured 144 votes in his favour, against 75 votes for his removal, dodging a motion of no confidence spearheaded by the DA. But while the mayor might be safe, for now, the council speaker, ActionSA’s Nobuhle Mthembu, wasn’t as lucky. She was ousted, leaving the city without a speaker and a leadership gap at the very heart of municipal governance.

Coalition Drama and a Divided Council

The day’s outcomes reveal a fractured and fragile coalition trying to hold Johannesburg together. Morero’s ANC-led Government of Local Unity (GLU) managed to fend off the motion with the help of smaller parties and a few key abstentions, including from former ally ActionSA.

ActionSA, once vocal partners in Morero’s political rise, distanced themselves this time. “We cannot defend the indefensible,” the party said, pointing to ongoing failures in service delivery and the mayor’s poor governance track record.

That abstention, however, did not go unnoticed. UDM councillor Yongama Zigebe accused ActionSA of political cowardice, saying their decision to sit on the fence was “as good as being complicit” in Johannesburg’s instability.

Joburg Without a Speaker: Who Runs the Show?

With the speaker’s seat now empty, the City of Johannesburg faces a peculiar situation. Until a new speaker is elected, the City Manager will preside over council meetings, a highly unusual move that further muddies the city’s political waters.

A special sitting will be called soon to elect Mthembu’s replacement, but in the meantime, governance grinds awkwardly forward in a city already plagued by potholes, power outages, water issues, and a frustrated citizenry.

Political Loyalty or Just Fear of Change?

Some coalition members claim Morero deserves a chance. Al Jama-ah’s Kabelo Gwamanda, the city’s former mayor, told the council he still backs Morero “in line with a collective GLU resolution.” ANC councillor Tefo Raphadu echoed this, saying Morero had “a plan to turn around” Joburg and that the ANC’s nine months in office had shown progress.

Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds of the AIC praised Morero’s leadership as a stabilising force amid chaos. She described his tenure as a “recovery path” for a city in crisis, citing improved policy direction and developmental planning.

But the DA’s Alex Christians wasn’t convinced. He argued that keeping Morero in power was a clear sign the coalition prioritised positions over residents’ needs. “Those who witnessed this today,” he said, “will see it for what it is—political self-preservation at the cost of service delivery.”

Public Sentiment: Tired of the Political Tug-of-War

On the streets and online residents aren’t celebrating. With hashtags like #JoburgFail and #CoalitionChaos circulating on X, many citizens say they’re exhausted by a political circus that never ends.

One resident posted:

“They keep playing musical chairs in council while we go days without power, water, or any explanation.”

Another commented:

“Morero stays, but does that mean things will get better? Or just more of the same?”

The sentiment is clear: Joburgers want action, not alliances.

The Bigger Picture: Joburg’s Governance Crisis

Johannesburg has been through four mayors in under three years. Political instability has made it nearly impossible for any administration to implement long-term strategies. Each new coalition is built on fragile trust and backroom deals, rather than shared vision or public interest.

The removal of the speaker and the shaky hold of the current mayor signal ongoing volatility. While Morero may have weathered this political storm, the clouds over Joburg haven’t cleared.

Where Does Joburg Go From Here?

With temperatures dropping, infrastructure failing, and municipal workers stretched thin, the city needs leadership that focuses on delivery, not drama. Good Party councillor Matthew Cook may have said it best:

“This vote is not an endorsement. It’s a wake-up call. Johannesburg needs a mayor with a backbone.”

Until council can rally around real solutions instead of political survival, residents will remain caught in the middle, watching, waiting, and wondering who’s actually running their city.

‘Johannesburg Deserves Better’: DA Pushes to Oust Mayor Morero Over Failing Services

{Source: The Citizen}

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