Makhura ‘confident’ Mpho Moerane will be elected Joburg’s next mayor

Gauteng Premier and ANC provincial chairperson David Makhura says he is confident the ANC and its coalition partners in Johannesburg will successfully elect ANC Johannesburg regional treasurer, Mpho Moerane, as the city’s new mayor when the council sits on Friday.

This follows Moerane’s endorsement as the party’s mayoral candidate by ANC structures following the death of City of Johannesburg mayor Jolidee Matongo in a car crash two weeks ago.

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Matongo was in the job for just over a month after replacing former mayor Geoff Makhubo, who died from Covid-19 complications back in July.

Speaking during an oversight visit on Wednesday at a pop-up vaccination site in Khutsong, west of Johannesburg, Makhura gave assurances that city would have a new mayor and mayoral committee by the end of the week.

“Certainly by the end of this week, the City of Johannesburg will have a new mayor. The ANC and its coalition partners in the government of local unity in Johannesburg have a sufficient majority to elect the new mayor,” Makhura told eNCA.

Focus on service delivery

He said the loss of the two mayors in the last two months was an extraordinary situation for the ANC, and the party would prioritise service delivery once Moerane is instilled as mayor. Moerane is currently serving as a member of the mayoral committee for environment and infrastructure services.

“We have never been on this road before but we know that people need service delivery and we have to pull ourselves together quickly and get governance back on track in Johannesburg. Currently, we don’t have a mayoral committee that can be held accountable.

“So, we will also have an executive by the end of the week once the new mayor is elected and they must be on the ground. Johannesburg has huge problems with electricity supply and water interruptions, and there are other developmental challenges,” Makhura said.

Meanwhile, Moerane said he was ready to lead the City of Johannesburg, adding that he would dedicate his mayorship to the late Matongo.

“We are very clear on the acceleration of service delivery,” he said, speaking on the sidelines of a council meeting on Wednesday.

“We want to fix street lights and roads, and ensure people have clean running water at all times.”

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