ANC emerges as the biggest winner in City of Joburg's marathon of motions of no confidence

THE DA was dealt a heavy blow when a majority of parties in the City of Joburg council rejected its motion to topple ANC mayor Dada Morero through a motion of no confidence on Wednesday.  

The DA accused Morero of  presiding over a deteriorating administration in South Africa’s economic hub.

The motion failed despite earlier signs that some opposition parties such as ActionSA would not defend Morero’s leadership.

“While parties in council chose positions over principles today, the DA can proudly say that it brought forward a motion to dismiss the man presiding over Johannesburg’s decay. No amount of spin by a failing executive can conceal Johannesburg’s rot and decay – but the residents of Johannesburg will not forget.

“While the order of the day has been political posturing, the DA can reveal that ActionSA’s abstention on the vote against Executive Mayor Dada Morero only came about because of their inability to convince the corrupt to give them more positions in the executive. Their abstention in today’s vote, which is just as good as a vote to keep Morero, is a cheap tool to keep the door for renegotiations open,” said DA Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku. 

Before the vote, ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said his party had informed the ANC it would not back Morero.

“We have come to this conclusion because service delivery in Johannesburg has collapsed,” Beaumont said. 

“Traffic lights are not working, streets are falling apart, electricity and water outages are worse than ever.”

He also criticised Morero’s dismissive approach to the city’s challenges.

“We’ll just repair the potholes on the routes of the G20,” and “Don’t expect a lot under my mayoral team,” Beaumont quoted Morero as saying.

 ActionSA also suffered a major setback when its councillor and  City of Joburg council speaker Nobuhle Mthembu  was removed in a motion of no confidence. 

The motion was brought by Al Jama-ah and supported by the  ANC, EFF and DA  

Meanwhile, the ANC's Sthembiso Zungu, who is Chief Whip for the city, survived a similar motion, with 179 councillors voting against his removal, 69 in favor and six abstaining.

Cape Times