Key Takeaways
- Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero apologized after telling a resident “you’re talking sh**t” during a heated electricity imbizo in Tshepisong, Roodepoort.
- The meeting, organized by City Power, aimed to address service‑delivery problems after the utility withdrew technical restoration and maintenance due to illegal connections, vandalism and sabotage.
- Morero’s outburst followed accusations that he was a criminal; he repeatedly told the resident to stop the insult and later lost his temper.
- The incident drew mixed reactions on social media and sharp criticism from opposition parties, especially the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who called it unbecoming of a public representative.
- City Power reiterated that the withdrawal of services was a necessary response to repeated illegal reconnections that endangered lives and damaged infrastructure.
- The utility noted that 97 % of Tshepisong customers were not purchasing electricity, highlighting a deep‑rooted compliance and revenue problem.
- Community leaders stressed that imbizos should be safe, respectful forums for dialogue, not venues where residents are humiliated for voicing frustrations.
- Morero’s apology, accepted by the resident and the meeting, underscores the need for leaders to exercise restraint while addressing legitimate service‑delivery concerns.
- Moving forward, stakeholders must balance firm enforcement against illegal activity with empathetic engagement to rebuild trust and restore reliable electricity supply.
Incident Overview
On Thursday, 2 November 2024, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero found himself at the centre of a viral controversy after a heated exchange with a resident during an electricity imbizo held at the Abundant Faith Christian Centre in the Roodepoort township of Tshepisong. The meeting, convened by the city’s power utility, City Power, was intended to provide updates on interventions aimed at improving electricity service delivery in an area plagued by frequent outages and technical challenges. Instead, the session deteriorated into a confrontation that was captured on video and widely circulated on social media, prompting public debate about the conduct of elected officials when faced with citizen criticism.
Setting and Participants
The imbizo was attended by several senior officials besides the Mayor. MMC for the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, Jack Sekwaila, was present, as was City Power’s acting CEO, Charles Tlouane, along with other municipal representatives and local councillors. Residents of Tshepisong gathered to voice their frustrations over persistent electricity problems, which had intensified following City Power’s decision to withdraw technical restoration and maintenance services from the area. The atmosphere was already tense, reflecting broader community dissatisfaction with service‑delivery performance across Johannesburg.
Escalation and the Exchange
During the session, residents articulated the impact of electricity challenges on their daily lives, citing prolonged blackouts, unsafe conditions, and financial strain. The dialogue grew increasingly heated when a resident—believed to be a man—addressed Mayor Morero, calling him a criminal. Morero responded firmly, repeating, “Don’t call me a criminal. What are you saying? Don’t call me a criminal. No, I am not a criminal,” as background murmurs indicated growing unease. He warned the resident not to repeat the insult, emphasizing his age and demanding respect. The resident’s persistence provoked Morero to lose his temper, whereupon he retorted, “You’re talking sht. You’re talking sht.” He repeated the expletive while residents shouted in the background, adding, “If you can’t respect other people, we will also not respect you. We have the same capacity as yours.” Morero later remarked that the meeting had “started off on the wrong foot because of this man’s comment.”
Mayor’s Apology
Following the uproar, Mayor Morero issued a public apology, acknowledging that his conduct had fallen short of expected standards. He stated, “During the course of the meeting, emotions went high between myself and one of the participants and I would like to profusely and unconditionally apologise for my utterances which were made this morning at the meeting.” Morero admitted that his remarks should not have been made in that fashion, accepted full responsibility, and noted that he had spoken privately with the resident involved, whose acceptance of his apology was acknowledged by the gathering. The apology aimed to reconcile the incident and reaffirm his commitment to respectful engagement.
Opposition Critique
Opposition parties swiftly condemned Morero’s behaviour. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) described the Mayor’s conduct as unbecoming of an executive mayor, reflecting poor leadership and a failure to exercise the restraint and respect obligatory for public officials. EFF Gauteng spokesperson Dumisani Baleni emphasized that community imbizos ought to serve as safe, respectful platforms for residents to express frustrations, not arenas where they are humiliated or verbally attacked. Baleni argued that the incident highlighted a broader need for responsive leadership that listens to community concerns and provides solutions, rather than resorting to insults when confronted with criticism.
City Power’s Service Withdrawal
City Power clarified the rationale behind its decision to suspend technical restoration and maintenance services in Tshepisong. The utility said the move was precipitated by persistent acts of sabotage, widespread illegal connections, and repeated unlawful reconnections of infrastructure that had not yet been commissioned. Specifically, community members were illegally reconnecting newly installed pole‑mounted transformers and throwing wires onto electricity lines to deliberately trip the network. These actions, City Power asserted, endangered lives, damaged critical infrastructure, and undermined efforts to establish a safe, sustainable electricity supply. The utility maintained that the withdrawal was a difficult but necessary step to protect both the network and public safety.
Underlying Causes of Electricity Issues
A striking statistic emerged from City Power’s report: approximately 97 % of customers in Tshepisong were not purchasing electricity. This alarming figure points to a deep‑seated problem of non‑payment, which exacerbates the utility’s financial strain and limits its capacity to invest in maintenance and upgrades. Illegal connections and vandalism further compound the issue, creating a vicious cycle where reduced revenue leads to diminished service quality, prompting more residents to bypass official channels. Addressing the root causes—affordability, metering accuracy, community trust, and enforcement—requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond punitive measures.
Community Impact and Safety Concerns
The ongoing electricity challenges have tangible repercussions for Tshepisong residents. Frequent outages disrupt household routines, hinder small‑business operations, and compromise safety, particularly during nighttime hours. Illegal reconnections pose electrocution risks and can cause fires, endangering both individuals and neighbouring properties. Moreover, the erosion of trust between the community and service providers hampers collaborative efforts to combat vandalism and illegal activity. Residents’ frustration, therefore, stems not only from inconvenience but from genuine concerns for their well‑being and security.
Moving Forward and Lessons Learned
The incident involving Mayor Morero offers a critical lesson for public officials: the importance of maintaining composure and respect, even amid heightened emotions. While leaders must address illegal behaviour and enforce regulations, they must do so without alienating the very constituents they serve. For City Power and municipal authorities, the path ahead likely involves a blend of firm enforcement against sabotage and illegal reconnections, coupled with transparent communication, affordable tariff options, and community‑engagement programmes that empower residents to participate in solutions. Rebuilding trust will require consistent, respectful dialogue—true imbizos that listen as much as they speak—ensuring that service‑delivery challenges are met with empathy, accountability, and effective action.