Ramaphosa rebukes Morero over heated exchange with Soweto resident

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has described Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero's conduct during a heated exchange with a resident at a service delivery meeting in Tshepisong, Soweto, as unacceptable.

Ramaphosa said the ANC had taken note of Morero's conduct and accepted his subsequent apology.

The incident occurred during a City Power electricity imbizo at the Abundant Faith Centre in Tshepisong, where Morero became involved in a heated exchange with a community member.

Following the backlash, Morero publicly apologised and accepted responsibility for his conduct.

The Johannesburg Executive Mayor acknowledged that the exchange should have been handled differently.

“It should not have been done in that fashion, and I do take full responsibility,” Morero said.

He also engaged privately with the resident involved in the confrontation, who accepted his apology during the meeting.

Morero later reiterated his regret over the incident, saying he apologised for his conduct during the meeting.

The mayor's office said his decision to publicly acknowledge the incident and take responsibility demonstrated the accountability expected from public representatives.

Ramaphosa's intervention, however, underscores the ANC's position that public leaders are expected to maintain appropriate conduct when engaging with communities, particularly during service delivery engagements where frustrations often run high.

The ANC has accepted Morero's apology, bringing the matter to a close for now.