JOHANNESBURG – The political landscape of South Africa's economic hub has been thrown into further turmoil as the ANC's Regional Executive Committee (REC) has officially moved to recall Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero. The decision, which follows months of internal bickering and power plays, marks a dramatic downfall for a man who was once seen as the party's "golden boy" in the city, but who has now found himself on the wrong side of a shifting political tide.
The move to axe Morero comes after he lost his position as the ANC's regional chairperson to Loyiso Masuku in a hotly contested election. In the world of ANC politics, the "two centres of power" model—where the mayor is not the regional leader—is often a recipe for disaster. The REC has made it clear that the relationship between the party leadership and the mayor's office has become "irreconcilable," with accusations that the state is being used to undermine the party's regional structures.
"The REC is reviewing its decision to keep Dada as mayor because the relationship is irreconcilable as the state is used to undermine the party," a statement from the regional executive read. "We cannot have a mayor who operates outside the mandates of the collective. For the sake of service delivery and party unity, a change is necessary. The regional conference made its choice, and the governance of the city must reflect that choice."
The political tension in Johannesburg is at an all-time high. Morero has been leading a fragile coalition government, and his removal could trigger a total collapse of the city's administration. Opposition parties, including the DA and ActionSA, have watched the drama with a mix of glee and concern, warning that the residents of Johannesburg are the ones who will suffer most from the ANC's internal wars. "The ANC is prioritizing political deals over the needs of the residents," a DA councillor remarked during a recent council meeting.
The human drama behind the political headlines is the impact on the city's six million residents. Johannesburg is currently facing a massive infrastructure crisis, with frequent water outages, crumbling roads, and a failing electricity grid. The constant change in leadership has meant that long-term projects are often stalled or abandoned, leaving citizens to bear the brunt of the dysfunction. The "rot in the ranks" of the city's administration has become a common complaint among residents who are tired of paying for services they don't receive.
The economic impact of a "headless" Johannesburg cannot be overstated. As the financial heart of the country, any instability in the city's governance sends a negative signal to investors and businesses. The recall of Morero is seen by many as a sign that the ANC is more focused on its own internal battles than on fixing the "City of Gold." The city's capital budget spend is reportedly at an all-time low, further exacerbating the infrastructure crisis.
As the party prepares to name a successor, Morero's supporters have vowed to fight the recall, setting the stage for a protracted legal and political battle. For now, the mayor remains in office, but his authority has been fatally wounded. In the high-stakes game of Joburg politics, it seems that no one is safe from the "recall axe," and the residents are left wondering who, if anyone, is actually in charge.
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