Johannesburg, once known as the economic heart of South Africa, has just elected its seventh mayor in a span of three years. Dada Morero, of the African National Congress (ANC), now inherits the unenviable task of trying to govern a city that seems to be rolling into chaos.
Morero’s ascension follows the resignation of Kabelo Gwamanda, a mayor who barely lasted in office before pressure from an outraged public and political allies alike forced him to step down.
Johannesburg’s leadership is nothing short of a merry-go-round of political failures. The city council, a fractured body where no party holds a majority, has seen governance become an absurd spectacle of coalition politics. The ANC, desperate to cling to power, patched up together yet another shaky alliance, this time with Action SA and a crew of smaller parties, to put Morero back in charge.
But let’s not be fooled by the change in leadership; the problem runs much deeper. The city is plagued by crumbling infrastructure, soaring crime rates, and an increasingly frustrated population. Civil society groups have pointed out that the city’s decline is not just due to bad luck, it’s the direct result of political instability and poor governance. Neeshan Balton, of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Joburg Crisis Alliance, put it bluntly: “There’s no coherence in policy. Each and every mayor runs their portfolio as their own personal fiefdom.”
Johannesburg’s sad state of affairs is apparent contrast to its image as the glittering financial hub of Africa, home to the affluent Sandton district and the headquarters of most South African companies. The city generates 15% of the country’s economic output, yet its residents are left to navigate potholed roads, unreliable water and electricity supplies, and neighborhoods overrun by crime. The disparities are glaring shiny shopping malls sit uneasily alongside rundown, gang-controlled apartment blocks in the city center.
Gwamanda’s brief tenure was marked by a desperate attempt to defend his record, claiming that he had managed to “place good governance on course.” However, the reality on the ground suggests otherwise. His administration was so ineffective that civil society groups were driven to protest, demanding his resignation. His departure might have been inevitable, but it does little to address the underlying issues plaguing Johannesburg.
Now, the ANC is trying to regain its footing in the wake of its poor showing in the recent national elections, where discontent over deteriorating public services in major cities like Johannesburg played a significant role in the party’s losses. Zuko Godlimpi, the party’s spokesperson, made it clear that stabilizing Johannesburg is a top priority for the ANC. But with Morero, a man who previously served as mayor for a mere 25 days in 2022 before being ousted by court order, at the helm, one has to wonder how much “stabilization” can really be expected.
Johannesburg’s residents have seen this all before, and it’s hard to blame them for feeling The city has become a revolving door of mayors, each one promising change but delivering little more than more of the same. As Morero takes office, the question on everyone’s mind is whether he will be any different, or just another name on a growing list of failures.
