Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero Slammed for Blaming Billions Wasted on Utility Costs

• South Africans criticized the City of Johannesburg mayor, Dada Morero, for blaming wasteful expenditure on rising utility costs
• Johannesburg has spent R23 billion in irregular expenditure, and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana cracked the whip on Dada Morero
• Morero said that the unauthorized wasteful expenditure was caused by purchases of electricity and water, which exceeded the budget.

Tebogo Mokwena, a dedicated Briefly News current affairs journalist, contributed coverage of international and local social issues, including health, corruption, education, unemployment, labour, service delivery protests, and immigration in South Africa, during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG — The City of Johannesburg's mayor, Dada Morero, faces criticism as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana demanded that the City turn its woeful financial condition around or face intervention.

According to eNCA, the City of Johannesburg reportedly racked up a R23 billion bill on wasteful expenditure. However, Morero said that the fruitless expenditure was caused by the unauthorised purchase of water and electricity.

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Morero said that the City of Johannesburg bought excessive amounts of electricity nd water, which exceeded the budget that was set aside for utilities. He said that R13 billion accounted for 55% of unauthorised expenditure, R9.2 billion accounted for 42% in irregular expenditure, and R735 million constituted 3% of fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

A look at Dada Morero-related stories

Morero announced on 7 May that the City of Johannesburg set aside R296 million for the electrification of informal settlements in the city. He made the announcement during his State of the City address. He said areas like Diepsloot, Orange Farm, and Kaya Sands would be added to the city's grid.

Morero survived a motion of no confidence against him, which the Democratic Alliance tabled. A total of 75 members voted in support of the motion, and 144 council members voted against it. The former speaker, Nobuhle Mthembu, did not survive the motion of no confidence as 212 councillors voted for her removal and 48 voted against her removal.

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What did South Africans say?

Netizens commented on Facebook and roasted Morero.

Michale Le Sueur said:

"They will always find something to blame. At least this time it's not Jan Van Riebeeck."

Humphrey Sidie said:

"So he quickly runs to the Luthuli House to ask who he can blame, and Fikile was like, go there and say that the DA coalition was the worst."

Jolene Rossouw said:

"It would be prudent to conduct a forensic audit to validate this assertion, ideally undertaken by an independent entity."

Sibusiso William Tshabalala said:

"No matter what we say, the government won't listen to us. We have been telling the government to close this thing of tenders."

Salm Khan said:

"I think we South Africans have no saturation point when it comes to these politicians and their corruption, and us living in a crime-riddled country."

Dada Morero not happy with Liam Jacobs' appointment

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In a related article, Briefly News reported that Morero and the African National Congress's coalition were unhappy that Patriotic Alliance member Liam Jacobs was appointed to replace the suspended Kenny Kunene as a councilor.

Morero said that he was uneasy about appointing Jacobs as the Transport MMC and cited his lack of experience in local government.

Source: Briefly News