File photo by Delwyn Verasamy,/M&G
The battle for leadership in the ANC greater Johannesburg region is intensifying, but one position appears locked in — Dada Morero is poised to return uncontested as regional chairperson.
The ANC has scheduled the regional conference for 20 to 22 June, according to a letter from regional secretary Sasabona Manganye to branches. But it is understood that the event will only proceed if at least 70% of branches in good standing meet the threshold requirement.
While Morero’s re-election seems certain, fierce competition is brewing for the remaining top five positions. Key contenders have emerged for deputy chair, secretary, deputy secretary and treasurer, with internal alliances shaping the race.
According to sources, the following will be contesting, or have made themselves available:
Chairperson: Dada Morero
Deputy chairperson
1. Eunice Mgcina, member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for development planning in the City of Johannesburg.
2. Loyiso Masuku, deputy regional secretary.
3. Julius Maputla, regional executive committee (REC) member and regional working committee (RWC) member.
4. Simon Motha, deputy chairperson.
5. Masilo Serekele, REC spokesperson.
6. Matshidiso Mfikoe, an additional REC member and contesting the position for the third time.
Secretary
1. Sasabona Manganye.
2. Chris Vondo, mayoral spokesperson in the City of Johannesburg.
3. Lebogang Tshabalala, former regional secretary of Youth League and chief of staff for Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.
Deputy regional secretary
1. Nomoya Mnisi, MMC for economic development.
Treasurer
1. Maxwell Nedzamba, regional treasurer.
2. Bonolo Ramokele, former City Power board chairperson.
3. Muzikayise Ndlovu, additional REC member.
A source in the REC said those aligned to Morero would use his name to advance their slate, which would probably see them elected.
“It’s highly likely that those who will align with the chair will emerge. He has the support on the ground and also has the support of most of those in the REC,” the source said.
The Mail & Guardian understands that Masuku had been touted to contest Morero but was looking increasingly likely to withdraw.
The source said those who backed Masuku have been “testing the ground” by saying she would contest as the chair, but they have realised that she will be “clobbered”.
“I think because of the support the chair has, she will not risk contesting him because she knows she won’t win.”
The source added it was likely that Masuku would contest for the deputy chair position, which would cause fights in her camp, saying that with Mgcina being in the same camp and enjoying support in her zone, her name had been preferred for the deputy chair position.
“Eunice is from Midrand, which is one of the biggest zones, those people have made it clear that they want something and the deputy chair position is the one they are aiming for.
“They will not advance the name of Loyiso because they want their candidate. This will further divide them.”
In 2022, Mgcina narrowly lost the position of chairperson to Morero by 10 votes.
Another REC member said Manganye would probably not return to his position because he had “created enough problems for himself”.
The REC member said Masuku and Manganye had aligned themselves with the provincial secretary, TK Nciza, who has been seen as a “problematic fellow”.
The Greater Johannesburg region of the ANC has been in a contest against its provincial leadership because it has refused to bow to it.
Last year, before Morero was announced as mayor, Luthuli House had to intervene because some of the provincial leaders were pushing for Masuku to be mayor.
It is the ANC culture that the party interviews three candidates for the position of mayor before bringing them to the council for election.
In 2021, then mayor Mpho Moerane had been the top candidate to become mayor if the ANC won the 2021 local government, but he died after a car accident.
This meant that Morero, who was then the second preferred candidate, would move to the top position. Mgcina was candidate number three.
Some of the provincial leaders believed that new interviews should be done or that Masuku should be the preferred candidate for mayor after Thapelo Amad resigned.
They argued that she was an experienced candidate and this would form part of woman empowerment in the organisation.
This led to the region seeking guidance from the ANC because they believed that the province was meddling in issues in which it had no business. Luthuli House maintained that Morero should be the mayoral candidate.
“TK is highly problematic and, as you can see, [Fikile] Mbalula is dealing with him. Sasabone is friends with him and they are both running amok. In the next REC meeting, we will charge him for bringing the party into disrepute.”
This was after he allegedly falsely communicated to the Political Management Council (PMC) that the ANC had decided to support former city manager Floyd Brink to appeal the ruling by the South Gauteng high court that declared his appointment as city manager as unconstitutional, citing significant flaws in the process that led to it.
The PMC is the structure under which leaders of the various parties that are in a coalition in Johannesburg meet.
According to the source, the reason the ANC did not support Brink in his legal battles was that he was seen as a person who was aligned with Nciza, Manganye and Masuku rather than focusing on issues facing the city.
With the ANC insisting on its renewal programme, only members who are in good standing should be eligible for the conference.