ANC confirms Morero stays as Joburg Mayor despite conference defeat

Despite losing his bid for re-election as the African National Congress (ANC) leader in Johannesburg, the party has confirmed that Dada Morero will continue serving as the city’s Mayor.

Morero was defeated at the ANC’s regional elective conference, where he sought to retain his position as the regional chairperson. He lost to Loyiso Masuku, who has made history as the first woman to be elected ANC Chairperson in Johannesburg.

While Dada Morero is no longer the ANC's regional leader in Johannesburg, the party’s newly elected leadership says they see no need for him to step down as the Mayor of the City of Gold.

Traditionally, within the ANC, a regional chairperson is often automatically made the mayor of their respective municipality. However, newly elected ANC Chairperson Loyiso Masuku has clarified that the decision on who becomes mayor in a metro is ultimately decided by national ANC officials.

"Discussions on mayoral candidates is the competency of national office bearers. It is not even on our purview to discuss such matters. We are here to serve residents of Johannesburg," Masuku stated.

With the local government elections approaching, the ANC will soon begin the process of selecting mayoral candidates for the upcoming term.