ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero will remain in his position, dismissing calls for his removal.
Mbalula was addressing the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday, following reports over the weekend that the ANC’s Regional Executive Committee (REC) in the city was planning to oust Morero.
He said the ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) guidelines make it clear that the Johannesburg region acted outside its authority in calling for the mayor’s removal.
“There is no mayor that is going to be removed by the region,” Mbalula said.
“I am going to meet with them. The NWC is clear what the comrades have done in Joburg should not have been done.”
Mbalula added that the party’s national leadership will soon begin a formal process to assess mayors across the country.
“The Top 7 of the ANC will interview mayors in all metros and secondary cities. That is the decision of the National General Council and the National Executive Committee,” he said.
He said the process, which has been conducted before, will now be intensified.
“By May, we will announce our mayoral candidates ahead of launching our campaign in June or July.”
In a separate statement, the ANC in the Greater Johannesburg Region expressed concern over the leaking of internal discussions, urging media organisations to allow internal processes to unfold before publishing unverified claims.
“The ANC in the Greater Joburg Region remains committed to working collectively to strengthen the organisation, advance service delivery and improve the lives of all residents,” the statement said.
Morero lost his position as ANC Johannesburg chairperson last year at an elective conference to Loyiso Masuku, who was appointed deputy mayor earlier this month.
While Morero continues to face scare of motion of no confidence against him.
Despite a decline in voter support, the ANC remains the leading party in most of South Africa’s metropolitan municipalities.
