Lubabalo Cecil Magwentshu

Attendance

Present

63

Leave of absence

1

Absent without leave

0

Arrived late

5

Left early

1

Reasons given for leave: Private business (1).

"Absent without leave" means the signed minutes of a meeting held while they were on council neither list them as present nor excuse them, and no similar name appears that day, so misspellings in the minutes don't count against anyone. Each square links to the minutes.

In the chamber

From the 10 sittings transcribed so far in their term. Times are approximate, to the nearest transcript line.

Not present when called

0

Times given the floor

5

Average wait to start

11 s

Average greetings first

22 s

Apology or leave of absence (2)

• 26 Aug 2026 · 00:40:12Arriving late. ATM late arrival. sitting
• 24 Jun 2026 · 00:22:34Party business. Written apology for party business. sitting

In their words

Every time the chair gave them the floor in a transcribed sitting (5), newest first. The words are the AI transcript of that stretch of the livestream (Argon), so they can include the chair or an interjection; the time link is the place to check.

• 30 Sept 2026 · 09:44:40Motion 1: Renaming Wolmarans Street · 14 s

  Read what they said (23 words)

  Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to rename Wolmarans Street to be Dr. uZwi-Lezwe Radebe Street. Thank you.

• 22 Jul 2026 · 06:47:1323 and 24 · 6 s

  Read what they said (13 words)

  Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, I ask council to note the report. Thank you.

• 22 Jul 2026 · 06:22:2723 and 24 · 40 s

  Read what they said (54 words)

  Uh greetings, Speaker. Greetings, Executive Mayor. Greetings to Whip of Council. Greetings to Chair of Chairs. Greetings to all the chairpersons. Greetings to all the MMCs. Greetings to fellow councillors. Greetings uh to all the residents at home.

  Uh Madam Speaker, I rise to table Item 23 and 24 for council consideration. Thank you.

• 28 May 2026 · 02:29:08Item 3: debate on the budget speech · 5 min 41 s

  Read what they said (636 words)

  Honorable Speaker, Executive Mayor, Deputy Executive Mayor, Whip of Council, fellow councillors, officials of the city, residents of the City of Johannesburg,

  khan'molwe nonke.

  Madam Speaker, yesterday I read a very interesting book, which I would like to encourage all councillors to read. The title of the book is "How to Stay Humble After Winning Two Stars, Go CAF" by Ka Bo Yellow, Mamelodi Sundowns.

  Madam Speaker, budgets are not merely accounting exercises. A budget is a moral document. It reveals who government

  priorities, who it neglects, and whether leadership truly understands the daily suffering of ordinary people. The city tells us this is a budget about building Johannesburg together, investing today, securing tomorrow. But the painful reality confronting the residents of Alexandra, Orange Farm, Diepsloot, Soweto, Eldorado Park, Ivory Park, Ennerdale, and many other communities,

  is that they are still waiting for the Johannesburg that politicians continuously promise during budget speeches. The ATM acknowledges certain realities raised by the MMC for finance. We cannot deny the scale of the crisis facing this city. A R220 billion infrastructure backlog is not a small matter. Electricity losses of 27%, and water losses approaching 45%, represent a catastrophe.

  Cable theft, collapsing roads, hijacked buildings, illegal dumping, and deteriorating public infrastructure have placed Johannesburg under enormous strain. But Honourable Speaker, residents are not interested in beautifully written speeches while taps are dry. Traffic lights remain dysfunctional. Sewer spills continue for months, and communities live in darkness because of constant electricity failures.

  The ATM believes the crisis in Johannesburg is not merely financial. It is a crisis of governance, accountability, and political honesty. For years, successive administrations have spoken about turnaround strategies, reforms, renewal programs, and inclusive development. Yet the lived experience of many residents continue to deteriorate. The people of Johannesburg are tired of plans without implementation.

  They are tired of task teams without consequence management. They are tired of hearing that corruption will be fought while politically connected individuals continue benefiting from dysfunctional procurement systems. Madam Speaker, the ATM supports investment into infrastructure maintenance because maintenance is cheaper than collapse. We support efforts to stabilize Johannesburg Water and City Power. We support stronger revenue collection from those who can afford to pay.

  A city cannot survive when billions are lost through illegal connections, tampered meters, corruption and non-payment. However, the ATM rejects any attempt to place the burden of financial recovery solely on ordinary residents while corruption, wasteful expenditure, and political patronage continue unchecked. Before asking struggling communities to pay more, this council must demonstrate that every cent collected is protected from theft.

  How do we justify tariff increases to residents who experience rolling water outages? How do we justify higher cost when refuse collection is inconsistent? How do we justify increasing pressure on businesses while the city fails to provide reliable basic services? The ATM further notes with concern the growing pressure that illegal infrastructure connections and undocumented occupation place on municipal services.

  Johannesburg cannot continue carrying unlimited migration pressures without proper planning, border management and enforcement of the rule of law. All spheres of government must come to the party on this. The reality is that the city is confronted with uncontrolled urban migration, illegal land invasion, hijacked buildings and criminal syndicates, which have severely undermined service delivery capacity of the city.

  The ATM believes government must stop being afraid to speak honestly about this issue. You cannot plan properly for housing, sanitation, electricity, health care, roads and water infrastructure if there's no effective control and regulation of population growth pressures

  30 seconds.

  entering municipalities. Madam Speaker,

  xa ndiza kuhlala phantsi, ndifuna ukuthi nkosazana siyabulela uzamile,

  it's not easy because to have come up with this balanced budget. There are many challenges that the city is facing, but well done. We'll support the budget. Thank you.

• 26 May 2026 · 00:45:33Request for approval to enter into a loan agreement with KfW · 1 min 54 s

  Read what they said (160 words)

  Eh as I greet you, Madam Speaker, allow me to say, Ka Bo Yellow.

  Eh we have the new champions of Africa, Madam Speaker, Mamelodi Sundowns. The number one team in Africa. The only team in the southern hemisphere that has got two stars.

  Greetings to the Executive Mayor. Ka Bo Yellow, Matjoro. Ka Bo Yellow, Ntate Chauke, Whip of Council. Ka Bo Yellow, Deputy Executive Mayor. Ka Bo Yellow to all the councillors.

  Madam Speaker, you know, there's no reason why we should be debating this item. Because this item was brought into this house, and this council approved this item. So, today, we couldn't be saying when we agreed that it should be it should form part of our funding model, that we say today we do not want it. That we say today we will be committing the the next council. Uh as a result, Madam Speaker, I'm saying, Ka Bo Yellow to this item.

  Thank you.

Spoke on

• 30 Sept 2026 · 09:41:02Motion 1: Renaming Wolmarans Street to Dr uZwi-Lezwe Radebe, proposal
• 22 Jul 2026 · 06:21:40Items 23-24: Office of the City Manager performance
• 22 Jul 2026 · 06:43:20Items 23-24: Executive Mayor responds
• 25 Jun 2026 · 06:53:50Whippery break to cluster items and agreement on elevated items
• 28 May 2026 · 02:28:51ATM's Cllr Magwentshu supports the budget
• 26 May 2026 · 00:45:00ATM and PA support the loan

Offices held

• MMC for Community Development · 2 February 2023 to 16 August 2024source