Analyst: Water, electricity should top new Joburg mayor’s agenda
A political analyst believes a solution to the water and electricity supply problems should top the agenda of new Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero.
The ANC’s Morero was elected the city’s new mayor on Friday afternoon following Kabelo Gwamanda's resignation.
The ANC’s Morero secured the position with 189 votes, defeating the DA’s Belinda Kayser-Echeonzonjoku.
It is not his first rodeo as Joburg mayor, as he had a brief 25-day stint in 2022.
In his acceptance speech, Morero vowed to improve service delivery to long-suffering residents.
Unisa’s Professor Dirk Kotze says Morero should focus on visible work in the city, such as fixing traffic lights and roads, to gain the trust of residents.
“The top points that should be on his agenda is how to stabilise the government of the metro and have people who will create confidence in the new dispensation.
“Critical issues in Johannesburg right now are the water and electricity situation, and not in the form of load shedding, but that there are so many interruptions as well as the issue of prepaid meters which are causing big problems for many people in the metro.”
The leader of the DA in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga, warned that they will not hesitate to remove Morero as mayor if he fails to perform.
“He was elected democratically, and all we are hoping for is that this will last. Joburg has had six mayors in a space of less than three years, and that is unsustainable. So, we will give him the benefit of the doubt now, and hopefully, he will stabilise Johannesburg.”
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