Everson Luhanga
Johannesburg has a new mayor – the ANC’s Dada Morero.
Mpho Phalatse was ousted as executive mayor of South Africa’s largest city after 139 councillors voted on Friday in favour of a motion to oust the mayor with the rest of the councillors not participating.
A last minute interdict in the Johannesburg High Court to prevent Phalatse’s removal was denied because by the time the court sat council members had already voted her out.
Phalatse declared that Friday’s meeting was invalid, unlawful, null and void.
Members of the Democratic Alliance protested against what they called an illegal sitting.
Phalatse described the vote as an injustice. “We are waiting for the courts to redeem us. We believe that justice will be served,” she said.
“We will continue to fight. We will fight to see our city rebuilt again. We will not leave it in the hands of this corrupt cabal.”
Incoming mayor Morero said he would focus on building the city’s ailing economy and its infrastructure. He said one of his priorities would be fighting crime in the city – a remarkably similar agenda to that of the outgoing mayor.
The ANC sang freedom songs inside the building in celebration of their taking back the city they had governed for decades.
Among the leaders who attended the swearing in ceremony was Gauteng Chairperson Manyaza Lesufi who is believed to be the mastermind behind the ANC’s takeover.
Meanwhile, social media responded with many negative reactions. Capturing the mood, one twitter user said there was no way service delivery would improve with the ANC in power.
“They destroyed it before, now they are just here to take the last crumbs they can find.”
Another social media user said: “The city has been handed back to the hyenas who will wreck it to ground.”
