ANC’s Dada Morero is Joburg’s new mayor 

By Doreen Mokgolo

ANC councillor Dada Morero has been elected as the mayor of Johannesburg.

He was voted into office on Friday with 189 votes. The DA’s Joburg council leader, Belinda Echeozonjoku, got 60 votes. 

A total of 253 councillors voted in the secret ballot officiated by the IEC, with four spoiled papers and one cancelled vote.

As Morero was sworn in at the Conny Bapela Council Chambers in Braamfontein, excited ANC councillors cheered that they had finally regained the metro’s leadership.

In September 2022, Morero was elected mayor of Joburg, but his term only lasted 25 days after the DA took to the Johannesburg High Court to overturn his election.

They argued his election was unlawful and unconstitutional, which led to the reinstatement of the DA’s Dr Mpho Phalatse.

Morero’s election follows Kabelo Gwamanda’s resignation on Tuesday. Gwamanda, a member of the Al Jama-ah party, became mayor in May last year.

The city has had eight mayors in the past five years.

Council speaker Margaret Arnolds congratulated Morero and said she was confident of his ability to lead the metro.

“[He] has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the people of Johannesburg, and I am confident that his leadership will bring about the positive change our city needs.

“The challenges our city faces are vast, but with strong, united leadership at the helm, I believe we can overcome them,” she said.

Arnolds encouraged councillors and officials to support Morero in his mission to uplift communities and the lives of the city’s residents.

Pictured above: Dada Morero, top, is back in the chair – he was congratulated by speaker Margaret Arnolds.

Source: Supplied