Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has been removed as the head of the ANC Gauteng local government intervention team following complaints regarding his appointment. According to a June 9 letter from Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, Morero will instead lead a unit responsible for legislature and governance within the provincial task team.
Why was Dada Morero removed from the intervention team?
The removal follows a dispute at Luthuli House concerning whether a sitting mayor should lead a team tasked with holding other ANC mayors accountable. According to those close to the dispute, Gauteng leaders questioned Morero’s appointment because he appeared to have been added to both the provincial working committee (PWC) and the intervention team without approval from the National Working Committee (NWC).
A list approved by national officials, including President Cyril Ramaphosa and the NWC, reportedly identified former education MEC Matome Chiloane as the head of the local intervention team. This version of the list differed from the one released by Mbalula, according to reports seen by the Sunday Times.
How did the appointment process create tension within the ANC?
Internal friction arose when Secretary-General Mbalula allegedly created an appointment list unilaterally. A senior ANC leader claimed that while the NWC had agreed on specific names, Mbalula acted independently after the meeting.
“He [Mbalula] created that list himself,” said a senior ANC leader. “We went to the NWC, read out the names, and the NWC agreed. And then we left the meeting [and] he went to do his shenanigans. This is what is sowing tensions in Gauteng, but it’s also going to create a lot of mistrust in the NWC.”
The Sunday Times reported that the original list, compiled by second deputy secretary-general Maropene Ramokgopa and NEC member Mduduzi Manana, did not include Morero in the PWC. Another senior insider stated that while Morero and Jacob Khawe were included in the provincial task team (PTT), Morero was not originally assigned the responsibility of leading the intervention team.
What is the background of the dispute involving Fikile Mbalula?
The complaints regarding Morero are part of a series of decisions by Mbalula that have drawn criticism from party leadership. In January, Mbalula called for police to investigate the outcome of the December ANC Johannesburg conference, where Morero lost the regional leadership to Loyiso Masuku.
In February, Mbalula announced that a fraud case had been opened after ballot papers from that conference were found at a house belonging to an elections agency. Party leaders, including Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Maropene Ramokgopa, and Nomvula Mokonyane, reportedly expressed displeasure with these actions, stating they were not in keeping with ANC norms.
What could happen next for the Gauteng provincial task team?
The structure of the Gauteng provincial task team may undergo further changes. ANC media liaison officer Mothusi Shupinyane ka Ndaba stated that the NWC list is still subject to refinement to ensure adherence to good governance and ethics during the party’s renewal process.
Regarding the recent leadership swap, Shupinyane ka Ndaba said the aim was to ensure “a deployee is not accountable to himself.” Morero has stated that, from his perspective, the matter has been resolved now that he has been moved to the legislature and governance unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new convenor of the local government intervention team?
Nathi Congwane has been appointed as the new convenor of the intervention team.
What is Dada Morero’s new role in the ANC?
Morero will now lead the unit responsible for legislature and governance within the ANC Gauteng provincial task team.
Why were there complaints about Morero’s initial appointment?
Gauteng leaders raised concerns that a mayor should not be responsible for a team that holds other mayors to account, and that his appointment lacked NWC approval.
How should the ANC balance regional leadership appointments with the need for independent oversight?