Drama as Joburg mayor Morero survives no-confidence motion; ActionSA speaker gets the chop

In a dramatic sitting of the Johannesburg City Council on Wednesday, Mayor Dada Morero emerged politically unscathed after surviving a motion of no confidence brought against him by the Democratic Alliance (DA).

However, the day's developments dealt a significant blow to his coalition as ActionSA speaker Nobuhle Mthembu was removed from her position by an overwhelming majority.

Of the councillors present, 144 voted in favour of Morero, 75 voted against, and 43 abstained, ensuring his political survival.

In stark contrast, Mthembu was removed from her post by 212 votes in favour and only 48 against. The results followed a tense build-up marked by shifting allegiances and behind-the-scenes political negotiations.

Highly placed sources told The Star that prior to the vote that Morero and ANC chief whip Sithembiso Zungu were expected to survive due to their numbers in council.

Mthembu, however, was always seen as vulnerable, especially after ActionSA decided to withhold support from Morero.

The political shakeup followed a strategic meeting on Tuesday by the ANC's regional task team (RTT), where the decision was taken that ActionSA had effectively distanced itself from the government of local unity.

The RTT concluded that ActionSA's stance on voting only on an issue-by-issue basis had become untenable for maintaining coalition stability in the Johannesburg metro.

Sasabone Manganyi, coordinator of the RTT, explained that ANC provincial leaders Hope Papo and Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko had met with ActionSA's national chair, Michael Beaumont and Gauteng secretary Evelyn Mondlana, who confirmed that their party would not back Morero."

The ANC then decided to vote against the speaker from ActionSA, citing their failure to work and support the coalition government on critical council items like the budget and the appointment of acting senior officials,” Manganyi said.

The motion to remove Mthembu was brought by coalition partner Al Jama-ah, while the DA introduced the no-confidence motion against both Morero and Zungu. Sources close to the ANC confirmed that Mthembu’s ouster was a foregone conclusion after Tuesday's meeting, with one source stating: “We [the ANC] are fine, but we are removing her.”

ActionSA, which holds a 44-seat caucus in the 270-seat council, announced just before Wednesday’s sitting that it would not vote to protect Morero.

In a statement, Gauteng provincial chair Funzi Ngobeni made it clear that the decision was rooted in principle, even if it came at a political cost.

“Our decision takes place against the background of ActionSA’s agreement last year to enter the legislature strictly to support the government of local unity on an issue-by-issue basis, to prevent the city from being held ransom by coalition tensions in other municipalities,” Ngobeni said.

While Morero has won this round, the tensions within the ruling coalition remain unresolved, leaving Johannesburg’s political future hanging in the balance.