Johannesburg’s political scene saw fireworks this week after a motion of no confidence against Mayor Dada Morero failed to pass.
While the vote itself might be over, the tension between the city’s key political players — especially the Democratic Alliance (DA), ActionSA, and the ANC-led coalition — is far from cooling down.
At the heart of the drama? Allegations of failing service delivery, political power struggles, and finger-pointing from all sides.
DA Attempts to Oust Morero Over City’s Struggles
Just ten months into his term, Mayor Dada Morero found himself at the center of a no-confidence motion.
The DA brought the motion forward, accusing him of overseeing a city in decline, with poor service delivery and growing mismanagement.
But when it came time to vote on Wednesday, 25 July, the numbers didn’t work in the DA’s favor.
A total of 144 councillors — mostly from the ANC-led coalition — voted against the motion.
Only 75 supported it, while 43 ActionSA councillors abstained, choosing to sit on the fence.
Speaker Gets the Axe While Mayor Survives
Though Morero survived the political hit, ActionSA’s own council speaker Nobuhle Mthembu wasn’t as lucky.
She was removed from her role following a no-confidence motion led by Al Jama-ah — adding another twist to the already tense council proceedings.
DA Slams Political Opportunism Over Principles
After the motion failed, DA Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku didn’t hold back.
She said it’s now crystal clear which parties care about delivering services and which are only interested in political positions.
“We tried to hold the mayor accountable for Johannesburg’s decay,” she said.
“Other parties chose power over principles.
But residents will remember who stood up and who sat quietly.”
Kayser-Echeozonjoku specifically called out ActionSA for abstaining, claiming it was a strategic move to keep negotiations open with other parties.
ActionSA’s Abstention Sparks Backlash
The DA accused ActionSA of playing both sides — criticizing the mayor publicly while refusing to back the no-confidence vote.
The abstention, according to Kayser-Echeozonjoku, was “just as good as a vote to keep Morero in office.”
She added that ActionSA’s failure to secure more executive positions likely motivated their decision to remain neutral in the vote.
Morero Shrugs Off the Attempt to Remove Him
As for Mayor Morero, he appeared unfazed by the outcome.
In fact, he claimed he expected the motion to fail all along.
“It’s clear the DA didn’t prepare properly. Their arguments were weak, and it showed a lack of leadership capacity within their caucus,” he told reporters after the vote.
Morero also accused the DA of playing politics in the lead-up to elections, calling the motion nothing more than a publicity stunt.
What’s Next for Joburg Politics?
For now, Morero stays put — but the city’s political scene is as volatile as ever.
Between council reshuffles, failed motions, and accusations flying left and right, Johannesburg residents are left wondering what this means for the services they depend on daily.