ANC Coalition Divided Over Appointment of 24-Year-Old Liam Jacobs as Transport MMC

• Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero is allegedly not happy with appointing Patriotic Alliance (PA) member, Liam Jacobs
• Mayor Morero reportedly stated that the 24-year-old Liam Jacobs lacks experience in local government
• The 24-year-old Patriotic Alliance (PA) member was sworn in as a councillor in Johannesburg on Friday

The African National Congress-led coalition in Johannesburg is split over the proposed appointment of Liam Jacobs as Transport MMC.

Why are some members unhappy?

According to Eyewitness News, Mayor Dada Morero is uneasy about appointing Jacobs to the role, pointing to his lack of experience in local government. The 24-year-old Patriotic Alliance (PA) member took the oath of office as a Johannesburg councillor on Friday, 8 August 2025. This comes after the suspension of deputy leader Kenny Kunene on 23 July 2025.

Kunene stepped down as a councillor last month after questions arose about his ties to murder-accused businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe. It is alleged that the Patriotic Alliance insisted that Jacobs should also take up the role of MMC for Transport in Johannesburg, after replacing Kunene in council.

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Disagreement in the coalition

The ANC and other party members in the coalition are not happy with the proposition made by the PA. Members allegedly feel that the transport department might be too big for a councillor with no experience in government.

Mayor Morero allegedly proposed a different portfolio for Jacobs, but the PA is not happy. Morero said coalition partners are still deliberating on Kunene’s replacement. The mayor said that the seats belong to the City of Johannesburg. He stated that the deployment of the team is in the hands of the mayor.

Morero said that certain mayoral priorities need to be achieved. He said that the strengths of particular individuals are considered in the selection.

South Africans weigh in

Social media users shared their opinions about Jacobs taking office.

@Thabo_Tshisi said:

"Seeing this man's face just ruins my day."

@EdgarLegoale said:

"McKenzie is going to deal with this one lol."

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@ALETTAHA said:

"Let them eat each other for all I care."

@IsaacNetshituni said:

"No need to debate here, they are in GPU, if Gayton decide to pull out, this GPU can collapse, ANC will be forced to beg MKP, EFF or DA, but we know DA pulled out, due to ANC bullying them. They are the ruling party in JHB.

@SimandManzini said:

"He’s not wrong though the guy resigned because of his misdemeanors from the MMC post so PA doesn’t have the outright to replace him was Kenny."

@Richard_Spoor said:

"Dada is an idiot, but this doesn’t mean he is always wrong."

Morero says City of Johannesburg cannot investigate Kunene

In a previous article, Briefly News reported that Dada Morero, the City of Johannesburg's mayor, responded to Kenny Kunene's resignation as the MMC of Transport and Patriotic Alliance councillor on 25 July 2025.

Kunene resigned following an investigation the PA launched into his alleged connections to murder suspect Katiso Molefe. Morero welcomed his decision and said that the circumstances surrounding his resignation were communicated to the mayor's office.

Source: Briefly News