Mpho Moerane
{{Short description|South African politician (1969–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Mpho Moerane
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| office1 = Mayor of Johannesburg
| term_start1 = 1 October 2021
| term_end1 = 22 November 2021
| predecessor1 = Jolidee Matongo
| successor1 = Mpho Phalatse
| birthname =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1969|2|16|df=y}}{{cite news |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/obituaries/obituary-former-city-of-johannesburg-mayor-mpho-moerane-affable-and-sharp-minded-20220519 |title=Obituary {{!}} Former City of Johannesburg mayor Mpho Moerane: 'Affable' and 'sharp-minded' |first=James |last=De Villiers |work=News24.com |date=19 May 2022 |accessdate=19 May 2022 |url-access=subscription}}{{Cite tweet|number=1361603174583386112|user=ANCJHB|title=We would like to take this opportunity to wish our Regional Treasurer @mphomoerane a Happy Birthday. We wish you prosperity and many more years of service. Ukhule Nkokheli✊🏾🖤💚💛|author=ANC Greater Johannesburg Region|date=16 February 2021}}
| birth_place = Alexandra, Transvaal Province, South Africa
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|5|18|1969|2|16|df=y}}
| death_place = Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
| nationality = South African
| party = African National Congress
| otherparty =
| spouse = Fikile
| partner =
| relations =
| children = 4
| residence = Bryanston, Gauteng
| education = Minerva High School
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| profession = Electrician, businessman, politician
| known_for =
| committees =
| awards =
| website =
}}
Mpho Moerane (16 February 1969 – 18 May 2022) was a South African electrician, businessman and politician who was the mayor of Johannesburg between October and November 2021. A member of the African National Congress, he previously served as the member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for environment and infrastructure services from December 2019 to September 2021. Moerane was the regional treasurer of the ANC in Johannesburg.
Background
Moerane was born in the Alexandra township outside Johannesburg. After matriculating from Minerva High School, he completed a course in electrical engineering and obtained a project management certificate. Moerane then worked for Eskom until 2006, when he became a businessman. He ran his own restaurant business before he was elected to the city council of Johannesburg. Apart from sitting on the boards of Metro Bus and Alexandra Clinic, he was also a non-executive director for Chancellor House Holdings.{{Cite web|first1=Cheryl |last1=Kahla|date=1 October 2021|title=Meet Joburg's new mayor: Who is Mpho Moerane?|url=https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/local-news/2636705/joburg-mayor-who-is-mpho-moerane/|access-date=1 October 2021|website=The Citizen|language=en}}
Political career
Moerane served as the head of fundraising in the office of the regional treasurer in Johannesburg for the African National Congress. He then became the treasurer of the regional structure.
Moerane was appointed as the member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for environment and infrastructure services after Geoff Makhubo became mayor of Johannesburg in December 2019.{{Cite web|first1=Loyiso |last1=Sidimba |date=7 December 2019 |title=Joburg mayor rewards IFP, AIC, PA, Cope with MMC positions|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/joburg-mayor-rewards-ifp-aic-pa-cope-with-mmc-positions-38819936|access-date=1 October 2021|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en}} In this capacity, Moerane launched the #KleenaJoburg campaign in January 2020 to encourage residents and stakeholders of Alexandra to clean up the environment. When Makhubo died from COVID-19 related complications in July 2021, he was replaced as mayor in August 2021 by Jolidee Matongo, who retained Moerane as MMC for environment and infrastructure services.{{Cite web|first1=Luyolo |last1=Mkentane |date=11 August 2021 |title=Joburg's mayoral committee remains largely unchanged for 'continuity's sake'|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2021-08-11-joburgs-mayoral-committee-remains-largely-unchanged-for-continuitys-sake/|access-date=1 October 2021|website=BusinessLIVE|language=en-ZA}} After Matongo was killed in a car accident in September, the ANC chose Moerane to become their preferred mayoral candidate.{{Cite web|first1=Luyolo |last1=Mkentane |date=29 September 2021 |title=ANC endorses Mpho Moerane to become Joburg's next mayor|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2021-09-29-anc-endorses-mpho-moerane-to-become-joburgs-next-mayor/|access-date=1 October 2021|website=BusinessLIVE|language=en-ZA}} He was elected and sworn into office on 1 October 2021, serving till the local government elections on 1 November.{{Cite web|last=Mahlati|first=Zintle|date=1 October 2021|title='Emotional' Mpho Moerane sworn in as new Joburg mayor|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/emotional-mpho-moerane-sworn-in-as-new-joburg-mayor-20211001|access-date=1 October 2021|website=News24|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|first1=Alex|last1=Patrick|title=Mpho Moerane sworn in as mayor of Joburg as Matongo is honoured|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-10-01-mpho-moerane-sworn-in-as-mayor-of-joburg-as-matongo-is-honoured/|date=1 October 2021|access-date=1 October 2021|website=SowetanLIVE|language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web|last=Zulu|first=Sifiso|title=Mpho Moerane is officially Joburg's new mayor|url=https://ewn.co.za/2021/10/01/mpho-moerane-is-officially-joburg-s-new-mayor|date=1 October 2021 |access-date=1 October 2021|website=ewn.co.za|language=en}}
At the inaugural council meeting of the 2021–2026 term on 22 November 2021, Moerane was defeated by Mpho Phalatse in the election for mayor.{{Cite web|first1=Vhahangwele |last1=Nemakonde |date=22 November 2021|title=DA's Mpho Phalatse elected new executive mayor of Johannesburg|url=https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/2917703/das-mpho-phalatse-elected-new-executive-mayor-of-johannesburg/|access-date=22 November 2021|website=The Citizen|language=en}}
Personal life and death
Moerane was married to Fikile, who is an information technology and financial services consultant. They had four children together and lived in Bryanston.
Moerane died on 18 May 2022, at Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg from the injuries he had sustained in a car accident a week earlier.{{Cite web |last=Madia |first=Tshidi |title=Former Joburg mayor Mpho Moerane passes away after car accident |url=https://ewn.co.za/2022/05/18/former-joburg-mayor-mpho-moerane-passes-away-after-accident |date=18 May 2022 |access-date=18 May 2022 |publisher=ewn.co.za |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.joburg.org.za/about_/government/Pages/Executive/Current-Executive-Mayor.aspx Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Moerane] at City of Johannesburg
{{S-start}}
{{S-off}}
{{S-bef|before=Jolidee Matongo}}
{{S-ttl|title=Mayor of Johannesburg|years=2021}}
{{S-aft|after=Mpho Phalatse}}
{{S-end}}
{{Mayors of Johannesburg}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moerane, Mpho}}
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:Mayors of Johannesburg
Category:Mayors of places in South Africa
Category:People from Alexandra, Gauteng