By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The City of Johannesburg council will debate the motions of no confidence in the mayor, council speaker and chief whip next week.
The programming committee has approved the motion in mayor Dada Morero and also in the Speaker, Nobuhle Mthembu, and the chief whip, Sithembiso Zungu.
The motions on the mayor and the chief whip were filed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) while the one on the Speaker was filed by Al Jama-ah. The move highlight the ongoing political complexities within the City of Johannesburg.
The current multi-party government, led by Morero, is a result of the 2021 municipal elections which saw no single party secure an outright majority.
The council is composed of various political parties, with the African National Congress (ANC), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and ActionSA currently forming a coalition that supports Morero.
DA Johannesburg Caucus Leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku accuses both Morero and Mthembu of turning the Johannesburg council into a political playground.
“Equally troubling is the Speaker’s failure to uphold her constitutional role as an impartial guardian of council processes. Instead of ensuring fair and robust oversight, she has consistently shielded the mayor, undermining the council’s ability to hold the executive accountable.”
“Her bias has stifled critical decision-making, suppressed legitimate scrutiny, and eroded the democratic integrity of the council chamber. The Speaker’s actions, evident in her protection of ineffective officials and disregard for procedural fairness, demonstrate that she is no longer independent but a political ally of the mayor.”
The DA has called on other parties, represented in the council, to support the motions to restore the metro to its former glory.
Johannesburg is the wealthiest city in South Africa and the country’s economic hub. Its collapse is disastrous for the local economy.
Over the last few years, Johannesburg’s water infrastructure and management collapsed, causing persistent and crippling water shortages.
The city has a significant infrastructure backlog, which will cost billions to address. It does not have the money to resolve this issue. It must upgrade or replace water and sanitation pipes to compensate for the city’s growing population and ageing infrastructure.
Johannesburg also battles with water infrastructure vandalism, caused by a lack of adequate security and protection. Rand Water report revealed that 47% of all treated water is lost due to leaks, poor maintenance, and neglected infrastructure.
To address these problems, the city needs to enhance revenue collection, improve its billing systems, and address load-shedding with alternative energy sources.