[Image: Dada Morero/ Facebook]
City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has laughed off Helen Zille’s potential run for the mayoral seat following her announcement that she’s open to becoming the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s candidate in the next local government elections.
The DA’s federal council chairperson confirmed she had been formally approached and is “seriously considering” entering the race for mayor of South Africa’s economic hub in the 2026/2027 elections.
Zille, in a Monday interview on 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa, hinted she’d be a formidable opponent: “I have been formally approached, and I am seriously thinking about it. I could give Morero a run for his money.”
Speaking at a briefing during the Africa Mayors’ Assembly in Tshwane on Monday, Morero downplayed the move, suggesting the DA’s interest in fielding a seasoned political heavyweight signals nervousness about his administration’s performance.
“They’re realising that things are being done, we have a funded budget, your infrastructure plan is in place, you have put money aside for infrastructure refurbishment, Morero said. “They are realising that things are happening.”
Morero is a funny man, and the Joburg Municipality seems to share his good humour.
According to Daily Maverick, city spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane has confirmed that the metro government sees no problem and will not investigate further after the Auditor General pointed out six tenders valued at almost R1 billion were made to the family of either a city official or councillor for the extension of the BRT/Rea Vaya bus system.
“There is no regulatory provision that prohibits the Municipality to award contracts to the category of people in question (spouse, child or parent of a person in service of state either actively or in the past twelve months). Therefore, the question whether the City failed in oversight and due diligence is misplaced.”
The extension of the city transport service is already eight years behind schedule, and a final deadline for the end of 2024 was also missed.
So yes, things are happening. Just not the right things.
[Source: EWN]
