City of Joburg Mayor Dada Morero easily fended off an attempt by the Democratic Alliance to remove him.
The DA had hetched a plan to take over the city by removing him and installing former Mayor Kabelo Kwamanda whose removal it had instigated.
The DA motion only received only 75 votes with those opposing it totalling 144 after the deal with Al Jamah ( Kwamanda’s party) allegedly fell off once it became apparent that the DA was simply unable to turn parties in the so called Government of Local Unity to turn against the mayor.
Even Action SA which had vowed to never support Morero did not support the DA motion opting to instead abstain.
The DA also failed in its bid to remove Council Chief Whip Sthembiso Buthelezi whom it accused of failing to provide the required leadership.
The DA came under fire for its failed deal with Al Jamah which still pushed for Mthembu’s removal but working with parties that constitute the so-called Government of Local Unity and not the blue party.
“The DA had promised al-Jamal positions in a new government should the motion succeed.This is the same al-Jamal that the DA laid criminal charges against its leader, Kabila Gwamanda, for the alleged funeral scheme fraud that he was involved in. And yet, this is what the DA sees as credible leadership,” said Finance MMC and African Independent Congress councillor Margret Arnolds.
While it abstained from the vote on Morero’s future, Action SA did take part in the debate and slammed both the ANC and the DA as holding the city at ransom.
“As long as these two parties remain the two largest in our council, (1:20) Johannesburg will be hamstrung and service delivery will continue to collapse,” said Action SA Councillor Lebo Mokoka.