African National Congress (ANC) Johannesburg chairperson and current mayor, Dada Morero, has described his three-year tenure as regional leader as a period of both progress and internal strain, as the party prepares to elect new leadership this week.
Morero addressed journalists on Wednesday during the first day of the ANC’s regional elective conference in Johannesburg, where branches are expected to vote for a new leadership structure on Thursday.
Seeking re-election, Morero faces a strong challenge from Loyiso Masuku, who has gained significant backing from several influential branches. Morero has led the Johannesburg region since 2022 after more than a decade as regional secretary.
When he first assumed office, the ANC was in opposition, with the City of Johannesburg governed by a DA–ActionSA coalition. Morero said one of his notable achievements was “reclaiming governance” in the metro, though he acknowledged that the path back to power was marked by internal disagreements and tough political negotiations.
“Generally, we had a good leadership and a good REC. We had contradictions here and there, but we were a formidable team, and we retained most of the wards that we contested,” Morero said.
A detailed performance report on his term is expected to be presented to delegates on Thursday before voting begins. The outcome will determine who leads the ANC in Johannesburg for the next three years, a period likely to be politically charged as the city continues to experience coalition instability and service delivery pressure.
The conference continues through the week as the party aims to set a clear direction for its regional structures ahead of the 2026 local government elections.