Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Cllr Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg is concerned that Mayor Morero’s initiative to improve service delivery is just a ploy to help out ANC cadres who have fallen on hard times. The recent announcement by Joburg Mayor, Dada Morero, that he will be establishing a so-called “Bomb Squad” to address the city’s failing service delivery, has raised more questions than answers.
It is unclear what the purpose of this Bomb Squad is and whether it is part of a comprehensive plan to turn service delivery around in Joburg. Currently it seems like Morero has run out of plans and is scared to be outdone by the Presidential Working Group for Joburg which was established because of his failures. Thus, making Morero’s initiative nothing more than a public relations stunt to save his own image of being incompetent.
The DA is further concerned, that with elections looming, Morero wants to use the Bomb Squad to employ cadres who fell out as public representatives in the last election and create paid positions for what essentially will become paid ANC organisers. Clearly the ANC in Joburg is concerned about its election prospects in 2026 and would stoop so low as to use public resources to fund their desperate attempt at clinging onto power in Joburg.
Above all, the DA questions the constitutionality of this decision, and we believe that the Mayor must account to Council – which provisions of the Municipal Structures Act, makes provision for these seemingly unconstitutional deployees?
That is why we will be tabling a motion of no confidence in Mayor Morero. Enough is enough. The time for accountability is now, Mayor Morero must go.
The DA will scrutinise the appointments to Morero’s Bomb Squad, its objectives and the actual work it is doing to ensure that residents in Joburg are not short-changed but receive the level of services they are entitled to. To this end we will demand from the Speaker of Council to ensure that reports are submitted to the relevant oversight committees of council to monitor the work of the Bomb Squad. Failing which, we will bring a motion to this effect.
If this Bomb Squad proves to be an initiative to only advance the interests of the ANC in Joburg, the DA will take its establishment on review like we have taken other illegal appointment on review in Joburg.