May 7 2025 23:04
GAUTENG SOUTH AFRICA
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, picture courtesy of the City of Johannesburg
The Mayor of SA’s seemingly richest city, Johannesburg, Dada Morero, delivered his State of the Nation Address on Wednesday to much disappointment.
He blamed systemic service delivery backlogs for the city’s struggles and said R3bn would be used to address infrastructure backlog in marginalised communities. His address which was hard to hear over its online Youtube presentation for people not at City Hall. At times, it was inaudible. Further, DA Johannesburg caucus leader, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku submitted motions of no confidence in him as well as in the council speaker, Nobuhle Mthembu. She said the city was falling to pieces under Morero’s “so called” leadership.
Morero delivered the state of the city address moments after DA Joburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku submitted motions of no confidence in both him and council speaker Nobuhle Mthembu, saying the city was falling apart under their watch.
This metro is responsible for 16% of SA’s GDP and employs 12% of the country’s workforce. Yet, traffic lights are broken across Johannesburg and its inner city. Residents are doing their best to alleviate problems like fixing pot holes. It isn’t uncommon for city workers to start filling holes but then not to finish the job and many streets and sidewalks are strewn with dirt, rubble and other parts of unfinished work. Vandals also steal cooper cables from the traffic lights. Water and basic infrastructure challenges have worsened in the past decade.
Morero said the R3bn would be allocated to the likes of Diepsloot, Eldorado Park, Ivory Park, Riverlea, Soweto and Orange Farm.
He said drastic times called for drastic measures, and that extreme action was needed to push back against decay in the city.
From July, a state of disaster for “crime and lawlessness; on potholes, illegal connections, land invasion, illegal mining operations, illegal dumping and undocumented migrants”, would be declared.
Meanwhile, DA Ward Councillors from the city have reacted to the address with dismay.
For example, Ward 88 Councillor, Nicolene Jonker, said: “The 2025 State of the City Address was thick with promises and slogans but light in delivery and truth. Mayor Morero paraded billion-rand housing packages, digital dreams, and presidential interventions but was turning a blind eye to the day-to-day experience of Johannesburg residents, who are having to cope with collapsing infrastructure, breakdowns in services, and bills they cannot pay.”
| Ward 88 |
|---|
| BERARIO |
| BLACKHEATH |
| BLACKHEATH EXT.1 |
| BLACKHEATH EXT.2 |
| BLACKHEATH EXT.3 |
| BLACKHEATH EXT.4 |
| BLACKHEATH EXT.6 |
| BLACKHEATH EXT.7 |
| BOTANICAL GARDENS |
| EAST TOWN |
| EMMARENTIA |
| EMMARENTIA EXT.1 |
| FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT PARK |
| FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT PARK EXT.1 |
| MARKS PARK |
| MONTGOMERY PARK |
| MONTROUX |
| NORTHCLIFF |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.1 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.2 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.3 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.6 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.8 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.12 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.13 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.14 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.16 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.18 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.25 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.26 |
| NORTHCLIFF EXT.30 |
| RISIDALE |
| VALERIEDENE |
| WATERVAL ESTATE |
| WATERVAL ESTATE EXT.5 |
| WEST PARK CEMETERY |
“He conceded that the City is broke. But then, we said we could afford to pay for more than 20 large projects, including an R4bn sewage plant, R1.3bn mining belt plan and a succession of mega-housing developments. The residents of this ward are being asked to pay more for less and to pretend along with this fantasy spending when there is no costed plan behind it,” she said.
Nicolene Jonker, Source: LinkedIn
“For the residents of Region B, such as Ward 88, nothing tangible in the speech touches on our daily battle to keep the lights on, water pressure to water, ageing infrastructure, and bylaw enforcement that is not felt on the ground. We are taxed to death, and the Mayor is performing PR games with make-believe billions. Johannesburg doesn’t need bomb squads, catchphrases or hand-me-down pledges. It requires responsible leadership, fiscal discipline, and delivery with integrity,” she said.
Maybe it’s time that Morero threw in the towel.
alistair@propertyflash.co.za