The ANC says it has set its eyes on sweeping all the metros in Gauteng.
Over the weekend the party reclaimed the City of Joburg from the DA, with the swearing-in of Dada Morero as mayor.
ANC Joburg provincial secretary TK Nciza said the return of Joburg to the ANC stable was the beginning of the return of other municipalities such as Tshwane and Ekurhuleni. The metros are currently in the hands of the DA.
The Star understands that the ANC had made a deal with the EFF to work together to reclaim all the municipalities. Insiders say the next municipality will be Ekurhuleni, where the EFF was promised key positions if it works with the ANC.
“The ANC in Gauteng loves the people of Gauteng, we will do whatever it takes to bring back the pro-poor budget that must speak to our people.
“If you go back to all these municipalities there are people who were marginalised and we take offence to that. The ANC is focusing on stabilising all these municipalities that are really suffering,” Nciza said.
Meanwhile, the new mayor of the City of Joburg said one of his key tasks was to look into the dismissal of 130 workers earlier this year.
The 130 workers were dismissed after it was discovered that their contracts had been converted from fixed terms to permanent by the ANC, before leaving office in their previous term.
The matter had gone as far as the Labour Court and was also before the South Gauteng High court,
The return of these workers was one of the first key items to look into by Joburg’s new mayor. He was elected on Friday and sworn in over the weekend. Morero is a qualified public administrator and has been known for his gentle leadership-style within the region.
“On the 130 we have to tell you the truth that the DA amended the talent and acquisition policy of the City and they mislead the city manager and the director to fire the 130 workers. We are going to go for them,” Morero said,
He said the DA had done something illegal and manipulated the council in setting up processes to fire workers.
“They decided to fire staff when they realised that the policy says you can’t fire them, then amend the policy; this is the truth about the actions of the DA and we will then fire them (the DA),” Morero said.
On the other hand, Morero was expected to announce his executive team this week. He faces the challenging task of satisfying the voting bloc that got him into the seat of power, which includes the EFF, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and some of the minority parties such as Al-Jama-ah. Since Friday the mayoral committee ceased to exist, with the ousting of the previous mayor, Dr Mpho Phalatse.
Morero said the ANC had the experience of working with other parties in order to achieve their political ideals. He said the ANC would lead this current administration as a collective.
“When we took power we worked with all parties, eventually the National Party joined us because we work well with all parties in fact here from history whether it was Masondo or comrade Parks, Geoff and so one we used to engage with the DA on issues that affect the City of Joburg. We have never treated them as a party with no interest. We believe that all parties here have an interest in what happens in Johannesburg,” Morero said.
Morero had frozen his initial intention for the ANC mayor’s office to be in Soweto, among the people. He said now that the ANC is in a coalition most policies and decisions would have to be looked at as a collective. This includes the power crisis facing Johannesburg and the rest of the country.