Opposition tears into Morero’s State of the City Address

Dada Morero

Johannesburg – Opposition parties have heavily criticised Dada Morero’s 2026 State of the City Address, accusing him of delivering empty promises, misleading residents and failing to address Johannesburg’s deepening service delivery crisis ahead of the November local government elections.

ActionSA caucus leader Marcel Coutriers described Morero’s speech as “hollow” and disconnected from the realities facing residents, saying the ANC-led administration had failed to fulfil promises made last year.

He also criticised the city’s recent inner-city by-law enforcement drive as a seasonal election campaign rather than a sustained clean-up effort.

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) accused Morero of blaming apartheid and previous administrations for the city’s problems instead of taking accountability.

ACDP councillor Norman Mkhonza questioned whether recent inner-city revitalisation campaigns were merely publicity stunts ahead of the elections.

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku claimed the mayor’s address was “littered with untruths,” arguing that Johannesburg residents continue to face deteriorating roads, water shortages, electricity problems, rising unemployment and declining investor confidence.

She also challenged Morero’s comparisons between Johannesburg and Cape Town, saying unemployment in Johannesburg was worsening and accusing the city administration of misrepresenting its financial stability.

The Freedom Front Plus also criticised the poor state of roads and infrastructure, calling on the city to urgently address service delivery backlogs.

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