Key Takeaways:
- The ANC in the City of Johannesburg is set to hold its regional conference from December 3-5, where the current chairperson, Dada Morero, will face a challenge from Loyiso Masuku for the top position.
- The outcome of the conference will determine the next mayor of Johannesburg, with the winner likely to take on the role.
- Morero is facing a motion of no confidence in the City of Johannesburg council, which will be debated on Tuesday.
- The ANC is struggling with internal conflicts and service delivery challenges in the city, which could impact the party’s performance in the next local government elections.
- Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast believes that the ANC needs to elect a strong leadership to bridge the gaps and address the party’s challenges.
Introduction to the ANC Conference
The African National Congress (ANC) in the City of Johannesburg is gearing up for its regional conference, which will take place from December 3-5. The conference is expected to be a highly contested event, with several slates vying for positions. The current chairperson, Dada Morero, is facing a challenge from Loyiso Masuku, the wife of former Gauteng MEC Bandile Masuku, for the top position. The outcome of the conference will determine the next mayor of Johannesburg, as the winner is likely to take on the role.
The Battle for Leadership
The ANC in the region is going into the conference with several slates that can change at any time. A circulating poster claims to show who is on Morero’s slate, including some members of his current mayoral committee. Masuku’s slate, on the other hand, consists of her as regional chairperson and Masilo Serekele, the region’s spokesperson, as her deputy. The battle for leadership is expected to be intense, with both candidates having their own strengths and weaknesses. Morero has the advantage of being from Johannesburg, while Masuku will have to stress her capabilities and show what she has done as a member of the mayoral committee.
A Motion of No Confidence
The speaker of the City of Johannesburg council, Margaret Arnolds, has invited councillors to a two-day council sitting that begins on Tuesday. The meeting agenda has not been disclosed to the media, but a source in council has revealed that several motions of no confidence will be debated. High on the agenda will be a motion of no confidence against Morero, as well as others against minority party representatives who brought the motion against him. The minority parties who want Morero out have accused him of failing in his duties as mayor and of tampering with the appointments of senior officials in the City.
Morero’s Response
The Citizen reached out to Morero’s office for comment, but was told that it would be better to speak with the mayor himself on Tuesday. However, in an interview on his party’s social media accounts, Morero said that he is more concerned about serving his community than power and positions. He stated that he is not too preoccupied with positions of power and that his focus is on making the ANC and the people of Johannesburg proud. Morero’s response suggests that he is confident in his abilities and is not intimidated by the challenges he is facing.
The Need for Strong Leadership
Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast believes that the ANC needs to elect a strong leadership to bridge the gaps and address the party’s challenges. He stated that Morero has become the face of service delivery challenges in the City of Johannesburg, which could be used by any faction that stands against his re-election. Breakfast also expressed concerns about Masuku’s candidacy, citing her origins from the Eastern Cape and the need for her to stress her capabilities and show what she has done as a member of the mayoral committee. He believes that the ANC’s brand is a problem in urban areas, which could impact the party’s performance in the next local government elections.
The Way Forward
The outcome of the ANC’s regional conference will be crucial in determining the direction of the party in the City of Johannesburg. The election of a strong leadership will be essential in addressing the party’s challenges and improving its performance in the next local government elections. The ANC’s national leaders have been speculated to impose a senior party member as a mayoral candidate in Johannesburg, but Breakfast believes that this is a bad idea. He stated that the ANC has a political culture that the branches must speak, and imposing someone else would send the wrong message. The ANC must therefore ensure that the branches are given the opportunity to pronounce who they want as their leader, and that the party’s internal conflicts are addressed in a democratic and transparent manner.