The Johannesburg city council is due this week to decide the fate of three officials occupying high office in three separate motions of no confidence.
Mayor Dada Morero, speaker Nobuhle Mthembu and chief whip Sthembiso Zungu are in the DA’s sights while Al Jama-ah is gunning for ActionSA’s Mthembu.
Al Jama-ah is accusing Mthembu of failing to exercise neutrality in presiding over the council, a sentiment echoed by DA caucus leader Belinda Echeozonjoku.
Mthembu has rejected the criticism. She insists she has conducted her duties to the best of her ability, and contends she has possibly outperformed all speakers across the province’s local government councils.
“The allegations by the DA and Al Jama-ah that the office of the speaker has not been effective are a lie. We are always up to date with our responsibilities, we connect with communities, we have conducted integrated development plans and we follow up on issues. They are just doing this for political gain and power.”
Though the ANC caucus was taken aback by the move, a senior party insider said they were not surprised by it as ActionSA had not been pulling its weight in the government of local unity (GLU).
“They said they wanted to enter into a working relationship with us. They got the position as agreed, but practically their numbers are not doing anything for us. They did not support our budget, they did not support the motion for council to approve a R2.5bn loan this week, and they did not support the extension of the acting contracts of senior managers in the city.
“But we have been able to pass all those items without them, which begs the question whether we really need them if they are going to occupy the position they lobbied for but not support the programmes of the GLU.”
In the 270-seater council the ANC has 89 seats, the EFF 29, and the Patriotic Alliance 8. The IFP has 7 seats, while various minority parties hold 12.
ActionSA has a 44-seat caucus, which gives the current governing coalition a super-majority. This 50+1 majority will not be affected by ActionSA’s possible departure from the coalition.
Instead of leading with integrity, the mayor’s administration has been marked by mismanagement, patronage networks and a disturbing lack of transparency.
— Belinda Echeozonjoku, DA caucus leader
Another coalition insider with intimate knowledge of the latest developments said the motion seeking to axe Mthembu, sponsored by former mayors Kabelo Gwamanda and Thapelo Amad, was mischievous.
“We have heard of the talks they have been having without our knowledge, behind our backs. What’s worse is that they do not operate as a minority bloc but one that is interested in returning to a position [of dominance] once they boot ActionSA out."
The ANC conceded that, despite the relationship with Herman Mashaba’s party not being rosy, it was engaged in negotiations to resolve their issues, with the help of the ANC provincial task team.
Echeozonjoku blamed the sad state of affairs, substandard services and neglect of communities in Johannesburg on the ANC-ActionSA-EFF coalition.
“Instead of leading with integrity, the mayor’s administration has been marked by mismanagement, patronage networks and a disturbing lack of transparency,” she said.
However, Morero was unshaken, saying the DA was being populist. He argued his efforts to turn the city around were gaining traction.
Earlier in 2025, a presidential working group descended on the city and installed an intervention task team to help accelerate service delivery, stabilise the city’s finances, enable economic growth and create jobs.
Soon afterwards, Morero unveiled another, albeit controversial, intervention team — the “bomb squad” led by ANC veteran Snuki Zikalala, along with former city managers, public servants and current officials.
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