New Joburg mayor Mpho Moerane vows to address power crisis
Johannesburg has a new mayor, with Mpho Moerane sworn in as the city’s new first citizen on Friday.
Moerane was sworn in as mayor during a city council meeting on Friday.
During his inaugural speech, an emotional Moerane told council members that “this moment is not easy for me because my friend was standing here a few weeks ago”.
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It’s been a tough few months for the City of Johannesburg with two of its mayors dying in just two months.
Mayor Geoff Makhubo passed away in August after battling Covid-19.
His successor Jolidee Matogo subsequently died in a car cras which claimed the lives of three people.
Moerane vowed to continue working to address the cIty’s electricity crisis.
“What we believe is critical as the city is to address the challenges that people of Soweto are facing. People of Orange Farm, Diepsloot, Finetown and Ivory Park with the supply of electricity from eskom.
“We have entered into negotiations with Eskom to take over those areas. We are about to sign a memorandum of understanding for that take over. Obviously taking over is not something that will happen overnight but we want to start with the process earnestly."