‘Disciplinarian’ Moriarty for top Joburg job

JOBURG mayor Herman Mashaba is set to replace outgoing city manager Trevor Fowler with Gauteng DA’s trusted-yetfeared constituency head in the Vaal, Mike Moriarty.

Insiders say Moriarty, who serves as spokesman on finance in the Gauteng legislature, is being earmarked to replace Fowler.

Fowler, who served under former mayor Parks Tau since 2011, is however set to see out the remainder of his contract, which expires in October.

According to DA members both in the legislature and Joburg council, Moriarty, who holds a degree in civil engineering, is the ideal man for the job, but there are also jitters that he will effectively become the real mayor.

“He will do a stellar job no doubt. He understands the politics of the city and will certainly strengthen the mayor’s administration because of his experience and knowledge,” said a DA MPL. “But he is also not one of the most popular of leaders. He is strict and a disciplinarian.

“But again, to be a city manager you don’t have to be popular because you need to get the job done.”

Moriarty, who served as the DA campaign head in Joburg, was one of the first people to approach Mashaba, then a businessman and DA ordinary member, to convince him to run as mayor.

Before he entered politics full-time, Moriarty worked as an engineer and project manager at Group 5 Construction Company.

He has served as a councillor since 1994. In January 1997 he became leader of the DA Johannesburg caucus, a position he held until September 2008.

He has also served as the caucus chief whip in the Gauteng provincial legislature.

Moriarty could not be reached for comment yesterday.