Dada Morero says he is willing to make himself available for consideration as Johannesburg mayor should he be invited by the African National Congress National Office Bearers, as the party prepares to finalise its metro candidates ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
Speaking in an interview on Newzroom Afrika, Morero stressed that decisions about mayoral candidates rest with the party’s national leadership structures. He explained that councillors do not stand directly for mayoral positions and that any potential candidate would first need to be invited to undergo the party’s internal selection and interview process.
According to Morero, the ANC’s National Executive Committee, working through the National Office Bearers, is expected to conclude decisions on metro candidates across the country, possibly within the month. He said those interested in leadership positions would have to wait for the outcome of that process.
His remarks come amid speculation about whether newly appointed Deputy Mayor Loyiso Masuku could emerge as a contender for the mayoral position. Masuku, who previously served as Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance, was elected ANC Johannesburg regional chair in December, defeating Morero.
Last week, during a council sitting, Masuku was elected unopposed as the City of Johannesburg’s first deputy mayor. The finance MMC role she previously occupied has since been dissolved and incorporated into the deputy mayor’s office, consolidating fiscal and executive responsibilities.
Morero declined to speculate on potential rivals, reiterating that the selection process is handled internally by the party’s national leadership. He added that if he is not selected, the reasons for that decision would lie with the National Office Bearers, who would base their choice on their own assessment criteria.
He outlined the ANC’s internal candidate vetting process, which includes interviews where prospective leaders are evaluated on their ability to implement the party’s manifesto and execute its mandate. Morero noted that he underwent a similar process in 2021.
Addressing the recent creation of the deputy mayor position, Morero dismissed suggestions that it reflected pressure on his leadership. He said the establishment of the role was a policy decision taken last year and implemented this year. The position, he explained, allows for continuity in governance when the mayor is unavailable and helps manage political responsibilities within council.
Meanwhile, Morero has survived another attempt to remove him from office. A motion of no confidence, tabled by Al Jama-ah and supported by minority party partners during a council meeting on Thursday, collapsed after procedural requirements were not met.
The motion did not fail due to a lack of support but because its proposer, Lubabalo Cecil Magwentshu of the African Transformation Movement, was absent when Speaker Margaret Arnolds called it for consideration.
Morero maintained that the final decision on Johannesburg’s mayoral candidate ultimately rests with the ANC’s national leadership, which will weigh a range of factors before making its announcement.
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