The City of Johannesburg hosted the 2025 AMALI Cohort Reunion from Tuesday, 14 to Thursday, 16 October 2025. Mayor Dada Morero was selected from among the 15 African city leaders in his AMALI cohort to showcase the progress he has made on his legacy goal: Revitalizing Johannesburg’s Central Business District by reclaiming and repurposing hijacked buildings for the benefit of the people.
The 15 city leaders from nine African nations in the 2025 AMALI Cohort, including Morero, first met in Cape Town in January to develop legacy goals and action plans that could transform their cities. Councilor Marero identified the opportunity to renew downtown Johannesburg – and undo the legacy of apartheid special planning – by reclaiming and repurposing over 400 “hijacked” buildings.
The AMALI City Leadership Programme is a year-long initiative providing tailored mentorship and training from former heads of state, ministers, governors, and mayors. In addition to Johannesburg, the 2025 Cohort included Mombasa, Matola, Sheggar, Kanifing, Banjul, Monrovia, and Harare among others. The previous two AMALI Cohort reunions were hosted by the Mayor of Addis Ababa and the Governor of Nairobi.
Mayor Morero led the delegation on site visits to some of the derelict buildings that have been earmarked for reclaiming and repurposing
The 2025 cohort also visited the historic Mandela House and Hector Pieterson Museum in Soweto, gaining insight into the historical roots of housing challenges Mayor Morero seeks to address