JOBURG MAYOR DADA MORERO IGNORES RECALL NOTICE, FOCUSES ON DELIVERY

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero lost the position of regional chairperson to current deputy mayor Loyiso Masuku at that conference.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief, The Azanian

Truth. Fearless. Unfiltered.

Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero has downplayed reports of his impending recall by the ANC, saying he has not received any official communication from the party.

"Well, I'm like you; I saw it in the social media space. No formal communication has come through me as the deployee of the ANC," Morero told the media in Midrand.

The ANC's Regional Executive Committee (REC) reportedly resolved to relieve Morero of his duties at a special meeting on Saturday, following a court challenge to the legitimacy of the party's regional conference held in December. Morero lost the position of regional chairperson to current deputy mayor Loyiso Masuku at that conference.

"If there's any decision of that nature, then the responsibility and the honours are on the leadership to engage with its deployee," Morero said, emphasizing his focus on delivering on commitments made to the city. "However, I must indicate that we are focused on the work. We must ensure that we deliver on the commitments we've made, and as the executive mayor, I have the responsibility to continue my work."

Morero's comments come as Johannesburg struggles with service delivery issues, including water and electricity supply problems. The ANC faces another internal crisis with the looming local government elections, and opposition parties are intensifying campaigns in preparation for the polls.

"The mayor has an Executive Committee of ten people, which includes the MMC of Finance, who is also now the deputy mayor," Morero said. "We have a responsibility as a collective to work together to ensure that we deliver on the mandate that council has given us."

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has been officially named the party's mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, while Helen Zille and Kenny Kunene have also thrown their hats into the ring. The MK Party is expected to announce its candidate before April.