{"sitting_id":"2026-08-26-ordinary-39-day1","date":"2026-08-26","title":"39th Ordinary Council Meeting, Day 1","page_url":"https://said-in-council.co.za/sittings/2026-08-26-ordinary-39-day1/","ai":"AI draft transcript (google/gemini-4-argon) of the City's livestream, not checked line by line. Check a line against the video before quoting it.","licence":"CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) for this transcript; the video remains the City's.","timeline":"start and end are seconds on the sitting-day timeline: the videos below laid end to end in order. video is the YouTube id the line is in; lang is set when the line was not English.","videos":[{"id":"oFqccXTZjJU","duration":32838,"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFqccXTZjJU"}],"segments":[{"start":15,"end":21,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Echeozonjoku and Santana had forgotten their T-shirts."},{"start":21,"end":24,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Ai, Councillor."},{"start":24,"end":28,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yoh!"},{"start":28,"end":35,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, okay, okay, it's done."},{"start":35,"end":69,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh, good morning, everyone. It is here, it is hereby notified that the 39th Ordinary Meeting of the City of Johannesburg Municipality will be held on Wednesday, 26th of August 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and on Thursday, 27th of August 2026 at 11:30 at the Constance Connie Bapela Council Chamber in Metropolitan Centre in Braamfontein. The first agenda item, first item on the agenda is, is opening."},{"start":69,"end":82,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can I ask IT to be doing their work in silence?"},{"start":82,"end":88,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, colleagues."},{"start":88,"end":115,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Um, to the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Sello Morero, in absentia, can, if, if, if you are, if you want to, Councillor Christians, I can give you the seat to sit here. I can do that. Okay. Can we have order?"},{"start":115,"end":146,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Sello Morero, in absentia; Deputy Executive Mayor, Councillor Loyiso Masuku, in absentia; Whip of Council, Councillor Qasem Kunene, in absentia; Chair of Chairs, Councillor Vonani Marema, very much present; all political party leaders and Whips of political parties, members of the Mayoral Committee, chairpersons of Section 79"},{"start":146,"end":179,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Committees, fellow councillors, the Secretary to Council, Mr Andile Gobinca, officials of the City of Johannesburg, residents of the City of Johannesburg, members of the media present. Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you all to the 39th Ordinary Council meeting of the City of Johannesburg Municipality. Councillors, at this point, I'm going to allow 10 minutes"},{"start":179,"end":207,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"for the number of councillors present in the chamber to be counted and verification of the number of councillors who signed the register, so as to confirm whether we have a quorum. And that is an indication if you are seated in the chamber, you remain seated so that we can count you. I thank you."},{"start":207,"end":218,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can we go and count?"},{"start":218,"end":256,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Those councillors that are strolling in as if we are in the mall, can you come in and be seated so that we are able to count you? There's no window shopping outside."},{"start":256,"end":287,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"While we are seated, I would want every caucus to tell me and give me the number of ladies present of your caucus today. Ladies present. Not tell me you are five ladies, and then one is absent. I want the amount of ladies present in the chamber."},{"start":287,"end":307,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You will send me via WhatsApp how many ladies you have, and I will also count you."},{"start":307,"end":313,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The two councillors at the back, can you sit?"},{"start":313,"end":467,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Councillor Johannes, jy weet mos ek weet nie wat is jy vandag nie, nê?"},{"start":467,"end":496,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillors, I don't, okay, the register that has been signed has got 121 signatures, and the people inside is 113. We are going to take the 20 minutes so that we can allow for people to come in. Can all No, no, no, Councillor Belinda, there are some people that we have apologies."},{"start":496,"end":526,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can all the caucus leaders ensure that your members sign the register? Even the new councillors, your names are on the register. Please sign the register. And we start at 10:00 and not 10:05 or 10:03. We start at 10:00. So we're going to take 20 minutes now."},{"start":526,"end":1634,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The clock is at 10:08. We come back 10:28. Thank you."},{"start":1634,"end":1716,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, can we please get to our seats?"},{"start":1716,"end":1755,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can I ask for the second time that we be settled so that we are able to continue with the agenda? It doesn't mean because we have two days we can start late and be chaotic. Thank you, colleagues. STC? Oh, okay. I have to report back. Can I get the numbers?"},{"start":1755,"end":1785,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, we are past our 20 minutes. On the register, we have 151, and um we are now going to be seated. Can the ActionSA, or is it, before I get booed, uh is it, is it ActionSA or is it the EFF that is outside? Can they come in, please?"},{"start":1785,"end":1789,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So that we are able to count ourselves now inside."},{"start":1791,"end":1800,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh-uh, the AIC is here. They are only two, and the two is on their seats."},{"start":1800,"end":2100,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can the two councillors that are outside, can they be told to come in? I feel like a kindergarten teacher, honestly. Thanks, we are counting you. So please be seated. MMC Mnisi."},{"start":2100,"end":2130,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"[inaudible] thank you colleagues. We have 155 on the register, and we are 156 here. So someone inside here has not signed the register. So if you know you are guilty, please later on go and sign the register. Before we proceed, um, colleagues, we have received, Councillor Mhlongo,"},{"start":2130,"end":2160,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"please. We have received a motion without notice, in terms of rule 93 (1) (c) of the standing rules of orders of council. It was brought to, it was brought by Councillor Maila, Maila. And the item is, is in terms of the recruitment and appointment process"},{"start":2160,"end":2181,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"of the head of the Department of Public Safety. Councillor Maila, we are currently checking whether we are able to do it. We want to see compliance, and as the day go we will let you know. Thank you so much. STC?"},{"start":2181,"end":2186,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Now we proceed with applications for leave of absence."},{"start":2186,"end":2217,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Before we take hands, this is the following leave of absence that we have received, that is written leave of absence: the Executive Mayor, Councillor S Morero, he will arrive late due to council business; Councillor M Mpolobosho, private business; Councillor M Mokwena, party business;"},{"start":2217,"end":2248,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor T Amad, late arrival due to council business; uh, Councillor Sekwaila, I see you are here; Councillor R Pelzer, a early departure at 16:00 hour; and then we also have an apology that needs to be read into record: the um,"},{"start":2248,"end":2277,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"City Manager, Mr. Floyd, Dr. Floyd Brink, will also not be in the sitting, but he has sent us someone that is here on his behalf. I thank you. Can we see hands from political parties? Councillor Makhuba, Councillor Mogapi, Councillor Simonse, Councillor Mhlongo, Councillor Ndlela, Councillor Masera,"},{"start":2277,"end":2310,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and then Councillor, I'm not sure whether the two hands of the IFP is two different ones, so can you give it to Councillor Makhuba because we have already recognized her, and then Councillor Coutriers, and then Councillor Harris, in that fashion. Councillor Makhuba, I think your councillor wants to tell you."},{"start":2310,"end":2325,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. She wants to tell you who to add. Can you switch off your phone?"},{"start":2325,"end":2354,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. Greetings. And for the IFP we have early departures. It's Councillor Nyembe at 2:00 PM, doctor's appointment; Councillor Nkomo and Councillor Khanyile at 4:00 PM, party work; Councillor Makhuba at 3:00 PM, private business; and also there's an apology from um"},{"start":2354,"end":2369,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Manganyi on behalf of the minority parties, that will not be in the meeting today."},{"start":2369,"end":2390,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you Speaker, greetings councillors. From the EFF, late arrivals, it's Councillor Mabidilala, and MMC Koma due to party business. Uh, Councillor Mafuma, family bereavement, and early departure, Councillor Mogapi at 12:00. Thank you."},{"start":2390,"end":2412,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Good morning Madam Speaker, greetings to the house. We have a late arrival, Councillor Marilyn Smouse; an early departure at 3:00, Councillor Paul Mokoena. MMC Kunene and Councillor Dlanjwa is out of the province on party business. Thank you."},{"start":2412,"end":2437,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh, greetings Madam Speaker and greetings to the house. Madam Speaker, I arise to deposit the late arrival of these two councillors. It's Councillor Zigebe from UDM and Councillor Magwentshu from ATM, late arrivals. Thank you so much."},{"start":2437,"end":2468,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh, thank you Madam Speaker. On ANC caucus, ill health is Councillor Maswazi and Councillor Ndou. Councillor Magwaza is having an Eskom issue. Councillor Libo Ndou, private business. Councillor Tambani, he's got an emergency in his ward. Late arrival is Councillor Shange, Councillor Mhlari, Councillor Ndzondo, Councillor Ngoepe, Councillor Nkubungu and Councillor Madiba. Requesting to leave at 12:30 is MMC Zungu."},{"start":2468,"end":2482,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Also requesting to leave at 13:00 hours is MMC Masuku, Councillor Modupi and Councillor Maluleka. Thank you so much, Speaker."},{"start":2482,"end":2490,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you Speaker, and good morning to you and all the colleagues in the house. Um, I've got the"},{"start":2490,"end":2503,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Masera, just hold on. Councillor D Steenkamp and Councillor RJ Sehoai, please switch off your mics. Thank you Councillor."},{"start":2503,"end":2534,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, thank you Speaker. I've got the following from the DA caucus: um, Councillor Niemand, party business; Councillor Hughes, party business; Councillor Shawe, party business; um, Councillor Dewes, party business; Councillor Stewart Marais, party business; Councillor Bittkau, party business; Councillor Chabalala, private business; Councillor Mphefo, ill health; Councillor Horwitz, ill health;"},{"start":2534,"end":2566,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"um, Councillor Mnisi, party business. And I also have the following late arrivals: Councillor Sifumba, private business; Councillor Rambani, party business; Councillor Jonker, party business; Councillor Jacobs will arrive at 13:00. And I also have the early departure: Councillor Sherman by 16:30; Councillor Jacobs, 17:30; Councillor Finn, 15:30; Councillor Deppe,"},{"start":2566,"end":2582,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"um, between 12:00 and 1:00; Councillor Shackleford, uh, 17:30; and Councillor Stewart, 17:00. Thank you Speaker."},{"start":2582,"end":2590,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Next councillor. Councillor Coutriers, has others covered you?"},{"start":2590,"end":2621,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Morning Madam Speaker and thank you. Um, ActionSA LOAs: family responsibility, Councillor Munyayi; ill health, Councillor Aphane, Councillor Nkonyeni and Councillor Ntlemeza; party business, Councillor Mkhonto, Councillor Prince Mohlala, Councillor Themba Mabunda, Councillor Mokoka, Councillor Moticoe, Councillor Ronin Tsoadi."},{"start":2621,"end":2639,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Those are the last for our party business, and the late arrival, Councillor Shai; and the request for early departure Madam Speaker, Councillor Coutriers at 17:30. Thank you so much."},{"start":2639,"end":2650,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Good morning Madam Speaker, all protocols observed. Uh, Councillor Rohlssen is off sick. Thank you."},{"start":2650,"end":2660,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you Councillor. STC? Are all these apologies noted? Okay."},{"start":2660,"end":2664,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We move to official notices."},{"start":2664,"end":2693,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, first of all, allow me to say, I hope you all had a good Women's Day so far. To all the women in the house, there is a little token that we have given you. If you have not received, it means your caucus did not give us the amount of women in your caucus, but your stuff is here to receive. And also, please join me"},{"start":2693,"end":2730,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"in welcoming the following councillors: Councillor Yolinda Lotz, who replaces the former Councillor Cook from GOOD. Councillor, can we see you? Thank you. Then we have Councillor Gareth Jack, who replaced the former Councillor Abdool from the UIM."},{"start":2730,"end":2760,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor, please. Councillor Bianca Elias, who replaced the former Councillor Pitso. Thank you. Councillors, those are the new councillors. Further join me in wishing well all councillors who are celebrating their birthdays during the month of August. Happy birthday to all of you."},{"start":2760,"end":2783,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You are a lot, so I'm unable to read out all the birthdays, but happy birthday to all of you, and may God bless you, and may you have a long life. Thank you so much. STC?"},{"start":2783,"end":2809,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We are now on confirmation of minutes, and these are the minutes of the 38th Ordinary Council Meeting held on the 24th and the 25th of June 2026, together with the minutes of the 52nd Extraordinary Meeting held on the 22nd July 2026, and lastly minutes of the 53rd Extraordinary Meeting held on 30th July 2026."},{"start":2809,"end":2829,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"STC, I'm not sure who's the one that's in a daze, is it you or is it me? But nevertheless, we had to have a statement by the Executive Mayor, so we will ask the Deputy Executive Mayor if there's a statement. Um, MMC Masuku, Deputy Executive Mayor."},{"start":2829,"end":2833,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Morning Madam Speaker, there are no statements. Thank you."},{"start":2833,"end":2847,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much Ma'am. We will now go to the confirmation of all those minutes, and we will call the ACDP, Councillor F Mkhonza, to assist us with that."},{"start":2847,"end":2850,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Um, shalom, shalom Madam Speaker."},{"start":2850,"end":2857,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can you just hold on Councillor Mkhonza. Councillor Mogapi?"},{"start":2857,"end":2861,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you Speaker, you forgot to do an acknowledgement of the incoming..."},{"start":2861,"end":2880,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Now we are going to acknowledge everybody now. We are going to acknowledge. There's a long list of people that are in the house that is here on top. We will acknowledge them all now, now. Thank you so much. Councillor Mkhonza?"},{"start":2880,"end":2912,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, um, shalom, shalom once again Madam Speaker. Um, allow me to first acknowledge our Almighty God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit; to also acknowledge the Executive Mayor in absentia, the Deputy Executive Mayor, um, all councillors, um, the residents of the City of Joburg. I greet you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Madam Speaker, um, all the minutes are in order. Thank you very much."},{"start":2912,"end":2919,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you Councillor Mkhonza. Councillor Fourie-Shawe from the DA?"},{"start":2919,"end":2925,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you Madam Speaker. Um, the DA agrees with the contents of the minutes. Thank you."},{"start":2925,"end":2941,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Uh, colleagues, can we then note the minutes, because I think everybody was happy? Councillor?"},{"start":2941,"end":2969,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yeah, Mazibuko, woman. Morning Speaker. Um, as the ANC caucus we acknowledge the minutes. However, on the minutes of the 22nd July, on page 26, on item 23, if we could just add a 'y'. It's written as 'cit manager' and not 'city manager'. If we can just add a 'y' on those minutes. Thank you Speaker."},{"start":2969,"end":2999,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you Councillor Mazibuko Y, we will add the 'y'. Uh, can we then note the minutes with the added 'y'? Thank you colleagues, it's noted. Um, let me quickly just acknowledge those that are here in the gallery. It is a list of 54, and I'm not going to go through the 54."},{"start":2999,"end":3030,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'm honestly not going to do that. But I want to welcome the ANC RS, Sasabona Manganye. I also want to acknowledge and welcome Dr."},{"start":3030,"end":3068,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Why are you clapping hands? I want to welcome Dr. Bombvana from the AIC. And I also want to welcome Dr. Tlaleng from the EFF."},{"start":3068,"end":3092,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. And I also want to welcome the Mrs. Soweto organization that is here, and they are led by Mrs. Soweto 2023, Mel Hlapi. Thank you so much. STC, we can move."},{"start":3092,"end":3110,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We proceed with item 5, and that is item 5A, which are questions for oral reply of which notice has been given in terms of rule 105 (1) of the standing rules and orders of council."},{"start":3110,"end":3116,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC Masuku?"},{"start":3116,"end":3149,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Morning once again Madam Speaker, fellow councillors. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the executive, we would like to raise a concern. The questions did not go through programming. Ordinarily, anything that is coming to council should go through programming. The executive therefore objects to the legislature bringing items to council overnight to the executive, and would like to place on record that we request the process to be done accordingly."},{"start":3149,"end":3166,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We don't have a problem responding to questions. However, we would like process to be followed so that we actually do things in line with how it is supposed to be done procedurally."},{"start":3166,"end":3196,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Executive Deputy Mayor, in programming, we as the legislature and the programming team dealt with the questions that were non-compliant. Those were the questions in the programming. The questions that are on the list are the questions that were compliant, are the questions that the executive"},{"start":3196,"end":3233,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"had to respond to. We always deal with questions that are non-compliant. We will tell you they are not complying with such and such a rule, and I know, especially with the DA, we will tell them there's no section or something like that. But we always have the questions that are non-compliant. The questions that are on are the questions that was there. It was not only loaded yesterday. Thank you MMC, unless I missed something."},{"start":3233,"end":3243,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I am recognizing you Deputy Executive Mayor, and after you we will have the MMC of Development Planning."},{"start":3243,"end":3271,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, members of programming are in council. You dealt with written questions. Oral questions were not dealt with, and we only received them last night. The executive is not objecting to the written questions. We are objecting to 5A, the oral questions, which we only received last night."},{"start":3271,"end":3275,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Development Planning?"},{"start":3275,"end":3310,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you Madam Speaker, greetings to yourself, councillors, um, and our guests. I think follow up on what the DM was saying, um, is it also procedural to consider both oral questions and written questions in the same meeting, um, as well as the Mayor's Question Time and quarterlies in the same meeting? Is it procedural? That's what I wanted to ask as well. Thank you."},{"start":3310,"end":3316,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC Mabaso? He's now walked out. Oh, there you are."},{"start":3316,"end":3339,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, thank you very much Speaker, and greetings to yourself, the DM, MMCs, all councillors that are present. Now Speaker, I just want to confirm as well that I received my question this morning. Well, I do have a response, but I received it this morning. So procedurally it's flawed, and really we can't respond to it."},{"start":3339,"end":3465,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, can I be given five minutes to just speak to the table? But I know that questions were there."},{"start":3465,"end":3505,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you colleagues, can we be seated? Can we be seated?"},{"start":3505,"end":3522,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Are we seated?"},{"start":3522,"end":3554,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Frans, no. That what's happening there, no. Take the councillor off there. Thank you colleagues. Um, to the Executive, Deputy Executive Mayor, uh, and MMCs, one, I want to start off by saying the questions that are from"},{"start":3554,"end":3587,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the Democratic Alliance, they were on the drive. They were there. Okay? The questions, Councillor Mnisi, Councillor, the questions from ActionSA was only loaded yesterday, right? So those questions"},{"start":3587,"end":3600,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"were not on the drive and you are correct. You only received them either last night or this morning. Okay? And I think someone"},{"start":3600,"end":3630,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and almost cried now. Because it's not right, it cannot be, cannot be right that we do that. And the other issue is that there was over 100 questions and they are justifying that some of them they did not do the right thing, but anyway, we are not going to be there. If you, if you want to and agree with us,"},{"start":3630,"end":3660,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that you would answer those questions tomorrow or they fall off completely, it's entirely, entirely up to you as the executive. But I also want us to note that one of the things that happens is in programming we only look at the questions that do not comply and we do not interrogate the questions that are there, but they are saying"},{"start":3660,"end":3688,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"they are at fault, they did not load those three in time, and it's up to you as the executive whether you want to respond to them tomorrow. Can I have a response, MMC? Uh-uh, I'm talking to the executive. MMC, uh, Councillor Masuku."},{"start":3688,"end":3701,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It's fine, tomorrow, because we are an accountable government, we will respond tomorrow. Um, you have not responded to MMC Mgcina's concern? Please may you address that, ma'am?"},{"start":3701,"end":3727,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, I'll do that now. [00:01:43] [no speech]"},{"start":3727,"end":3759,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, Councillor Mgcina, can you please listen? We can deal with oral questions, with written questions, with questions to the mayor as long, as long as there are no quarterlies. And we don't have quarterlies. Thank you. So, we are, we are clarified, and I again"},{"start":3759,"end":3789,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"want to apologize to the questions that came late. I, honestly, we will deal with it as the legislature. Colleagues, there shall be no oral question time during the official opening of council, during consideration of, of quarterly reports, and during the annual budget speech and vote on the budget and at a special meeting convened by the Speaker."},{"start":3789,"end":3815,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I want to close that. I thank you to the executive. Uh, and I do really want to say, it will not happen again. Thank you so much. Can we move on? Councillor Raphadu, we have closed, the executive has responded. We have closed. The executive is fine. The legislature cannot counter on what I've said. Thank you so much."},{"start":3815,"end":3834,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillors, we proceed with item 5B, and those are questions for written reply of which notice has been given in terms of Rules 105, Subsection 2, and Rule 112, Subsection A, of the standing rules and orders of council."},{"start":3834,"end":3850,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Um, we are on written questions, right? The executive, have they been, are they on the drive, the written ones?"},{"start":3850,"end":3855,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, ma'am. The questions are loaded now on the drive."},{"start":3855,"end":3866,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, ma'am. Councillor Christians."},{"start":3866,"end":3905,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Speaker. Uh, Speaker, some of the responses on the written say it'll be answered at the next council meeting, but this council has taken decision that this will be the last sitting today and tomorrow. Can those be, be answered in terms of Rule 110 (5), which means that if it's unsatisfactory, the executive must reply within 10 days. [00:04:50] [no speech]"},{"start":3905,"end":3925,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I think the executive has heard because it's written questions. They will then respond to you as to in writing. Okay. Thank you so much. STC. [00:05:20] [inaudible]"},{"start":3925,"end":3946,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, we are moving to the next item. [00:05:31] [inaudible]"},{"start":3946,"end":3976,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, we, you see, all this... We are just having a discussion, MMC, um, Deputy Mayor. The oral questions you'll respond to all of them tomorrow, am I right? Yes. So, that's that, we are past the written ones. The Executive Mayor is not in the house, so you, you cannot deal with that now, STC. So, we will do that also tomorrow. So, questions are all deferred to tomorrow."},{"start":3976,"end":3981,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Can we go to the next item?"},{"start":3981,"end":3996,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We are now on item six, and that is the election of the Chairperson of the Finance Section 79 Committee in terms of Rule 24 of the standing rules and orders of council."},{"start":3996,"end":4027,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, thank you, colleagues. Um... Please note that the elections of the Chairperson of the Section 79 Finance Committee will be conducted in accordance with Rule 24 of the standing rules and orders of council. In this instance, voting shall be by show of hands on the basis that the aforesaid position are not part of Schedule 3"},{"start":4027,"end":4056,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"to the Municipal Structures Act. The procedure set out in the schedule applies whenever a municipal council meets to elect a Speaker, an Executive Mayor, a Deputy Executive Mayor or the Whip of Council. I have issued the nomination form to all political party Whips, for political parties to submit nominations for the said position."},{"start":4056,"end":4070,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I have received... I have received... Councillor Ndlela."},{"start":4070,"end":4081,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh, thank you, Madam Speaker. As the ANC caucus, we are requesting a 10 minutes caucus break. Thank you."},{"start":4081,"end":4086,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The break is granted. It's 10 minutes. You are back at 10:17."},{"start":4086,"end":4095,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So, Speaker, you received nothing. [00:08:09] [no speech]"},{"start":4095,"end":5112,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC Masuku. Yeah. [00:08:20] [no speech]"},{"start":5112,"end":5195,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can we be seated? The drums are playing. Councillor Echeozonjoku. Councillor Belinda. [00:25:26] [no speech]"},{"start":5195,"end":5226,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, can we be seated? Can the drums be switched off? Can we be seated? The ANC's caucus has already told me they are done. I'm patient, I'll wait. The more time you waste, the longer tomorrow will be. That's all I'm saying."},{"start":5226,"end":5245,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And it's not my fault. Um... Where's Councillor Ndlela? She asked for a caucus. Chair of Chairs, you want to respond?"},{"start":5245,"end":5258,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yeah. No, no, no, thank you very much, uh, Speaker. The matter she wanted us to deal with as a caucus has been covered. She's just quickly making sure that all, uh, councillors that are still outside gets in. Thank you."},{"start":5258,"end":5284,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. MMC Koma, you must not follow those at the back. You must come quick, quick in. Thank you. Okay, we, we are now going to the process. Councillor Christians."},{"start":5284,"end":5289,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I had my hand up when you recognized for the caucus."},{"start":5289,"end":5291,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Sorry, I didn't see at the time. I think you saw I was looking this side, yeah."},{"start":5291,"end":5310,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Correct. Madam Speaker, uh, just a question of clarity before we go into the process. Uh, you mentioned previously that today and tomorrow are the last days of council. Is there an expected emergency sitting of Finance Committee that we have to elect a Chairperson? Thank you."},{"start":5310,"end":5341,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh, I'm not certain, I'm not certain, and I, I'm going to use the following words. That listening and reading is a skill. I have mentioned it three or four times in the council sittings and there's communication from SALGA that has gone to every"},{"start":5341,"end":5371,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"caucus whip and caucus leader. Yes, we are relaxing council today, but, a big capital letter BUT, that if there's any need for us to have council sittings or for us to have"},{"start":5371,"end":5400,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"committee sittings we will have it. You're not going to find it in the rules because we are at an election time. So Finance could not do their work, and I'm certain they will tell you, they could not do their work. They are, I suppose, the only committee that has not done their work, like you did in Rules the other day,"},{"start":5400,"end":5434,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You did your end of the rules. So, finance has not done that. So that is why we have to do this. We are doing this because of council work that we have to do. And don't be surprised if we call you in September and say there's a special council meeting because there is a matter that came to us."},{"start":5434,"end":5440,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Lees en lees en luister"},{"start":5440,"end":5464,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"as a skill. I don't know what's a skill in Afrikaans. So there we go. The ANC has reported on the issue why they went out. Councillor Raphadu, what do you want to? I spoke. What is it? Your hand is up. No, no, no, Councillor. No. Councillor Raphadu, please go."},{"start":5464,"end":5468,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I'm sorry, I might be out of order in what I want to"},{"start":5468,"end":5470,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And I'll tell you if you are."},{"start":5470,"end":5475,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, and I'm asking for your indulgence in regards to this part. Madam Speaker, I know"},{"start":5475,"end":5476,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speak to the mic."},{"start":5476,"end":5493,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Sorry, man. Eish, I thought my voice is audible. Madam Speaker, I know that in terms of Rule 40A, rules have been relaxed, and I'm seeing blue T-shirts across the room from us. I have no problem with Joburg, what is written there,"},{"start":5493,"end":5505,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"but my biggest problem is then when they turn, there's a name of a certain candidate there, and they can't use council to come here and campaign. I don't care with the front of the T-shirt, Madam"},{"start":5505,"end":5509,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Raphadu, please just hold on. Just hold on. Just hold on."},{"start":5509,"end":5510,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, Madam Speaker."},{"start":5510,"end":5514,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Because I can't hear what you're saying because of your audience at the back."},{"start":5514,"end":5515,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you."},{"start":5515,"end":5519,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can I please listen to him?"},{"start":5519,"end":5523,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So thank you, Madam Speaker, for"},{"start":5523,"end":5539,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, I want to listen to him. How do you want me to rule, Councillor Jacobs? How do you want me to rule if you guys don't allow me to listen to him? Councillor Raphadu?"},{"start":5539,"end":5554,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So thank you, Madam Speaker, and I was saying I don't have a problem with the front of their T-shirt because it talks about Joburg, but I have the biggest problem is the one with the mayoral candidate at the back, and I thought this council won't be used as a political tool to campaign for the upcoming"},{"start":5554,"end":5556,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Okay, dankie. Dankie."},{"start":5556,"end":5559,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, you are cutting me off. Oh, you are ruling? Oh, please let me sit down."},{"start":5559,"end":5561,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I've got what you've said. Thank you."},{"start":5561,"end":5562,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can they take them off?"},{"start":5562,"end":5564,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, I've got what you said."},{"start":5564,"end":5573,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"They must take them off. Take them off."},{"start":5573,"end":5580,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Juwairiya, Councillor Juwairiya, Councillor Juwairiya Kaldine,"},{"start":5580,"end":5582,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"asseblief."},{"start":5582,"end":5596,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Please. You are not even listening whether I'm calling you because you are that side. Councillor Juwairiya, can I hear? And I'm giving you one, two seconds."},{"start":5596,"end":5604,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Two seconds, Madam Speaker. Can we please, the PA is requesting a 30-minute caucus. Thank you."},{"start":5604,"end":5607,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Hayi bo."},{"start":5607,"end":5609,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, Councillor Juwairiya,"},{"start":5609,"end":5611,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"eerlikwaar,"},{"start":5611,"end":5628,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I am not granting it. Because I know the person I know the person that will ask for a caucus is Councillor Simonse. Councillor Simonse, please."},{"start":5628,"end":5633,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, please make your ruling in terms of Councillor Raphadu's objection or"},{"start":5633,"end":5695,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Colleagues, I am quickly consulting with legal here. I will give Councillor Raphadu now my ruling, and then we will deal with it. Legal?"},{"start":5695,"end":5712,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, I'm not going to be popular for this ruling, and I'm not for a popularity contest here. I just want to read the rule, Councillor Raphadu. I want you to listen when I read the rule, right?"},{"start":5712,"end":5723,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Uh-uh, asseblief tog."},{"start":5723,"end":5760,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Where is it here? Okay, colleagues, we know that some time back in 2016, the dress code rule was suspended. Am I right? But now let me read this to you, and I'm on Rule 30A. When attending to the business of council and committee meetings, councillors must dress in a formal lounge suit and"},{"start":5760,"end":5811,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"or a jacket and a tie. And I would want the Chair of Chairs to stand up because the Chair of Chairs is dressed properly. Okay, quiet now. Religious, religious, religious or traditional wear, or such other dress befitting the formal nature of council or its committees, and must not wear any political party symbols and or insignia."},{"start":5811,"end":5852,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Now, that T-shirt does not have any political party symbols, uh-uh, uh-uh, and it does not have any insignia. So, colleagues, that is my ruling. Case closed. Thank you, colleagues. No, no, no, Councillor, there's no follow-up on this. I have ruled."},{"start":5852,"end":5889,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Next to Councillor Makhuba, there's a red mic. Can you switch it off? Councillor Mmbengwa, no, please switch off your mics. Colleagues, we are on to the position of the No, no, no, Councillor, switch off your mic. Okay. Okay, I will get them to switch it off. Councillors, I have received one nomination,"},{"start":5889,"end":5928,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and the first one, it is proposed by Councillor N Nofemela, seconded by Councillor D Modupi, nominating Councillor T Radebe. I don't have any other forms, and the form has been filled in properly. And I will then now ask the proposer and the seconders to read out their forms. Councillor Nofemela, the proposer, and the seconder, Councillor Modupi."},{"start":5928,"end":5942,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker, and good morning. Greetings to the Deputy Executive Mayor, the Whip of Council, Chair of Chairs, ANC caucus and fellow councillors, members in the gallery,"},{"start":5942,"end":5947,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"ke re kgotso ka moka."},{"start":5947,"end":5963,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I rise to nominate a very progressive councillor, Councillor Thapelo Radebe, to be the Chairperson of the Section 79 Finance Committee. I thank you."},{"start":5963,"end":5974,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Nofemela. Can I have the seconder, Councillor Modupi?"},{"start":5974,"end":6019,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"They are sabotaging. Oh, it's working. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for providing me with this opportunity. First, let me pass my greetings to yourself, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg in absentia, as well as the Deputy Executive Mayor, Loyiso Masuku, as well as the entire members of Mayoral Committee and the councillors and the guests up there, together with the residents at home. And not forgetting that we've got the visitor here, our RS, Regional Secretary Sasabona, a.k.a. the Black Bull."},{"start":6019,"end":6040,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I rise here to support the nomination of Councillor Thapelo Radebe as the Chairperson of the Finance Committee because we know him. He is one of the progressive councillors and he has been serving in this committee since from the beginning of this term of office. Thank you, Madam Speaker."},{"start":6040,"end":6056,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor Modupi. I would now call on Councillor Thapelo Thabani Radebe to hear whether he accepts the nomination."},{"start":6056,"end":6077,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Greetings to you. I, Councillor Thapelo Thabani Radebe, duly accept the nomination for the position of the Section 79 Finance Committee Chairpersonship. Thank you, Madam Speaker."},{"start":6077,"end":6115,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, colleagues. That is I want to now That was the only nomination. There's no other nominations. The person has accepted The councillor has accepted, and I would now declare him the Chairperson of the Finance Committee Section 79."},{"start":6115,"end":6129,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much to all of us. I'm now going to give over to the STC. Can we be seated?"},{"start":6129,"end":6134,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillors, we are now on recommendations to council."},{"start":6134,"end":6139,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The Deputy Executive Mayor, can we have your recommendations?"},{"start":6139,"end":6146,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I hereby table recommendations for consideration by council."},{"start":6146,"end":6152,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Chair of Chairs, can we get your recommendation?"},{"start":6152,"end":6159,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I rise to table the legislature reports. Thank you."},{"start":6159,"end":6166,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Deputy Executive Mayor."},{"start":6166,"end":6199,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, on behalf of the executive, we hereby request to please elevate the recruitment and appointment process of the Head of Department Public Safety, item 38. We would like to request that we table it immediately after the finance items, items one, two, three and four. We request that you then elevate it to become item five. Thanks, ma'am."},{"start":6199,"end":6224,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, thank you so much. So there will be item 38 will become item five. And then, yeah. Am I right? Okay. Thank you so much, colleagues. Councillor Santana MMC, can you just hold on? Councillor Santana, the hand was up first."},{"start":6224,"end":6229,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. Can we also just then combine items one and two, please, if you don't mind?"},{"start":6229,"end":6230,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Pardon?"},{"start":6230,"end":6236,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can you please combine items one and two? The MFMA reporting for April and May."},{"start":6236,"end":6242,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Is the executive fine with that? MMC Masuku."},{"start":6242,"end":6249,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, Madam Speaker, we're fine with that. I raised my hand, so I don't know if you're acknowledging me to speak now."},{"start":6249,"end":6250,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, you can."},{"start":6250,"end":6257,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. We're fine with that, but I was raising my hand because I made an error. It's supposed to be item 37 and 38 for elevation."},{"start":6257,"end":6298,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. So items 37 and 38 has been elevated, and then we are putting together item one and item two. So the speakers on item one and two, we just want to check if they are the same. The EFF, I am suggesting or I'm asking ourselves to speak"},{"start":6298,"end":6300,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you."},{"start":6300,"end":6305,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The others will add their time, but we've just asked you. So you still want to speak one, one? Right."},{"start":6305,"end":6307,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Two speakers, thank you."},{"start":6307,"end":6313,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, let's then move. STC."},{"start":6313,"end":6337,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We're now on item on recommendations to council. The first item there is the City of Johannesburg MFMA in-year financial report for the period ended 30th April 2026, read together with item two, which is also the City of Johannesburg MFMA in-year financial report for the period ended 31st May 2026."},{"start":6337,"end":6348,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, let's roll. Councillor Mkhonza, ACDP, you have six minutes because you're speaking to both the items."},{"start":6348,"end":6357,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, yeah, thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Greetings once again. Now that I have acknowledged everybody, especially our"},{"start":6357,"end":6360,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Please speak into the mic."},{"start":6360,"end":6398,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, Madam Speaker, now that I have acknowledged our Heavenly Father and everybody, I'll go straight to the item. Madam Speaker, I stand to speak on item one and two, Section 71 reports for the period ended 31 May 2026. Allow me to quote from my guiding manual, the Holy Bible. The one who faithfully manages the little he has been given will be promoted and trusted with greater responsibilities. But those who cheat with the little they have been given will not be considered trustworthy to receive more. Luke 16, verse 10."},{"start":6398,"end":6449,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, the ACDP caucus wishes to focus on some critical areas arising from the Section 71 reports. Several of these critical metrics impact the municipality's fiscal stability, its ability to deliver services, and the overall success of its management. We commend the interventions employed, which accounted for the amounts collected from defaulters, 93.1 million and 28.6 million for electricity and water respectively. We will monitor the outstanding accounts or interventions for collection. We further commend the 100% compliance from all the departments and entities with the Section 71 process, that is to upload trial balance by the fifth of the working day."},{"start":6449,"end":6487,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"However, it is worth noting that capital expenditure per funding source has dropped by 3%. This is unacceptable. For the entities consolidated as at 31st May is 43% for departments and 59 for entities, with an overall expenditure of 52% with one month left. That is unacceptable, Madam Speaker. The debtors book continues to increase every month, now sitting at 75.7 billion."},{"start":6487,"end":6536,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Before addressing some of the matters, we must express the concern of the city's persistently low collection rates. However, when compared to the previous three months, a slight improvement is registered, 84.4% and 91.2% for April and May respectively. These figures continue to reflect weakness in both credit control and revenue management systems, which remain fundamental pillars of the city's fiscal sustainability. The less said about the continued concerns relating the mSCOA compliance, the better. The performance of the conditional grants, Madam Speaker, remains low. In April, we registered a 45%, and in May, we registered a 50%, which is concerning."},{"start":6536,"end":6580,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The ACDP, Madam Speaker, continues to note with serious concern the substantial risk of underspending allocated conditional grants with only one month remaining before the end of the financial year. We therefore seek clarity from the Executive Deputy Mayor regarding the city's strategy to ensure that all conditional grant allocations are fully spent within the prescribed timeframes and that no funding is forfeited to National Treasury. The ACDP takes note of the reports, but remains concerned about the significant variance in conditional grant expenditure and capital budget implementation, both of which continue to perform well below the expected benchmark of 95%."},{"start":6580,"end":6615,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"These trends point to possible shortcomings in planning, budgeting, project management, institutional capacity, procurement processes, and contract implementation. They also suggest that certain departments and entities may not be adequately prepared to execute approved projects within the required timelines. The ACDP therefore calls upon the executive to investigate the root causes of these recurring challenges, implement corrective measures urgently, strengthen project management capacity, and ensure greater accountability for departmental and entity performance."},{"start":6615,"end":6673,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The ACDP further recommends that the conditional grant performance be included in the consolidated variance report because that will assist us in understanding the material deviations and deficiencies, which must include remedial steps or corrective actions. Ultimately, the residents of Joburg deserve a municipality that plans effectively, spends responsibly, and delivers efficiently. Madam Speaker, before I sit down, in conclusion, allow me to congratulate Councillor Radebe because he deserves this position of the chair, Section 79 Finance. As the ACDP caucus, we say congratulation, and we speak order. We know that you are a person of integrity, and you will lead this committee thoroughly."},{"start":6673,"end":6674,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"14 seconds."},{"start":6674,"end":6689,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"God bless and protect Africa, especially the people of Sudan, that represents the largest and fastest displacement crisis in the world, the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded. Thank you, Madam Speaker."},{"start":6689,"end":6696,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Thank you, Councillor Mkhonza. Raadslid Boer, jy het ses minute."},{"start":6696,"end":6703,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Goeie môre, Mevrou die Speaker. Ja, ses minute klink soos Kersfees. Ek het nog nooit so baie tyd gehad nie. Baie dankie."},{"start":6703,"end":6733,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Good morning, Deputy Mayor, fellow councillors. And from the Freedom Front as well, we want to congratulate the newly elected Chairperson for Finance, Councillor Radebe, and we promise you we're going to make you work for your money for the next two months. You're not going to earn this money for free. But all the best for your appointment. Madam Speaker, I'm going to raise specifically on the May report, and I want to point out a few highlights as my previous colleague has already mentioned as well. I'm not going to repeat him,"},{"start":6733,"end":6777,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"but the bottom line is on the May MFMA report, the city's year-to-date deficit was 18.3 million, and there was a budgeted surplus of 1.2 billion. And the bottom line there is, if on the operational side we've got an 18.3 million deficit, there is absolutely no money available for capital expenditure, and we see that in the reports. The CapEx spending in April was 46%, in May it was standing at 52%. So for 11 months, we spent 52% of our CapEx, so we need to spend 48% in one month. That is absolutely not possible,"},{"start":6777,"end":6821,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"but there is no money to incur the CapEx spending. Even more concerning is the grant spending. We've received the grant funding, but we only spent 52% of that until the end of May. The money was received. It was used for other Peter to pay Paul, and this money needs to be paid back because we didn't spend it. That is a very big concern as well. There are a few highlights in this reports. The collection rate in May was 91.2%, and which is excellent, and I hope that the next months after that, it continue to be like that. Our billing was more than 100% of budget, so that was also very positive."},{"start":6821,"end":6868,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"But Madam Speaker, our debt impairment was standing at R10.1 billion for 11 months. The city's total salary bill is 21 billion, so 50% of our salary bill we write off as debt impairment. And I want to plead to the residents as well. If the city had only half of that 10 billion, we could have funded all our CapEx projects by ourselves, by our own cash flow. The residents must also take the responsibility to pay their bills so that the city can have money to spend on the capital expenditure. Madam Speaker, one very concerning figure out of this report is the status at Johannesburg Water."},{"start":6868,"end":6909,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"If you look on the report, their year-to-date revenue income was R1 billion below budget, but their bulk purchases was R392 million above budget. So we bought more water from Rand Water and we collected less money, which shows us only one thing. It's not throttling or all the reasons they're giving in the report. The reason is we are leaking water and there is illegal uses of water. And Johannesburg Water is a great concern at the moment where money is literally, physically running down the drain, and the city is losing big money because of that."},{"start":6909,"end":6940,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I'm going to close off. We need to turn this city around, and we can only do it if our residents are paying their bills and that we can have cash flow to spend on our CapEx expenditure and to get the city working again. And it seems to me our residents have to wait until after 1st of November, and hopefully we'll have a government in place that's got the political will to make the city a world-class city again. Thank you very much."},{"start":6940,"end":6944,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Dankie, Raadslid Boer. Kersfees is verby."},{"start":6944,"end":6950,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Santana."},{"start":6950,"end":6952,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"16 minutes."},{"start":6952,"end":6953,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Vader."},{"start":6953,"end":6956,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, you have 16 minutes."},{"start":6956,"end":7003,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on item one and two, the City of Johannesburg MFMA in-year financial report for the period ended 30th of April and the 31st of May 2026. Madam Speaker, let us call this what it is. It's another warning sign that the ANC-led coalition government is failing to get Johannesburg finances under control. The numbers are not political rhetoric. They come from the city's own reports. In April, Johannesburg had a year-to-date surplus of 752.5 million. One month later, that became a R18.3 million deficit against the budgeted surplus of 1.2 billion. That's a deterioration of approximately 1.2 billion in one month."},{"start":7003,"end":7052,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And yet, revenue was not the problem. The city collected 78.4 billion, which was above the budget. The problem was expenditure at 78.402 billion, 2.583 billion above the budget. So, when residents are told that Johannesburg's financial difficulties are simply because people are not paying their accounts, they deserve to know the full truth. In part, that is correct. People need to pay their accounts. But the city's own numbers show that the expenditure is running out of control. Madam Speaker, then we look at the cash. Cash and investments collapsed from 3.8 or 3.9 billion in March to 1.6 billion in April."},{"start":7052,"end":7098,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"At the same time, creditors increased by 3.5 billion in a single month, reaching R12.4 billion. That's not a balance sheet of a municipality that has finances under its control. And who pays the price? The residents and businesses of Johannesburg. Contractors who are not paid stop working. Maintenance is delayed. Infrastructure deteriorates, and eventually the city pays more because suppliers lose confidence in doing business with Johannesburg. The report itself records that previous non-payments have been made to some contractors and they're reluctant to undertake work for the city, more specifically within City Power."},{"start":7098,"end":7139,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, then we come to the capital expenditure. The governing coalition can announce billions of rands in infrastructure budgets, but a budget is meaningless if the city cannot spend it. By May, one month remaining in the financial year, only 52% of the 8.424 billion capital budget has been spent. Pikitup was sitting just at 16%, Joburg Water at 49. And while Pikitup failed to invest adequately in its fleet, it was forced to hire an ad hoc fleet at additional operational costs. This is the definition of financial mismanagement, failing to invest in assets while spending more to compensate for not having it."},{"start":7139,"end":7178,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, we also have the conditional grants sitting at only 50% of performance. National Treasury withheld 456 million in equitable share and 158 million in the USDG funding, and the city must also return 200 million in the PTNG funding and 22.4 million in the UDFG funding. While Johannesburg residents are crying out for better roads, water infrastructure, electricity and basic services, the administration is putting available funding at risk. That's not a funding crisis, that is an implementation crisis."},{"start":7178,"end":7200,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, how can we expect sound financial management when the very offices responsible for it have become a revolving door? During this political term alone, Johannesburg's had four different MMCs of Finances and now seven different Chairpersons of Finance Committee. You cannot build financial"},{"start":7200,"end":7213,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"stability on political instability and this is a constant turn and has undermined the continuity and accountability needed to manage the city's finance uh the city's finances in the Joburg scale."},{"start":7213,"end":7230,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, and then there's the issue that should concern every councillor in the chamber. We can't Can we trust the financial information being placed before the council? The reports contain material inconsistencies. We have conflict cash flow figures,"},{"start":7230,"end":7258,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"revenue variances described in the opposite direction to actual tables, an incorrect capital expenditure figure, a collection intervention figure in May that appears to simply repeat those reported in April, and these are not matters that we can simply wave away as administration errors. If council is expected to exercise oversight over billions of rands, then information before placed before council must be accurate."},{"start":7258,"end":7288,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You cannot have a council government without credible information. Madam Speaker, the Democratic Alliance has been warning this council about financial stability, weak revenue collection, poor capital expenditure, mounting creditors and deteriorating service delivery. These reports vindicate those warnings. The DA's position is straightforward: residents must pay for services where they can afford to pay, government must protect the vulnerable, but government itself must also live within its means."},{"start":7288,"end":7318,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We cannot demand financial discipline from residents while this administration allows expenditure to run billions over budget. We cannot tell residents that there's no money for infrastructure while billions in capital allocations remain unspent, and we certainly cannot expect residents to have confidence in the government when council receive reports containing material contradictions. Madam Speaker, this is why the DA will continue to demand financial discipline, transparent reporting, consequence management, improved revenue collection,"},{"start":7318,"end":7344,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"accelerated infrastructure delivery, and value for every rand spent. The people of Johannesburg do not need another exercise, they need competent government, they need functional services, they need clean and accountable administration, and they need a government that understands that public money is not government money, it belongs to the people. This government coalition has had enough time to blame the past. It's now time to take responsibility for the present."},{"start":7344,"end":7361,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Johannesburg deserves better than the financial decline disguised as political management. The Democratic Alliance will continue to hold this administration accountable, because every rand wasted is a rand taken away from service delivery. I thank you."},{"start":7361,"end":7377,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, uh Councillor Santana. We now call Councillor Nethamba. You have 4 minutes."},{"start":7377,"end":7404,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, Executive Deputy Mayor, councillors, guests in the gallery, residents watching of Johannesburg, I greet you all in the name of expropriation of land without compensation. The EFF has studied this report carefully. A financial report is not merely about numbers, it is about lives and dignity of our people."},{"start":7404,"end":7431,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Well, the city collected 1.8 billion more than the budgeted. Expenditure also exceeded the budget by 2.1 billion. More concerning is that only about 46% of the 8.4 billion capital budget had been spent by April, while the conditional grant spending stood at just 45%. We cannot celebrate money sitting in budgets while our people face potholes, unreliable water,"},{"start":7431,"end":7459,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"poor sanitation, inadequate housing, and failing infrastructure. The city is also under financial pressure, with a declined cash balance, overdrawn on entity, and approximately 75 billion in debts. This demands accountability, consequence management, and urgent intervention. Public money must serve the public. Every rand must improve the lives of working class"},{"start":7459,"end":7489,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and poor communities. The people of Johannesburg deserve service, not excuses. Before I conclude, I salute the 29 battalion of the Economic Freedom Fighters for their courage, discipline, and unwavering commitment to the economic freedom in our lifetime. I also warmly salute the incoming mayor of Johannesburg, Dr. Tlaleng, the pride of the EFF. We have confidence that your leadership will place the people of Johannesburg first"},{"start":7489,"end":7510,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and restore accountability, dignity, and service delivery in the city. The people deserve services, not excuses. They deserve accountability, not empty promises. The people of Johannesburg deserve Dr. Tlaleng. Viva Dr. Tlaleng, viva!"},{"start":7510,"end":7517,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can we have Can we have Councillor Zitha, your 4 minutes?"},{"start":7517,"end":7548,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Speaker. Greetings to you, greetings to the EFF leadership. Um the EFF rises today to make it clear that the reports before this council are not simply financial documents, they are a diagnosis of the city that is seriously ill. And Speaker, looking at those reports, perhaps it's time that we call Dr. Tlaleng to come to Johannesburg and assist us, because she has already started diagnosing some of the problems in the society, and clearly this city also need a doctor."},{"start":7548,"end":7577,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"But unlike the patient she normally deals with, the City of Johannesburg's uh biggest problem is not the lack of resources, it's mismanagement, poor planning, weak accountability, and failure to turn budgets into actual service delivery. Speaker, the city's adjusted capital budget stood at 8.4 billion, yet by 31 March 2026, only 3.4 billion, that equals to 41%, had been spent."},{"start":7577,"end":7606,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Some departments perform even worse. Community Development spent only 17%, Health 22%, Transportation 24%, while Economic Development and Social Development had recorded zero capital expenditure. So we must ask, Speaker, how can this council tell residents that there's no money for service delivery when money that has already been budgeted is not being spent? People are sitting without water. People are experiencing"},{"start":7606,"end":7635,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"electricity failures. Our roads are deteriorating. Infrastructure is collapsing, yet billions allocated for capital projects uh projects remain unspent. This is not a money problem, this is execution problems. Speaker, the city's financial position is even more concerning. The National Treasury has identified a 2.1 billion unfunded budget gap, while several performance reform commitments"},{"start":7635,"end":7665,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"have been flagged amber or red. Moody's has also placed the city's Ba3 rating under the review of possible downgrade. These are serious warnings, Speaker. But instead of dealing decisively with the fundamentals, the city continue producing strategies, frameworks, and turnaround plans. Speaker, the City Power is losing 30% of its electricity, uh representing around 5.7 billion in an annual lost revenue value."},{"start":7665,"end":7693,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Johannesburg Water is losing 44.79% of its water while facing an infrastructure backlog of 26.6 billion. This means almost half of the water produced is not generating revenue. And then we expect ordinary residents to carry the burden. The city This city's own report Sorry, the city's own report further acknowledges that the Johannesburg Water requires"},{"start":7693,"end":7721,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"2.9 billion annually to maintain its infrastructure, while 2026-2027 allocation is only 1.9 billion, leaving the shortfall of 940 million. Speaker, we are not dealing with the crisis that started yesterday. We are dealing with the years of poor planning, poor maintenance, failure to invest properly in infrastructure. And then the city has recorded"},{"start":7721,"end":7722,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"40 seconds, Councillor Zitha."},{"start":7722,"end":7751,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"direct purchases of 6 billion in one of the quarter and 8.5 billion year to end. At the same time, more than 26 million worth of stock has been marked for deletion and referred for forensic investigation. Speaker, we call the residents of the City of Johannesburg to come and vote on the 4th, to vote for Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng. She must come to Johannesburg, take the city's financial temperature, check the city's pulse, and give"},{"start":7751,"end":7757,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the right diagnosis, because right now the patient is not just sick, the patient is hemorrhaging money."},{"start":7757,"end":7771,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Your time is up. Councillor Modupi, ANC."},{"start":7771,"end":9000,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Honourable Speaker, comrades, colleagues, and residents of the City of Johannesburg, allow me to say protocol observed. I rise in support and noting of the April and May Section 71 reports. Let us allow the numbers to speak, because the numbers tell us that the ANC-led"},{"start":7830,"end":7861,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The city's revenue base is performing above expectation. But comrades, revenue collection is not about collecting money for the sake of collecting money. Revenue is the bloodstream of service delivery. And the May monthly collection rate reached 91.2%, with year-to-date collection of approximately 85%."},{"start":7861,"end":7890,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Now, let us look at what happened to that money. Capital expenditure increased from approximately 3.8 billion in April to 4.4 billion in May, an increase of approximately 566 million in one month. Capital execution improved from approximately 47 to 52%."},{"start":7890,"end":7920,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"That means money is being converted from a budget into an actual infrastructure and municipal assets. And the financial position strengthened further. Cash and investments increased by approximately 402 million rand from about 1.6 billion rand in April to approximately 2 billion rand in May. The sinking fund also reached approximately 2 billion"},{"start":7920,"end":7950,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"rand. These are important indicators of financial strengthening, Madam Speaker. Colleagues in council, we must acknowledge the challenges. The May report recorded an operating deficit of approximately 18.3 million rand compared with an April surplus of approximately 752 million rand, as Councillor Santana has raised. We do acknowledge"},{"start":7950,"end":7980,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that, and we say we must address that. But we must not take one negative indicator and pretend that it cancels the entire financial picture. The same reports show that 1.4 billion above revenue budget, 91.2% monthly collection, 4.4 billion rand in capital expenditure, 52% capital execution, 402 million"},{"start":7980,"end":8012,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"rand improvement in cash and investment, 2 billion in the sinking fund. And beyond the reporting period, the city and City Power subsequently settled the historic 5.25 billion rand Eskom debt in full! Councillors, let us click it. Let us click it. That is a progress."},{"start":8012,"end":8040,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"That is not a city that has surrendered. That is the city fighting its way back. The opposition wants us to believe the financial recovery is simply about just squeezing residents. No. The ANC understand that financial discipline and social responsibility must go together. We must collect what is legitimately due, but we must also protect vulnerable households, invest in infrastructure,"},{"start":8040,"end":8071,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and ensure that every rand collected ultimately contributes to a better city. Because Johannesburg is not a private debt collection agency, it is a municipality. So, Honourable Speaker, these two Section 71 reports demonstrate a positive trajectory. Revenue is strengthening, collection is strengthening, capital expenditure is increasing, liquidity is improving, reserves are strengthening,"},{"start":8071,"end":8101,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and the city is dealing decisively with its historical obligations. We are not claiming that Johannesburg has no problems. We are saying something more important: we have problems, but we have the financial capacity, political will, and institutional machinery to confront them. You know, during the terms of offices of both uh Mashaba and Mpho Phalatse,"},{"start":8101,"end":8134,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"they squeezed the poor. They starved the poor in order to balance the books. They broke the machine, and after breaking the machine, they blamed the tools. It is us now, we are repairing the machine, strengthening the finances, and putting Johannesburg back on the road to recovery. That is why we even managed to pay that 5.25 billion rand to Eskom."},{"start":8134,"end":8162,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I therefore support both the April and May Section 71 reports. The numbers show progress. Our responsibility now is to accelerate it. And as African National Congress, we will continue to demonstrate capacity that amongst ourselves we have people with capacity, such as the current Mayor of the City of Johannesburg,"},{"start":8162,"end":8193,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"as he has demonstrated, working together with the Deputy Executive Mayor, Mme Loyiso Masuku. And we are saying to the residents of Johannesburg, come 4 May, don't make a mistake of bringing us into coalition governments. You have seen that political parties, they are trading positions, uh they are trading positions because they want to sift the city out of uh its resources. We are saying vote African National Congress."},{"start":8193,"end":8221,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We saw when we clean the inner city, today some of the streets of the inner city you can walk freely without being hindered by the hawkers or whatever. You saw when we worked at Marble Towers, there are many examples that we can make. African National Congress will continue working very hard with the experience that it has accumulated over the years. Thank you very much."},{"start":8221,"end":8230,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, thank you, Councillor Modupi. Deputy Executive Mayor, MMC of Finance, Councillor Masuku."},{"start":8230,"end":8252,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Speaker. Um and I want to acknowledge all the councillors and congratulate Councillor Radebe for being"},{"start":8252,"end":8281,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"actually on Councillor Boer and uh Councillor Santana. Of course, the issue of the capital expenditure is a problem and we've said to management that they do need to accelerate um the project implementation and also address the procurement um project readiness and the ability to implement, because we can't just be raising issues of constraints. Somebody is employed to do the job, they must do the job."},{"start":8281,"end":8310,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And um we are sitting on their necks. There is a team that sits uh the war room uh in the office of the COO, so we're following up on that on a weekly basis so that we move um on that. It is also a concern for us and we take that from from councillors. Um just a correction, Speaker, uh Councillor Zitha, uh Moody's actually in July did put Joburg"},{"start":8310,"end":8341,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"at a positive, so um regarding that, we're actually doing very well. Yes, we're going to have to strengthen the cash flow and uh resolve the the the conditional grant issues. We are working very hard to deal with the issue of um uh the concern as it relates to the the the grants themselves, and Councillor Mkhonza, we take note of your point and as I've indicated the uh the interventions."},{"start":8341,"end":8373,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Um we are concerned, of course, about the entities um and uh Joburg Water. We The MD and his team, um we are We have also a We had a session with them um as the shareholder, where there is an accountability framework so that we're able to deal with uh the concerns and, of course, the persistent overdrafts that can place additional pressure on the city's uh consolidated liquidity"},{"start":8373,"end":8401,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and therefore require a targeted financial management interventions. Um so, you know, we bring the Section 71 reports to council precisely because we are accountable. Um we wouldn't want to not bring them and pretend as if, as a government, we are not uh being accountable, so that councillors are aware of where we are. We are open to further engagements and I'm happy that we do have a chairperson now for Section 79,"},{"start":8401,"end":8420,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and we'll be able to sit in the committee and we take the constructive uh feedback that comes to councillors and the wisdom of uh the committee of the Section um 79. We ask council to note, because these are actually um April and May reports, um which um were long overdue. Thank you, Speaker."},{"start":8420,"end":8445,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, uh Chair, ag, MMC of uh the Finance, who's the Deputy Executive Mayor. Colleagues, these reports are for noting, both of them. Do we note them? Thank you so much. STC, next item."},{"start":8445,"end":8462,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Now, sorry. We now proceed to item 3, and that is the adoption of the Code for Ethical Leadership in Local Government in the City of Johannesburg."},{"start":8462,"end":8481,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Wissler, can you switch off your mic? Your mic is on. Item 3. Okay, uh Councillor Mkhonza."},{"start":8481,"end":8511,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, shalom, shalom once again, Madam Speaker. Um allow me once again to quote from my guiding manual, the Holy Bible, from the Book of Exodus 18, verse 21. It reads as follows: \"But you should also choose some of the people to be judges and leaders. Choose good men you can trust, men who respect God. Choose men who will not change their decision for money.\" Close quote. Madam Speaker, allow me to also quote"},{"start":8511,"end":8542,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"from the manifesto of the ACDP. It reads as follows: \"Real change starts with me and you. We all want a service-driven local government that is accountable and works, and we want to live in communities that are safe and well-maintained, communities that can attract investment, flourish, and grow.\" Close quote. Ethical leadership is a moral choice made by each individual leadership, as pointed out in 1.2"},{"start":8542,"end":8573,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"of this code. The ACDP fully supports the new Code of Ethical Leadership for Local Government, stating that it should have been introduced much sooner. The code relies heavily on the Local Government Anti-Corruption Strategy to support honest leadership and safe communities. It matches the ACDP's community safety manifesto by pushing for honest police work and clean government. While we appreciate the effort to involve city employees,"},{"start":8573,"end":8603,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"also noting point 11 of the Honourable Minister of COGTA's letter committing to train municipalities through provincial COGTAs and SALGA, however, the implementation schedule has not been shared as yet. In conclusion, the ACDP fully agrees with one of the purposes, which asserts that this initiative is driven by the belief that ethical leadership is a prerequisite for successful developmental local government as outlined"},{"start":8603,"end":8614,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"in the Constitution. God bless Africa, especially the people of Sudan, which represents the largest and fastest displacement crisis in the world,"},{"start":8614,"end":8615,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"50 seconds."},{"start":8615,"end":8636,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded. Over 12 million people are displaced. We continue to pray for the shalom peace of Jerusalem, the people in Gaza and the surrounding areas, the resident people of Israel, and we declare Jeremiah 1:19, \"They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail, for the Lord is with you.\" Shalom, shalom."},{"start":8636,"end":8638,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor Mkhonza."},{"start":8638,"end":8643,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Raadslid Boer, item 3."},{"start":8643,"end":8647,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, no, no, sorry, uh Councillor Mhlongo."},{"start":8647,"end":8650,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Jammer, Boer."},{"start":8650,"end":8680,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I rise on the protocol that has been presented in this house, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, uh on behalf of the African Independent Congress, Madam Speaker, we note and adopt this report, Madam Speaker. It reminds the African Independent Congress, Madam Speaker, about ethical leadership that are like yourself, Madam Speaker. That is why the party, Madam Speaker,"},{"start":8680,"end":8711,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the AIC, has uh chosen you to be the mayoral candidate of the AIC in the City of Johannesburg. I hope all these I hope all these uh councillors that are sitting in this august house, Madam Speaker, on the 4th of November they gonna put their cross next to your name, because you have seen them how good in leadership you are. You are so ethical, you are so fair,"},{"start":8711,"end":8719,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and they must vote for African Independent Congress. As I'm sitting down, thank you so much, Madam Speaker."},{"start":8719,"end":8729,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mhlongo, thank you. Councillor Zigebe from the UDM, National Chairperson."},{"start":8729,"end":8760,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Um thank you very much, Madam Speaker. All protocol observed. Congratulations, Councillor Radebe, a well-deserved appointment. The City of Johannesburg is not running short of policies, codes, strategies, or legislative frameworks. This code adds to an already existing um body of governance instruments intended to guide our conduct. Our responsibility, therefore, is not simply to adopt another document, but to give practical meaning to the principles it contains. This code must not lie fallow"},{"start":8760,"end":8790,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"uh somewhere in the city's archives gathering dust while unethical conduct continues unchecked. It must become a living instrument that shapes how we govern, appoint, procure, how we exercise oversight, and how we account to the people of Johannesburg. The United Democratic Movement supports the adoption of this code because ethical leadership is the foundation of credible government. Leadership is not merely the authority of uh to make decisions; rather, it is the responsibility to make those decisions honestly, fairly,"},{"start":8790,"end":8820,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and in the best interest of the public. We welcome the code's emphasis on community-centered governance. Every policy we adopt, appoint, um how we make, and every rand uh we spend must ultimately serve all the residents of Johannesburg, including those who did not vote for us. We also welcome its insistence on competence and integrity in appointments, stability with the administration, and the respect for the separation of powers between political leadership and administrative responsibility."},{"start":8820,"end":8850,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Political leaders must provide direction, but professional officials must be allowed to perform their duties without improper political or factional interference. Madam Speaker, in a coalition government, ethical leadership also requires maturity. Our political differences must never prevent us from acting in the long-term interest of the city. We must be able to disagree respectfully while remaining united in our duty to serve. However, adoption without implementation is merely symbolism."},{"start":8850,"end":8859,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Training sessions and roadshows must lead to measurable institutional change. Council must receive regular reports on implementation, including how the code is influencing appointments,"},{"start":8859,"end":8860,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"50 seconds, Councillor."},{"start":8860,"end":8883,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"consequence management, conflicts of interest, audit findings, and performances. The people of Johannesburg will not measure ethical leadership by the number of documents we adopt, they will measure it through responsible expenditure, accountable leadership, and reliable services. Let this code move from paper to practice, from commitment to conduct, and from principle to action. Joburg can work, let's get to work. Thank you, Speaker."},{"start":8883,"end":8891,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Zigebe. Councillor Wax, DA."},{"start":8891,"end":8915,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, colleagues and guests, all protocol observed. Nothing demonstrates the brokenness of ethical leadership in the city more than this report. For seven years they struggled from initial collaboration through summits on anti-corruption and ethical leadership to the final development"},{"start":8915,"end":8917,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Please speak into the mic, Councillor Wax."},{"start":8917,"end":8950,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"To the final Thank you, Ma'am. To the final development of a Code of Ethical Leadership, supposedly grounded in good governance and to be institutionalized across various structures in the city. Let us not pretend today is normal. We are sitting in the last meeting of this political term, staring at a city dragged to the edge financially, institutionally, and morally, and only now at the 11th hour we are asked to adopt a Code of Ethical Leadership."},{"start":8950,"end":8980,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, the timing is is not just ironic, it is damning, because of ethical leadership If ethical leadership had been present in in this term, even in small measure, Johannesburg could not be in the perilous condition we see today. Johannesburg did not wake up one morning with collapsing infrastructure. It did not accidentally lose billions to irregular, wasteful, and unauthorized expenditure."},{"start":8980,"end":9000,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Johannesburg did not mysteriously fall into financial distress. Johannesburg also did not simply struggle to deliver water, electricity, sanitation, and safety. No, Madam Speaker, Johannesburg was broken by leadership choices—repeated, deliberate, reckless choices."},{"start":9000,"end":9000,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"administration is making measurable progress in stabilizing the city's finances while continuing to invest in infrastructure. Madam Speaker, in April, the city was approximately 1.8 billion above its year-to-date revenue budget. By May, we remained approximately 1.4 billion above budget. That is important."},{"start":9000,"end":9025,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"made by those entrusted with power. Speaker, the chronic absence of ethical leadership has bankrupted confidence in the city's finances, destroyed infrastructure that residents depend on for survival. It collapsed basic services to the point where outages are not a crisis. They are routine. And impoverished communities leaving"},{"start":9025,"end":9050,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"families unable to fend for themselves in what should be the economic engine of South Africa. It also eroded public trust so severely that residents no longer believe that this institution can protect them. This is not misfortune, Madam Speaker. This is a serious governance crisis. Speaker, let us speak plainly. During this political term, the following was normalized."},{"start":9050,"end":9077,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Governance by political deals instead of public interest, appointments based on factional loyalty instead of competence, procurement driven by connections instead of value, oversight that is performative instead of protective, and consequence management that is promised, but never, never delivered. Excuse me. And now, at the end of the term, Madam Speaker, we are presented with a code"},{"start":9077,"end":9104,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"for ethical leadership, as if ethics is a discovery, as if integrity is a fresh idea, and as if accountability is a fashionable accessory for the final meeting. Speaker, this is little effort coming far too late. The residents of the city deserves ethical leadership, and they deserved it right from the beginning of the term. And it started out very promising, and it needed to have gone right throughout the term"},{"start":9104,"end":9127,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and not now in its closing moments. The irony we cannot ignore is that we are asked to adopt a code that speaks of integrity, transparency, accountability, and service to the people. Speaker, the irony is not subtle. I must say that it is loud, it is glaring,"},{"start":9127,"end":9154,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"it is the lived experience of millions of residents. And yet, Speaker, despite the irony, despite the lateness, despite the failures that define this term, I will say this. If this code is implemented with seriousness, not as political theater, not as a PR exercise, not as a symbolic gesture, then it can be a step in the right direction. But let us be clear. A code does not make leaders ethical."},{"start":9154,"end":9177,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Ethical leaders make a code meaningful. To the residents of this once great city, I want to say, Johannesburg cannot survive another term of ethical neglect. It cannot survive another term of governance driven by political convenience instead of constitutional duty. It cannot survive another term where residents pay the price for leadership failures."},{"start":9177,"end":9204,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Please do not gamble with your own future and that of your children and your grandchildren. Come November 4th, please vote wisely. Vote wisely. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, we will support this code cautiously, critically, and with full awareness that its adoption today does not erase the damage of the past, and neither does it guarantee a successful future."},{"start":9204,"end":9232,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"But perhaps if this Council chooses to learn from its failures rather than repeat them, this moment can mark the beginning of something better, a city built rebuilt not on slogans, not on coalitions of convenience, not on political theater, but on ethical leadership that is lived, practiced, and enforced. Johannesburg, Madam Speaker, deserves nothing less. I thank you."},{"start":9232,"end":10800,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Wax. Councillor T. Nkomo, ActionSA."},{"start":9264,"end":9288,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"just as our President Herman Mashaba restored public confidence in this city during his tenure as a mayor. The report before us seeks to institutionalise the code within the city's governance structures, policies, and procedures. But ActionSA wants to make one thing absolutely clear. Adoption cannot be the end of the process. It must be the beginning."},{"start":9288,"end":9313,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The city has no shortage of policies, frameworks, strategies. What residents want to know is whether those policies are actually implemented and whether there are consequences when they are not. The report itself recognizes that ethical leadership is ultimately a choice made by individual leaders. Therefore, our question is simple. What happens when that choice is the wrong one?"},{"start":9313,"end":9338,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"What are the consequences for an official or political office bearer who breaches the principles of this code? How will Council measure compliance? Who will monitor implementation? And when will Council receive reports demonstrating whether the initiative is actually improving ethical conduct? We note that the city has already undertaken training and intends to extend it to municipal staff"},{"start":9338,"end":9359,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and elected officials. But training alone does not create ethical government. Accountability does. Monitoring does. Consequence management does. ActionSA, therefore, supports this item, but we will hold the administration accountable for ensuring that the code does not become another tick box tick box exercise."},{"start":9359,"end":9382,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Johannesburg residents deserve leadership that is ethical, not only in policy documents, but ethical in practice. And they will get such leadership after ActionSA governs this city after the 4th of November. They deserve transparency in decision-making, accountability for public resources, and consequences for misconduct. So our position is clear."},{"start":9382,"end":9406,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Adopt the code, implement the code, monitor the code, and enforce the code without fear or favor. ActionSA supports ethical leadership, but we will continue to demand that ethical leadership produces better governance, accountability, and ultimately, better service delivery for the people of Johannesburg. I thank you, Speaker."},{"start":9406,"end":10800,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor. Can we have Councillor Radebe from the EFF? Are you here, Councillor? I'm worried about the clock."},{"start":9458,"end":9481,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The question is not whether we need ethics. The question is whether adopting this document will change how the residents in Soweto, Alexandra and Orange Farm experience the city. Residents do not distrust us because we lack policies. They distrust us because of service delivery failures, appointments, and procurement."},{"start":9481,"end":9506,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"A public commitment to integrity, transparency, and accountability is a first step to rebuilding that social contract. But the report says financial implications are not applicable, and policy implications are not applicable, while recommending that the code be institutionalized through governance structures, policies, training, and road shows. Speaker,"},{"start":9506,"end":9532,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"how do we institutionalize a code with no resources and no policy review? Training, monitoring, and implementation all cost money. The EFF 2026 Local Government Elections Manifesto says, \"Municipalities must be capable, developmental, and people-centered with professionalism administration based on competence and ethical leadership.\""},{"start":9532,"end":9559,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It also demands transparent procurement and strict consequence consequences for corruption. That is the political standard against which this code must be judged. Speaker, a code without consequence is just a poster. What happens when a leader violates it? The report does not clearly link the code to disciplinary processes, performance management, or the existing code of conduct. Yet, the code itself says ethical leaders must deal"},{"start":9559,"end":9584,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"decisively with ethics transgressions, conflicts of interest, poor performance, and audit findings. If there is no sanction, communities will see this is another launch and another summit. Training is useful, but training alone is not transformation. Ethical failures in local government are rarely caused only by lack of knowledge. They are driven by pressure, political interference, patronage, appointments, and procurement."},{"start":9584,"end":9609,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Communities in Ward 10, Ward 33, and across Johannesburg will not measure ethics by workshops. They will ask, \"Was the tender awarded fairly? Was the job given on merit? Is my councillor accessible?\" Unless the code produce produces visible action, declarations of interest, enforced, procurement made transparent and consequences applied, it will not rebuild trust. We must acknowledge"},{"start":9609,"end":9625,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that the joint circular asked municipalities to respond within 60 days and, more importantly, to institutionalize institutionalize the code. We are late, Speaker. Adoption now must therefore be accompanied by"},{"start":9625,"end":9626,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Nkomo."},{"start":9626,"end":9626,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"implementation."},{"start":9626,"end":9652,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We are fine Sorry, Councillor Radebe. Councillor Nkomo from the from ActionSA and your councillor next to you, you are fined 1,000 rand each, payable tomorrow. You are taking videos here. Marcel, Councillor Coutriers, 1,000 rand each. They are taking videos. We are fining No. No. I can see."},{"start":9652,"end":9661,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, Councillor. No. Thank you, Councillor Radebe. 1,000 rand each of you. Councillor Radebe, thank you."},{"start":9661,"end":9663,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You said tomorrow, is it closed?"},{"start":9663,"end":9666,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes."},{"start":9666,"end":9668,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker."},{"start":9668,"end":9670,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, we propose that ethics and"},{"start":9670,"end":9672,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You've got 50 seconds left. We stopped the"},{"start":9672,"end":9673,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No. No."},{"start":9673,"end":9675,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, no, no, no, no."},{"start":9675,"end":9676,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You stopped the clock."},{"start":9676,"end":9699,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We propose that ethics and consequence management be linked. Audit and Risk, MPAC, and disciplinary structures must report quarterly on ethical breaches, irregular expenditure and conduct cases. Senior managers' performance agreements must include an ethics and good governance KPI. The code must be distributed to councillors and senior management and published, and practical implementation must remain a standing governance item for the next 12 months."},{"start":9699,"end":9722,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The EFF councillor declaration itself commits councillors to honesty, integrity, rejecting corruption, and staying out of municipal tenders and corrupt employment processes. Speaker, if we adopt this case with real monitoring and consequence management, it can become our shield against corruption and maladministration. Without implementation, it becomes just another document on a shelf. I thank you."},{"start":9722,"end":9725,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor Radebe."},{"start":9725,"end":9727,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I don't know if I missed that we are not allowed to."},{"start":9727,"end":9730,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Molefe, ANC."},{"start":9730,"end":9740,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It makes sense."},{"start":9740,"end":9743,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"There should be confidentiality here."},{"start":9743,"end":9754,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, because there is another one whom [inaudible]."},{"start":9754,"end":9758,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"Go fitlha le lona batla le ka 12:00."},{"start":9758,"end":9763,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"Le kwala la podium."},{"start":9763,"end":9784,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Speaker. Honourable Speaker Margaret Arnolds, Executive Mayor in his absentia, Councillor Sello Dada Morero, Deputy Executive Mayor Councillor Loyiso Lugayeni-Masuku, Chief Whip of Council, Lamo Chauke, Chair of Chairs,"},{"start":9784,"end":9786,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"Ntate"},{"start":9786,"end":9803,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the son of the hunter, members of the Mayoral Committee, fellow councillors, distinguished guests in the gallery, and most importantly, the residents of the City of Johannesburg. Speaker, allow me before I rise to the item in question to congratulate"},{"start":9803,"end":9807,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"uMakhulukhulu uBhungane uRadebe."},{"start":9807,"end":9809,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"This is the greatest birthday gift"},{"start":9809,"end":9810,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"mfowethu"},{"start":9810,"end":9814,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"you can get. We congratulate you on your new assumption on this position"},{"start":9814,"end":9815,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"ye-finance."},{"start":9815,"end":9820,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We hope that the fiscus of the city will be better in good hands"},{"start":9820,"end":9824,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"afana nawe, siyakubongela mfowethu. Siyakubongela mntakababa."},{"start":9824,"end":9847,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, I rise today to speak on Item 3, which calls upon this Council to approve the adoption of the Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative Code by the City of Johannesburg. Before I address the item before us, Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the capable Executive Mayor"},{"start":9847,"end":9850,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"Ntate Sello Dada Morero"},{"start":9850,"end":9875,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and his Mayoral Committee, and in particular, the MMC responsible for Finance, for the significant milestone recently achieved in relation to the settlement of the city's Eskom debt valued at 5.25 billion. These achievements remind us that collective efforts breed greater results. The strides being made are clear indications of improving governance and demonstrate that"},{"start":9875,"end":9890,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"despite the many challenges we have faced throughout successive financial years, we are steadily working towards restoring the City of Gold to its former glory. Executive Mayor and members of the Mayoral Committee, you can rest assured"},{"start":9890,"end":9905,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor, please take your seat. We're stopping the clock. You have seven 7 minutes and 55 seconds. Councillor Christians."},{"start":9905,"end":9931,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, the first time somebody I rise on a point of order. The first time one of the speakers mentioned the Eskom debt, he did not say it was settled in full. But now it's been mentioned it's settled in full, and it's not. That is misleading this House. Can the councillor please retract that? Thank you."},{"start":9931,"end":9939,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Oh, we will ask we will find out what it is. Let him carry on with his speech. Councillor, can you carry on with"},{"start":9939,"end":9951,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, this is a continuous trend by Councillor Christians that whenever people are speaking on the podium, he'll come with his frivolous point of order. He must stop this this behavior of his."},{"start":9951,"end":9952,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Please carry on with your"},{"start":9952,"end":9975,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, he must stop it. I must tell him. He's out of order to wear that blue T-shirt that he's wearing at the current moment. And you didn't rule on that, Speaker. You didn't rule on that, whether they should remove, because according to the code that you've read to us or according to the orders of Council, they are supposed to be wearing formal. But you left that. You didn't rule on that. He must stop doing what he's doing."},{"start":9975,"end":10003,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor, my ruling was My ruling was that there is no insignia, there is nothing of DA on it, and that was my ruling, and that was according to what I read, Councillor. So I did rule on it. And if I have to remove people that are not dressed formal, half of the chamber would be outside."},{"start":10003,"end":10019,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And, Councillor, you have 7 minutes and 55 seconds, so can you please continue? Leave Councillor Christians to me. You continue. You continue."},{"start":10019,"end":10020,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, thank"},{"start":10020,"end":10030,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, I'm not taking a point of order on a point of order. If it is about the aircon, they are working on it. Thank you."},{"start":10030,"end":10056,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Thank you very much, Speaker. Executive Mayor and members of the Mayoral Committee, you can rest assured that many residents who live, work, and pursue economic opportunities in this great city are beginning to see the efforts being made to stabilize the City of Johannesburg, keep the city clean, and ensure effective enforcement of our bylaws by the relevant law enforcement agencies."},{"start":10056,"end":10082,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"This is precisely the kind of leadership and service delivery that residents of Soweto, Ivory Park, Alexandra, and other townships are expecting from the leadership of this city. Honourable Speaker, the adoption of the Local Ethical Leadership Initiative Code is, therefore, both timely and necessary. The code is expected to serve as a guiding framework for local government leaders as we navigate"},{"start":10082,"end":10107,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"complex ethical challenges while ensuring that the interest and needs of our communities remain at the center of every decision we make. As the African National Congress, we believe that leadership is a revolutionary responsibility, not an entitlement. Those entrusted with public office must lead with integrity, accountability, humility, and an unwavering commitment"},{"start":10107,"end":10132,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"to the people of this city. For this reason, we wholeheartedly support the adoption of this code. In closing, Madam Speaker, we have seen growing public engagement in the electoral process, and that is reflected in the recent voter registration activities. This is an important reminder that the people of Johannesburg remain deeply invested in the future of their city."},{"start":10132,"end":10157,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"As we approach the elections on the 4th of November 2026, we are hard at work engaging communities and doing all ground work to renew the mandate of the African National Congress to our people. Our manifesto, as it was said by the Comrade President on the 23rd of August, whereby there's a six-point plan that clearly outlines what we seek to achieve on behalf of the residents of the City of Johannesburg."},{"start":10157,"end":10178,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"To the residents of the city, to the residents of Ward 30 and the greater City of Johannesburg, we say let us continue building better communities together, safer and more prosperous Johannesburg as we approach the 4th of November. Let us go all out in numbers and vote the African National Congress. I thank you."},{"start":10178,"end":10203,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor. Councillor Rakosa, Councillor Rakosa, can you switch off your mic? You are sitting at the back there. Switch off your mic."},{"start":10203,"end":10215,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We'll have to get a fine for mics that are on. MMC Masuku, Deputy Executive Mayor."},{"start":10215,"end":10248,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Speaker, and the comments by fellow councillors. Speaker, the Ethical Leadership Framework, indeed, is aimed to strengthen at strengthening the integrity and transparency and accountability, and of course, to build public trust. And of course, we agree that it has to be measurable by the implementation, and of course, monitoring to make sure that we are doing what we are supposed to do, and the compliance, and institutionalise the code."},{"start":10248,"end":10274,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, Councillor Wax is correct. The city was broken by leadership. And the leadership that broke the city was the leadership of Mashaba of the DA, and Phalatse of the DA, and Mashaba of the ActionSA. Councillor Wax, through you, Speaker, speaks to this Council and makes assertions about bringing things late."},{"start":10274,"end":10302,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The fact that you were in leadership and you never brought this code is an indication of your not willing to actually have ethical leadership. You were in power with two consecutive mayors, and you failed. The ANC-led government of local unity is bringing this report precisely because we subscribe to these principles."},{"start":10302,"end":10330,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Consequence management is not something that we just speak about. The Democratic Alliance, Madam Speaker, supported reports that we brought to Council. We brought reports of financial misconduct. 12 were in committee. We brought six reports where we have preliminary outcomes. That is consequence management delivered, not promised."},{"start":10330,"end":10347,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The Democratic Alliance government, Madam Speaker, never wanted the disciplinary board. They actually collapsed it and brought an illegal process of advertising the financial outside National Treasury."},{"start":10347,"end":10349,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC, just hold on."},{"start":10349,"end":10350,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Point of order, Madam Speaker."},{"start":10350,"end":10365,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Belinda, I didn't call you yet. I asked her to sit down. I asked the MMC to sit down. Councillor Belinda, you are acknowledged."},{"start":10365,"end":10388,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I'm asking you today to please not be biased against the DA. That's my first request. Rule 72, the Deputy Mayor must not mislead the House. The DA did not dissolve the disciplinary board. We actually brought a financial misconduct board when Dr. Phalatse was in government."},{"start":10388,"end":10396,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"When I When I listened to the MMC, she was about to give that line. MMC, can you carry on?"},{"start":10396,"end":10421,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Aha. Aha. Aha, Speaker. Councillor Echeozonjoku is very correct. The DA brought an illegal process that is outside National Treasury. That process was against what National Treasury actually advocates for"},{"start":10421,"end":10448,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"outside the circular that was given as a guidance in terms of how to set up the Financial Misconduct Disciplinary Board. It is on record. That is why the ANC-led government of local unity, when we came back into power, we brought the reports back to Council to formulate the disciplinary board according to government regulations."},{"start":10448,"end":10474,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So it was important to make that correction, Madam Speaker, that we are the people who brought the renewal agenda to this Council. The ANC-led government of local unity is bringing back public confidence by bringing this code of ethical leaderships. Madam Speaker, I want to clarify something. Councillors are accountable to the Ethics Committee, and none of us are absolved from that."},{"start":10474,"end":10499,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And we all have a responsibility to take ourselves and even volunteer to go to the Ethics Committee if, in an event, you are accused of any misconduct. Madam Speaker, before I want I sit down, I would like to read I would like to read the press statement, the media statement issued by Eskom on Friday, 21 August. \"Eskom has today received the final payment from the City of Johannesburg,"},{"start":10499,"end":10509,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"City Power to settle, in full, the accumulated overdue debt of 5.255 billion.\""},{"start":10509,"end":10512,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Christians, are you listening? Christians."},{"start":10512,"end":10523,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"\"Due to the entity settling the accumulated overdue account and debt in full.\" In full. In full."},{"start":10523,"end":10524,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Christians."},{"start":10524,"end":10538,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"\"Eskom Eskom has withdrawn the PAJA process.\" On record in Council, this is a media statement from Eskom. Viva ANC-led government of local unity, viva."},{"start":10538,"end":10540,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Viva."},{"start":10540,"end":10541,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, MMC."},{"start":10541,"end":10544,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"For the record, overdue."},{"start":10544,"end":10558,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, colleagues, can we carry on with the process of Council? The recommendations are on pages 3.4. Is the item agreed to?"},{"start":10558,"end":10561,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed."},{"start":10561,"end":10582,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. STC, next item."},{"start":10582,"end":10591,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillors, we are now on Item 4, and that is the tabling of the Public Participation Outcomes Report for the 2026/2027 for approval and noting."},{"start":10591,"end":10601,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, colleagues. Can I have Councillor Mkhonza?"},{"start":10601,"end":10631,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes. Shalom, shalom once again, Madam Speaker. On a lighter note, the other illegal structure that was brought in here was the Bomb Squad. Madam Speaker, I stand to speak on Item 4, Tabling of the Public Participation Outcomes Report for 2026/27 for the approval and noting. Let me quote from Jeremiah 29:7. It reads as follows. \"Also do good things"},{"start":10631,"end":10646,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mkhonza, just hold on. We can't hear Councillor Mkhonza. Can you speak into the mic, and can we ask others to just speak slightly softer? You are next to each other. Thank you, Councillor Mkhonza."},{"start":10646,"end":10653,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yeah. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Madam Speaker. Ethical leadership includes"},{"start":10653,"end":10654,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Your time is running, neh?"},{"start":10654,"end":10686,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I know. I know you will cut it anyway. Madam Speaker, allow me to quote from Jeremiah 29:7. It reads as follows. \"Also do good things for the city that I sent to you. Pray for the Lord for the city that you're living in, because if there is peace in that city, you'll also have peace.\" Madam Speaker, one of the principles of public participation is strengthening the legitimacy and responsiveness of municipal decision-making."},{"start":10686,"end":10712,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We acknowledge the structured Community-Based Planning, CBP, and the Integrated Development Plan Regional Summits, IDP Regional Summits, which is consistent with the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, especially Section 7, 16, 17, 29, and 34. The ACDP notes and supports the report. However, all, myself included, need to do better"},{"start":10712,"end":10741,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"in to attend and support these structured and important participatory sessions. Community engagement stands at a minimal 0.09% and 0.13% for both the CBP and the IDP regional summits, respectively. Such poor attendance, Madam Speaker, undermines the democratic legitimacy of decisions made by the municipality. In conclusion, Madam Speaker,"},{"start":10741,"end":10766,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the ACDP acknowledges the report and its valid concerns, confirming that the City of Joburg must update must update its public participation policy, which we are going to speak on that on Item 32. God bless Africa, especially the people of Sudan, which represents the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded."},{"start":10766,"end":10774,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"12 million are displaced and 30 leaving 30.4 million in humanitarian aid or support."},{"start":10774,"end":10776,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"23 seconds left. I'm not cutting your time."},{"start":10776,"end":10793,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much. We continue to pray and for the shalom peace of Jerusalem, the people of Gaza, the surrounding areas, the resilient people of Israel, as we declare Jeremiah 1:19 over them. Shalom, shalom, Madam Speaker."},{"start":10793,"end":10800,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You had 1 second left. Thank you. Councillor Christians."},{"start":10800,"end":10800,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Good day, Honourable Speaker. All protocol observed. ActionSA supports the adoption of the Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative Code. We support it because ethical leadership, integrity, transparency and accountability are not optional in local government. They are fundamental to restoring public confidence in this city"},{"start":10800,"end":10800,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yeah. Greetings to the EFF incoming Mayor Dr. Tlaleng, EFF Whip, Caucus Leader, our MMCs, fellow councillors, officials, and mostly, to the residents of the City of Johannesburg. Honourable Speaker, this code is necessary. We cannot argue against ethics."},{"start":10802,"end":10807,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I see you getting up your footage."},{"start":10807,"end":10812,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. It's all the physio that I've been doing. Thank you."},{"start":10812,"end":10844,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I rise to talk to item four and it is quite concerning because whilst this issue is one that depicts where we go financially, where the city heads and where the city is coming from, the submissions are quite low from various stakeholder groups. I heard people ululating about how they are taking the city forward"},{"start":10844,"end":10872,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and bringing investment back into the city, yet its very own stakeholders are shying away and staying away. It is very concerning because we are failing to attract proper responses from the residents of the city. But come 4th of November, I'm sure they will make their voices heard very loud."},{"start":10872,"end":10904,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, if you look at the formulation of the strategic projects that benefit disadvantaged communities, as of late they have become nothing more than a tick-box exercise. And this report clearly shows that. Because no matter what the residents are saying, no matter what the stakeholders are saying, it's been ignored. It's been ignored because what comes out at the end of the day is not what is the actual outcomes of the public participation."},{"start":10904,"end":10930,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It's actually what the GLU wanted. And that is why you see people are protesting regularly. Even in ANC wards where they're supposed to be supporting their own, they're not doing it. You're right. I don't need to tell you all what's happening in ANC wards because you're not there."},{"start":10930,"end":10954,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"But Madam Speaker, when it comes to this Madam Speaker, we've said it before, we say it again. When we talk of public participation Madam Speaker, let it be public participation and not just tick-box exercises. So when we come, we will come with this hat of mine in the next term and show you who what proper public participation is. I thank you."},{"start":10954,"end":10961,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Christians. Councillor Nkomo, ActionSA."},{"start":10961,"end":10964,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, as ActionSA we note the item."},{"start":10964,"end":10985,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Nkomo. Councillor Mbambala, EFF. Are you here? Do I pass? Okay, I'm going past. Oh, you are here."},{"start":10985,"end":11012,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh greetings to Dr. Tlhakeni, Honourable Speaker, councillors and members of the public. The matter before us is tabling of the public participation outcomes report for 2026-27 for approval, together with noting the report on policy coordination and relations. The EFF supports meaningful public participation because government must not only govern for the people"},{"start":11012,"end":11034,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"but must govern with the people. The EFF's 2026 local government election program places strong emphasis on direct engagement with community, public hearings and consultations, with the stated objective that people must have a meaningful role in shaping the political and governance program. Our position is clear."},{"start":11034,"end":11060,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Public participation must not become a box-ticking exercise. It is not enough to hold meetings, take minutes and produce reports. We must demonstrate what communities said, what government heard, what was accepted, what was regarded and mostly important, what action will follow. The report before us must therefore be judged against three questions."},{"start":11060,"end":11093,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Were communities genuinely consulted? Were their inputs properly recorded and considered? Can residents see a direct link between their participation and government decisions, budget and service delivery prioritize? The EFF has consistently urged that local government must put people and service delivery at the center of governance. Its 2026 manifesto launch specifically highlights the needs for municipalities to"},{"start":11093,"end":11123,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"respond to the daily realities of communities, including water shortages, electricity problems, sewage, refuse removal, infrastructure failure and unemployment. On policy coordination and relation, we must also avoid government departments and municipal structures working in silos. Coordination must produce results on the ground. Policy must be translated in programs, programs into budget, budget into"},{"start":11123,"end":11149,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"tangible improvements in the lives of the residents. We therefore support the tabling and approval of the public participation outcomes report, but with a strong call that future reports must go beyond recording activities. They must measure impact, responsiveness and accountability. Let us remember, the voice of the community cannot end when the public meetings ends."},{"start":11149,"end":11179,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It must begin when implementation starts. The EFF therefore calls for stronger community feedback mechanisms, clear accountability for commitments made and proper coordination between political leadership, administration and communities. People must participate. Government must listen and mostly important, government must act. The EFF will continue to put the people first. Victory or death!"},{"start":11179,"end":11185,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Dr. Tlhakeni for Mayor!"},{"start":11185,"end":11198,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, councillor. The next councillor is the ANC Councillor Tefu."},{"start":11198,"end":11219,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ya no, umshini awufuni ukuma. Umshini, umshini uyala Speaker. Ngizowubamba ngesandla ungazongiphazamisa lo mshini. Izindaba zami zigcwele la ngaphakathi. Akusenani."},{"start":11219,"end":11223,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Uh sithokoze, sithokoze."},{"start":11223,"end":11255,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh Honourable Speaker, Margaret Arnolds, uh Executive Mayor in absentia, Dada Morero, the Deputy Executive Mayor, uMam' Loyiso Masuku, uh Whip of Council, uBab' Sthembiso Zungu, and the Chair of Chairs, uBaba uMarema, uh visitors in the gallery, residents of the City of Johannesburg, uh fellow councillors."},{"start":11255,"end":11284,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh Madam Speaker, section 152 (1) of the Constitution states that the object of local government is to provide democratic and accountable government to the people, to ensure provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner, to promote social economic development, and more importantly, to encourage the involvement of communities"},{"start":11284,"end":11316,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and community organizations in local government matters. Section 16 (1) of the Municipal Systems Act requires municipalities to actively facilitate community participation in major processes, including planning and reviewing IDP processes. We therefore commend and acknowledge the efforts of the city in ensuring that residents' voices are heard. The report shows that the most pressing concerns raised across all regions"},{"start":11316,"end":11349,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"relates to deteriorating roads, potholes, sinkholes, stormwater drainage failures, gravel roads that needs upgrading, water outages, sewer spillages and aging infrastructure. Over 17,000 inputs were made in public participation uh meetings, which is a clear demonstration of a need for government intervention. We therefore are happy that government was able to respond promptly to this legislative call by convening CBPs and IDP sessions"},{"start":11349,"end":11380,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"where a wish basket was created and will surely be wisely used for the 2026-27 financial year in response thereto. Our communities are saying to the African National Congress, we are sick and tired of a coalition government and we are going to give you a full mandate on the 4th of November. Because we know that it is only under the African National Congress and when the African National Congress governs alone"},{"start":11380,"end":11411,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that service delivery and development will come to our communities. Madam Speaker, just this weekend, over the weekend we went to our uh manifesto launch uh in Riverside. And our minds, our hearts and our souls were rejuvenated, Madam Speaker, by the development that we've seen there. And uh that is just the tip of an iceberg. There's quite a lot of developmental frameworks that were developed under the African National Congress."},{"start":11411,"end":11440,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"To mention Riverside alone cannot be justifiable. But look at Jabulani Precinct, look at Lufhereng and the whole Southern Farms, you look at Goudrand, and you look at Fleurhof, and you look at all those developments, and someone uh uh when they are perpetuating propaganda to uh through media propagated machinery, they will always say the ANC has not delivered. In Bram Fischerville alone,"},{"start":11440,"end":11470,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the ANC government built eight solid schools, a multi-purpose center, and if somebody will come here today and say the ANC have done absolutely nothing, they must have been drinking something we all don't know. So Madam Speaker, it is only the African National Congress that knows how to govern this city. The only obstruction to the ANC is coalition government."},{"start":11470,"end":11500,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And we have called on all our people to come out in their numbers and vote for the African National Congress, and we are going to decisively make sure that we develop our city just as we are known to be doing for all these years. So we are saying forget about the 4th of November because our people have been thoroughly conscientized. Our people knows that the developmental framework and spatial developmental framework that they have seen were developed because of the policies of the ANC."},{"start":11500,"end":11533,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And there's no party here that can claim to possess such uh superior, you know, uh policies other than the African National Congress. So we are saying to the people of Johannesburg, on the 4th of November, here comes the African National Congress. All of them should vote for the ANC and forget about the DA and its media propaganda machinery. Madam Speaker, as the African National Congress, we approve this item. I thank you."},{"start":11533,"end":11541,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Um Deputy Executive Mayor, MMC Masuku."},{"start":11541,"end":11573,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thanks Speaker, and I think comments from councillors are fair, because if numbers for public participation are low, it therefore means our citizens are not fully participating in the public participation process. And it's not about which political party is in power, Speaker. I think we need to have an honest conversation about how the legislature"},{"start":11573,"end":11605,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"um and us as councillors in our communities needs to do better in terms of conscientizing our communities, in terms of the importance of participating in the community-based planning processes, because these are important processes that um give rise to democracy in our country. These are important processes where the voice of the citizens is heard, and I think we have a collective responsibility, all 270 of us,"},{"start":11605,"end":11637,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"we have a collective responsibility to make sure that our citizens understand. I mean, there are also stakeholder sessions that the legislature puts out for sectors, um the business, youth, women, LGBTQIA+ and so forth. And these are done precisely so that uh we expand the reach in terms of public participation, and it's not only focused uh merely in the wards. And we should not really politicize"},{"start":11637,"end":11669,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the issue, Speaker. We must actually collectively just uh welcome it because public participation is a constitutional right. Uh IDP processes and all these regional meetings are legislated. The CBP engagements are important uh as we rightfully said, councillors, so that basic service delivery and uh issues come from the actual communities. Um so I think the report of course just requests for us um to its uh to its tabling,"},{"start":11669,"end":11703,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and I think we must um obviously uh note the report and do better for the coming uh public participation processes. The CBP processes are going to start soon again in our wards, and all of us as councillors uh from various political parties, let's publicize, let's encourage residents to attend, and so that uh they contribute to shaping Johannesburg to be the Johannesburg uh that we all want in terms of making sure that everybody participates. Thank you, Speaker."},{"start":11703,"end":11722,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Deputy Executive Mayor. Um the report is for information. Is the item noted? Thank you so much. Just hold on for me. SCC, Da Rocha, I'm not sure who you're calling a point of order."},{"start":11722,"end":11742,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I've been sitting here listening to all these speeches about service delivery, and I am saying to this council that there is no service"},{"start":11742,"end":11744,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"SCC, can you carry on? Councillor, Councillor Da Rocha."},{"start":11744,"end":11751,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"There's a sewer! There's a sewer! There's no water! Councillors, stand on your feet for service delivery!"},{"start":11751,"end":11755,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh councillors, we are now on item 36."},{"start":11755,"end":11762,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Stand on your feet for service delivery! Who stands on your feet for service delivery? Nobody! I will not sit down!"},{"start":11762,"end":11767,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillors, Councillor Da Rocha! Uh-uh. No, no, no. No! No!"},{"start":11767,"end":11775,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No water! My residents have got no power! No water! There's sewer everywhere! You are not paying"},{"start":11775,"end":11777,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Is your hand up or are you pointing?"},{"start":11777,"end":11778,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I will not sit down! I will not"},{"start":11778,"end":11808,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Wait. Can you be seated! Can you be seated! Can you be seated! Can you be seated! I'm going to, I'm going to take you out. Councillor Raphadu, then the MMC. Councillor Raphadu, please. Oh, let me give councillor next to you."},{"start":11808,"end":11811,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We are in this mess because of you, DA."},{"start":11811,"end":11815,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor, MMC please, because they're taking their own time. Yes, MMC. I've called them twice. Can you put on your mic?"},{"start":11815,"end":11825,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. Madam Speaker, you know it becomes very concerning"},{"start":11825,"end":11839,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Da Rocha, you're disrupting the proceedings. I'm going to remove you. You are disrupting. Frans, can you guys please remove him? Can you remove him?"},{"start":11839,"end":11840,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker!"},{"start":11840,"end":11868,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can you remove Councillor Da Rocha? Can you remove Councillor Da Rocha? I'm not laughing about it, Frans. Can you do it, Frans? I'm not laughing. I'm saying remove him! I'm not laughing, remove him!"},{"start":11868,"end":11871,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Security, remove him!"},{"start":11871,"end":11900,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Da Rocha, take him out! Frans, take him out! There's no negotiation! Come, go! Go! You are removed! You are removed! Frans! Frans, there's no negotiation! Take him out!"},{"start":11900,"end":11910,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out! Take him out! Out!"},{"start":11910,"end":11915,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Are you JMPD?"},{"start":11915,"end":11922,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Frans!"},{"start":11922,"end":11936,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Take him out! Take him out!"},{"start":11936,"end":11943,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes!"},{"start":11943,"end":11946,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Famba!"},{"start":11946,"end":11962,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Next one, Belinda! Next one, Belinda!"},{"start":11962,"end":11966,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Kaldine, is your hand still up?"},{"start":11966,"end":11986,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I was just about to say the failed DA government in the Western Cape. When councillors speak against the DA government, they remove our councillors, violent"},{"start":11986,"end":11987,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Da Rocha, Madam Speaker."},{"start":11987,"end":11993,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC Masuku. Thank you, Councillor Kaldine. MMC Masuku, your hand was up."},{"start":11993,"end":11999,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, Madam Speaker. I just wanted to say that um"},{"start":11999,"end":12003,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Santana, switch off your mic. Please."},{"start":12003,"end":12015,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I just wanted to say that Speaker, the decorum of the council meeting is very important. Please don't speak over me, Councillor. Shane, can you call it to order?"},{"start":12015,"end":12019,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'm going to say, I'm going to say, it's a councillor at the back here."},{"start":12019,"end":12020,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, Councillor Chame, Chame."},{"start":12020,"end":12042,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'm going to remove you. I'm going to remove you. I'm going to remove. You don't throw your, MMC, hold on. You don't throw your hands. You don't throw your hands when I'm addressing you. You don't do that. So I'm going, I'm going to remove you."},{"start":12042,"end":12043,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"For what?"},{"start":12043,"end":12045,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can you remove the councillor?"},{"start":12045,"end":12054,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"For what? For what?"},{"start":12054,"end":12064,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Did you see what he did? He said to me, go. That councillor there with the glasses."},{"start":12064,"end":12090,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC, can you continue? No, no, no, that councillor, it's not the first time. Councillor Kamela. There at the back with the glasses, the young councillor. MMC, with the dreadlocks. MMC, can you continue? Councillor Tefu, Raphadu, put down your hand, the MMC is going to speak. Thank you, MMC."},{"start":12090,"end":12111,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I was just placing for the record, Speaker, that the decorum of the house is important. Um I think you are one of the most fair, fairest Speakers we've had, where you allow people to express themselves and"},{"start":12111,"end":12114,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"But councillors, can we stop that?"},{"start":12114,"end":12116,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It's Jacobs."},{"start":12116,"end":12118,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can we stop that?"},{"start":12118,"end":12130,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Through you, Speaker, Councillor Jacobs is speaking over me. And I'm just raising this, Speaker, for all of us. It's the end of the term, um and I think tolerance"},{"start":12130,"end":12135,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC, just hold on. Who's it?"},{"start":12135,"end":12142,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, I rise to bring to your attention that uh Councillor Rambani is busy filming."},{"start":12142,"end":12148,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Rambani. Councillor Rambani. Can you stop that?"},{"start":12148,"end":12149,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Rambani is filming."},{"start":12149,"end":12177,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You will also, uh-uh, councillors keep quiet. Keep quiet. Can you all keep quiet? Councillor Rambani, I have fined the two councillors R1,000, payable tomorrow. You will also be, you are also fined R1,000, payable tomorrow. MMC, please."},{"start":12177,"end":12207,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thanks, Speaker. Um as I was saying, that um it's the end of term, um and I think we all appreciate that we have different views. But I think we must plead that let's try to maintain the decorum of the house, and also be tolerant of the decisions of the Speaker. Let's respect the Speaker collectively, and I'm addressing all of us as councillors. Let's respect the decisions of the Speaker, and let's not disrupt council."},{"start":12207,"end":12243,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"There is no need for us to disrupt council. You can still air your views in a disciplined manner without disrupting a council meeting of the City of Johannesburg where residents are watching. And I will plead that we all do that. Otherwise, imagine Speaker, if every political party would do the same thing, then it means we will never get done with the business of council. And this thing of councillors speaking over each other when someone raises a point of order, it's disruptive. It's just a plea, and we accept and take your ruling, and recommend further"},{"start":12243,"end":12248,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that Councillor Da Rocha be referred to ethics."},{"start":12248,"end":12287,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I am not, I am not going to take any hands. The MMC has given, no, no councillor, I'm not going to do it. The MMC has asked that we maintain the decorum and we are on it. We are not going to do anything further, and that is for all 270 of us, including myself. So can we continue with the item where we left off? They are busy with the aircon, so can we deal with it? Thank you."},{"start":12287,"end":12294,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh we now proceed with uh item 36, one of the elevated items. Oh sorry, 30"},{"start":12294,"end":12295,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"37."},{"start":12295,"end":12306,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"37, sorry. Which is the rescission and uh re-advertisement of the position of the Executive Director for Human Settlements."},{"start":12306,"end":12342,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Um yeah, it's 36. Uh 30, 37 and 38. Those are the two items that has been elevated. Can we then have Councillor B. Campbell-Cloete from the Democratic Alliance. You have three minutes, councillor."},{"start":12342,"end":12363,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am just trying to open here."},{"start":12363,"end":12366,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The clock is moving because when you get up and you greet, the clock starts."},{"start":12366,"end":12403,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Sorry, ma'am. The uh the platform or the surface is a bit slippery. Speaker, item 37 is about more than simply rescinding an appointment and re-advertising a position. It is about the very real impact that leadership, or the lack thereof, has on residents. Human Settlements is one of the most critical portfolios in the City of Johannesburg. Facing a housing crisis is something we face every single day."},{"start":12403,"end":12424,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Cloete, just hold on. Councillor Masuku of the, of ActionSA, switch off your mic, please. I'm not sure what is it that you guys want to see at the back there. And Councillor Rakosa also. Councillor Cloete, I kept your time, you can carry on."},{"start":12424,"end":12459,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. We need competent, experienced people who understand housing development, project management, and most importantly, how to get projects delivered. Unlike the one million homes that was promised and did not happen. Let me give you an example from my own ward, Ward 102. We all know this project, the Selkirk housing project in Randburg. This project started in 2010. It was finally approved six years later,"},{"start":12459,"end":12490,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"in 2016. Construction only began in November 2025, 15 years after the project first started. In January, we heard the project is being investigated by the Hawks. And then, in May this year, construction stopped. Why? There was no money. But the contractor wasn't informed. The community has received no meaningful feedback, notwithstanding asking"},{"start":12490,"end":12521,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"for a community meeting. I, as the ward councillor, have not received proper information unless I ask for it. The contractor has now closed the site and placed a contractor's lien on the gate. This has caused major disruption to basic services, as entities such as City Power cannot gain access to the site and their own infrastructure. This is what failure looks like on the ground in an ANC, EFF, PA, Al Jama-ah coalition government."},{"start":12521,"end":12526,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"28 seconds left."},{"start":12526,"end":12548,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"In a DA-led city under Helen Zille's leadership after 4 November, this is something that simply would not matter, it will not happen. Johannesburg needs affordable housing, we need competent leadership, and Johannesburg needs a Human Settlements"},{"start":12548,"end":12557,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Cloete. Councillor R. Harris, ACDP."},{"start":12557,"end":12566,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to speak to item 36, which is a testament to failure within the"},{"start":12566,"end":12568,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Item 37."},{"start":12568,"end":12589,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Sorry, 37. My apologies. I rise to speak to item 37, um which is a testament to the failure of the Human Settlements Department and some of the human resources management practices. Mr. Patrick Phophi was appointed on the 1st of December 2020"},{"start":12589,"end":12597,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Harris, just hold on. Councillor Cloete, switch off your mic, please. Thank you, Councillor Harris."},{"start":12597,"end":12600,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"That was a it it a"},{"start":12600,"end":12623,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"What preceded that was a process where the MMC and senior managers were involved in the selection process. On the 3rd of July 2025, MEC Mamabolo sent a note saying that the incumbent did not qualify."},{"start":12623,"end":12653,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"In our Section 79 committee meetings we were constantly told that the process had been interdicted by the second placed person. Never did we ever see that Patrick Phophi did not qualify. So it's taken from the 1st of December 2024, we are now on the 26th of August 2026, and now only we decide we get the news that Patrick Phophi"},{"start":12653,"end":12659,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"did not qualify. So was it a legal process? Was it a failure of internal processes?"},{"start":12659,"end":12661,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Ons weet nie."},{"start":12661,"end":12692,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"But I think the misleading of the Section 79 committee is something that really needs to be looked into seriously, because they cannot tell us that the process is interdicted when they know that the incumbent did not qualify. So we note this, ma'am, and I want to concur that human settlements is so important. There are old age homes that are in need of dire leadership. There's a problem with the allocation process."},{"start":12692,"end":12715,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"In fact, there's the Human Settlements Department is like a cork in a raging sea. It's going absolutely nowhere with respect to them. So this leadership is so critically needed, and we appeal that this process mustn't take another six months before somebody is appointed. I thank you."},{"start":12715,"end":12722,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Harris. Councillor Brand, DA."},{"start":12722,"end":12752,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Good afternoon, Speaker. I'd like to address you on item 37. The report on face value seems quite straightforward. The administration went through a process in which they made an oops. A higher authority pointed this out to them, and now they need to rescind everything and to start again. 2024, the council was notified of the intention to start the employment process with advertisements."},{"start":12752,"end":12781,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It took a year for them to come back to council to recommend the employment of application who was ranked the highest. Seven months later, the MEC writes to the administration and says, stop, you cannot employ this person, they're not suitably qualified. Rescind it and start the process. We have two problems with this. The first problem is the timing. We are weeks away from the end of this administration."},{"start":12781,"end":12812,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And no matter how it's packaged, no matter how it's presented, this will always look like an outgoing administration trying to hurry through an appointment that could be politically aligned, that will become a burden to the next administration. The second concern is not is what is in the report, but what is not in the report. As has been said, the Section 79 meetings responses that are recorded don't always find themselves into the council reports."},{"start":12812,"end":12842,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We were told within weeks of the appointment approval before the incumbent had taken office that there was a court interdict by the second ranked applicant. The court viewed this that it was not urgent, and he was told to get back in the queue. A few months later, we were informed that this applicant two was open to staying his application under certain conditions."},{"start":12842,"end":12871,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The conditions were never explained to us. We waited and kept on questioning how this was going to this gridlock was going to be undone. At our last Section 79 meeting, we were informed by the MEC that the appointment process was going to be rescinded and started again. Later in that meeting, we were informed with the most ridiculous statement that applicant two had reached a deal with legal,"},{"start":12871,"end":12901,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"whoever legal is, I presume their legal representatives, whereby he would allow the city to start the process again, to advertise an interview, but not make an appointment until his plea had been heard in court. The total sum of this is at best vague and worst misleading. We cannot make head or tail of it. We asked to support a decision that is so muddy you can't see the bottom of this pond."},{"start":12901,"end":12927,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And we cannot determine the political risk, we cannot determine the risk in redoing this whole exercise and another court order comes along. We are unable to support this, we're unable to vote against it. It's for noting. The only thing we can do is to note it and ask that our serious concerns are recorded, and to ask Helen to put it on her long to-do list. Thank you, Speaker."},{"start":12927,"end":12935,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mabelebele from ActionSA."},{"start":12935,"end":12964,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you for not butchering my surname. I appreciate it. Honourable Speaker, Member of Council, and fellow residents of Johannesburg. Today we celebrate two critical matters, which are on item 38 and 37. The appointment of the Head of Department of Public Safety and the rescission of and the advertisement of the Executive Director Human Settlements. These are not isolated issues,"},{"start":12964,"end":12988,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"they are windows into the state of governance in our city. The report shows that the top candidate, Mr Lesiba Arnold Malotana, scored highest in the interview and competency assessment, yet he is flagged as high risk by the Special Investigating Unit. Despite this, the ANC-led government"},{"start":12988,"end":13016,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mabelebele, please take your seat. Councillor, I haven't called anyone as yet. Councillor Maila, please. Councillor Tefu, Raphadu, no, no, no, please."},{"start":13016,"end":13039,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"nso","text":"No, Chairperson, ke a tseba gore Johannesburg ke e kgolo bjale ba timela bo Councillor Mabelebele. Ene maabane a mantšhi ba ka ne re sa le go item 37. Ga se ra ba ra ya go item 38. Ngommushe, Madam Speaker."},{"start":13039,"end":13048,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Hayi, Councillor. I know, no. Councillor Mabelebele, come, your time is moving."},{"start":13048,"end":13051,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"All right. Thank you very much, Speaker."},{"start":13051,"end":13053,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Mabelebele, you are speaking on the wrong item."},{"start":13053,"end":13059,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I know, Speaker, I do apologize for that, but I wanted to combine the both items, but it's fine."},{"start":13059,"end":13061,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You are speaking on the wrong item."},{"start":13061,"end":13062,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It is fine, Speaker, thank you."},{"start":13062,"end":13064,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, no, no, it's not fine."},{"start":13064,"end":13065,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'm speaking on item 37."},{"start":13065,"end":13089,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You cannot speak on something that was not read out. Please take your seat. Get yourself organized properly. We are on item 37. We are moving. Councillor Nhlapo from the EFF. Councillor Chris Avant-Smith."},{"start":13089,"end":13111,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, Councillor Raphadu has just yelled out she's demanding breathalyzers when Councillor Maila stood up. I agree with Councillor Masuku where she says we have to uphold the decorum in this council, and that is not upholding the decorum. Thank you."},{"start":13111,"end":13127,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Raphadu, please don't do that. Please don't. Councillor Nhlapo. Now, Councillor, please don't do that. Can you withdraw that? Can you withdraw? Uh-uh, withdraw it! Withdraw it!"},{"start":13127,"end":13128,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, Madam"},{"start":13128,"end":13133,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"If you don't withdraw, neh, I'll do something else. Withdraw!"},{"start":13133,"end":13141,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, Madam Speaker. No, maybe we should play the recording and listen to this, but I'm not withdrawing that, Madam Speaker."},{"start":13141,"end":13150,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, Councillor, no. Councillor Nhlapo, I will play the recording and I'll come back to you today"},{"start":13150,"end":13152,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"nog."},{"start":13152,"end":13167,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Nhlapo. Councillor Nhlapo from the EFF, are you here? Councillor Mabelebele, can you finish? And be on the right item."},{"start":13167,"end":13170,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'm not sure why you were even moving. This shows you that you are not a partial Speaker."},{"start":13170,"end":13172,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, no, no, please continue."},{"start":13172,"end":13198,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It's still my time, Speaker, it's still my time, therefore you cannot move. Honourable Speaker, ActionSA supports the They're starting with the howling again. All right, Honourable Speaker, ActionSA supports the withdrawal of the compromised appointments and demand that I'm sorry about that. All right, let's start again. Johannesburg deserves better."},{"start":13198,"end":13229,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Johannesburg deserves ethical leaders, leaders with a proven track record, not individuals who preside over collapse of the city and now claim to have solutions. Under this government's governance, Johannesburg has become a case study in failure: collapsing infrastructure, water outage, electricity, potholes, financial management, billions lost to irregular expenditure and corruption,"},{"start":13229,"end":13259,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"service delivery decay, housing backlog, unsafe community and neglected public spaces. This is ANC leadership. They failed to govern the City of Johannesburg, and they failed to govern this country. ActionSA stands for integrity, accountability, and service excellence. We believe in leaders who are clean, competent, and committed to fixing Johannesburg."},{"start":13259,"end":13290,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Where the ANC collapses infrastructure, ActionSA builds and comes with solutions. Where the ANC protects compromised individuals, ActionSA protects communities. Johannesburg deserves leaders who possess both the competency test and the integrity test, leaders who put residents first, not political convenience. Honourable Speaker,"},{"start":13290,"end":13321,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the people of Johannesburg are tired of excuses. They've shown We hear some political party talking about the fact that the residents of Johannesburg are going to vote for them, yet their president was Their president was chased by students. That shows that people of South Africa are tired"},{"start":13321,"end":13351,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"of them. Johannesburg deserves ActionSA. Johannesburg deserves Herman Mashaba. Johannesburg deserves the city that works. This has proven ActionSA stands for integrity, transparency, and service excellence, professionalism in public service, appointment based on merit, not connections,"},{"start":13351,"end":13367,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"transparency in recruitment, every process open, auditable, and compliant, service delivery excellence, leadership that translates into housing, safety, and infrastructure improvements."},{"start":13367,"end":13369,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You have 50 seconds left."},{"start":13369,"end":13400,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It is so fine. Speaker, this report exposes a pattern, that this government is reactive, compromised, and careless. They appoint individuals flagged by investigations, individuals that are not qualified. They ignore qualification requirements until they are forced to act. They treat governance as a box-ticking exercise, not service to the people."},{"start":13400,"end":13429,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Johannesburg does not need leaders who are merely qualified on paper. It needs leaders who are clean, ethical, and trusted. People of Johannesburg no longer trust them. Johannesburg does not need leaders who merely who merely"},{"start":13429,"end":13440,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mokwena from the EFF. Councillor Mokwena. Thank you, ma'am."},{"start":13440,"end":13450,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Speaker. Greetings to our beautiful Dr Tlaleng, greetings to you and fellow councillors. As the EFF, we note the report. Thank you."},{"start":13450,"end":13467,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor Mokwena. Councillor Mzolo from the ANC."},{"start":13467,"end":13472,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Eh ngaphambi kokuthi ngiqhubeke, Speaker, bengisacela"},{"start":13472,"end":13473,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Please speak into the mic."},{"start":13473,"end":13500,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Yebo. Eh ngaphambi kokuthi ngiqhubeke, Speaker, bengisacela kulaba abadefayo ukuthi bangaphumela ngaphandle. Angifuni lokhu okwenzeke last time, ama-point of order angenasidingo. So ngokusho kanjalo, ngizokubingelela, Speaker, ngibingelele i-Deputy Executive Mayor, ngibingelele ama-MMC lawa akhona, ngibingelele amakhansela amahle we-GLU,"},{"start":13500,"end":13519,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"ngibingelele nabangale phesheya be-Dysfunctional Alliance, ngibingelele i-Delusional 44. Njengoba ngilana, Speaker, ngizokhuluma ngo-item 37. Eh, Madam Speaker, this item"},{"start":13519,"end":13530,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mzolo, can you please take your seat? Councillor Maila, and please speak so that I can understand what you are saying."},{"start":13530,"end":13558,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, my apologies, Madam Speaker. The honourable councillor on the podium has just referred to the DA as the Dysfunctional Alliance. Let's just remind him that DA means Democratic Alliance and it refers to the second largest political party in the city"},{"start":13558,"end":13567,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Maila, he did not say the DA is a dysfunctional alliance. Thank you."},{"start":13567,"end":13577,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, no, no, maybe [inaudible]"},{"start":13577,"end":13590,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Maila, can you take your seat, please? Councillor Mzolo, can you continue? I'm not biased. He did not say the DA is a dysfunctional alliance."},{"start":13590,"end":13592,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ngiyabonga,"},{"start":13592,"end":13593,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can you please carry on?"},{"start":13593,"end":13600,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ngiyabonga, Speaker. Angithi kwesinye isikhathi mawushaya inja umnikazi uzovela. So ke, Speaker, eh,"},{"start":13600,"end":13608,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"this item is a reminder"},{"start":13608,"end":13638,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor, just hold on, hold on, hold on. Councillor Mzolo, I didn't say stand up. I'm saying, please do address this house in English. Councillor Maila."},{"start":13638,"end":13644,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, the councillor has just referred to us as dogs."},{"start":13644,"end":13645,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"As what?"},{"start":13645,"end":13647,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We are not going to accept that"},{"start":13647,"end":13648,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"As a what?"},{"start":13648,"end":13660,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"under any circumstances. He says when you beat, if you want the owner to emerge, you beat the dog. That's basically what he said. We are not his dogs."},{"start":13660,"end":13663,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Maila. I got what you said."},{"start":13663,"end":13665,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And please stop allowing this."},{"start":13665,"end":13692,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Maila, I got what you said. Councillor Mzolo, can I ask you, Councillor Mzolo, switch off your mic. Can I ask you to carry on with your speech,"},{"start":13692,"end":13720,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"but stop saying things that are inappropriate? Hayi man, I'm not done, Kyle! Councillor Kyle, I'm not done! Do you know what my other words are that I'm going to say? Do you know where my sentence is going to end? I didn't know that we have mind readers here. I would like you to read my fortune."},{"start":13720,"end":13750,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mzolo, let me start over. Can you stick to a speech? Can you stick to language that is parliamentary? And can you withdraw that you have called others dogs? Can you withdraw? Now others are Now you see, this is why I said address in a language that I'm going to understand,"},{"start":13750,"end":13755,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"because others are saying no and others are saying yes."},{"start":13755,"end":13765,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"As ek kan beginne praat in Afrikaans dan gaan julle sê julle verstaan nie."},{"start":13765,"end":13766,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Did he say that?"},{"start":13766,"end":13778,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ayithinte."},{"start":13778,"end":13808,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, I have got the translation that you said if you want the owner, you must hit the dog. So take that out of your speech, and can we have parliamentary language? Can you withdraw it? And withdraw it unconditionally! No, no, no, colleagues, no! We are not going to end off like this. Thank you. Can you do that, please?"},{"start":13808,"end":13811,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, I will withdraw unconditionally."},{"start":13811,"end":13813,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Carry on. No other things about"},{"start":13813,"end":13843,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ngithe mangiqala inkulumo yami ngathi odefayo, kodwa ngizoqhubeka ke. Speaker, le-item le ikhuluma iyasibonisa ngempela ukuthi ngempela mawufuna ukuphatha noma ukusebenzela umphakathi, umasipala awusetshenziswa ngama-slogans, ama-press conferences, ama-video ku-TikTok umuntu ona-73 adlala emanzini, noma kubakhona okhomba omunye ngeminwe,"},{"start":13843,"end":13874,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"kodwa governance is about getting the basics right. So, Madam Speaker, we must ask ourselves how did we get here in the first place. Johannesburg does not have the luxury of treating senior appointments like a political experiment. Human Settlements deals directly with the lives of people who are waiting for homes, living in overcrowded conditions, and residing in informal settlements."},{"start":13874,"end":13887,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"While some opposition clowns spend their time telling residents that they have all the answers, residents are still waiting for actual answers on the ground."},{"start":13887,"end":13894,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mzolo. Councillor Belinda."},{"start":13894,"end":13924,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'm calling a point of order on the councillor who's on the podium now. Madam Speaker, you have And based on Rule 72, firstly he must withdraw \"clowns\", because I don't see any clowns in this chamber, one. Two, this is the fourth council where this councillor is speaking and he is insulting everybody and using isiZulu to insult people, and you have not fined him, nor have you chucked him out of the house. So you are biased, Madam Speaker."},{"start":13924,"end":13944,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Mzolo, can you finish your speech and stop insulting or anything, please? Can you withdraw \"clowns\"? Withdraw \"clowns\"."},{"start":13944,"end":13945,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'll withdraw \"clowns\"."},{"start":13945,"end":13950,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, he's withdrawn it. He's withdrawn it!"},{"start":13950,"end":13981,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, last time when I stood here, I said nobody likes someone who says the truth. So feelings are going to be hurt whilst I'm still on the podium, Speaker. You cannot govern Johannesburg through Twitter, slogans, and blame-shifting. You must govern through competent administration, proper planning, and delivery. So Human Settlements requires leadership that understands the realities"},{"start":13981,"end":14014,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"of our communities. It requires somebody who can work across spheres of government, manage large programs and budgets, and turn policy into actual projects. And that is where the political lesson of this item lies. The Dysfunctional Alliance has spent years presenting itself as the party of clean, competent government, but when government processes are being rescinded and restarted, we must"},{"start":14014,"end":14023,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mzolo, can you sit down? You are really taking us back every time. Councillor Belinda."},{"start":14023,"end":14046,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I'm going to plead with you. If you do not want to degenerate this house, you need to call that councillor to order. There is no Dysfunctional Alliance represented in this house. So he must withdraw it and tell us who is he talking about, and also he must be fined, otherwise we'll send him to ethics as well."},{"start":14046,"end":14079,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Mzolo, I'm going to cut your time, right? No, no, no! Councillor Mzolo, the Deputy Mayor has asked that we keep the decorum of the house, and I cannot see why we are doing what we are doing. I have asked let us not use unparliamentary language."},{"start":14079,"end":14090,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So can we stop what you are doing? And can you withdraw that \"Dysfunctional Alliance\"?"},{"start":14090,"end":14092,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, who is the Dysfunctional Alliance, Speaker?"},{"start":14092,"end":14122,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, I'm not taking hands! I'm not taking hands. You are going to speak in a language that's acceptable. You are pulling us back and back and back. There are people that are supposed to leave at 2:00, and we have a lot of items. Can you withdraw, and can you carry on with a speech that is properly worded? Use the right grammar."},{"start":14122,"end":14125,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, since I'm"},{"start":14125,"end":14126,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Don't debate with me!"},{"start":14126,"end":14129,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'm withdrawing \"Dysfunctional Alliance\"."},{"start":14129,"end":14130,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Carry on."},{"start":14130,"end":14144,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"For that part, Speaker, because here I'm being stifled. Freedom of speech, I cannot express my freedom of speech because when someone has hurt feelings, I must withdraw, and I don't know why should I withdraw."},{"start":14144,"end":14146,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Your time is running, brother."},{"start":14146,"end":14160,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, let it run, Speaker. With that being said, Speaker, I will sit down because every time when I want to talk, there'll be a frivolous point of order and you entertain such points of order, Speaker. So with that being said, as the ANC, we note this report. Thank you."},{"start":14160,"end":14188,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Why are you addressing me? No, the way he's doing it now. Councillor Zungu, who's standing in for Councillor MMC Mabaso, I'm not sure what you people had for breakfast. Councillor Mabaso."},{"start":14188,"end":14221,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much. Oh, Speaker, the Deputy Executive Mayor, MMCs, all councillors. Speaker, I didn't have anything for breakfast, just for the record. Speaker, I know I'm responding on behalf of MMC Zungu because this report is from Corporate and Shared Services Department."},{"start":14221,"end":14254,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"But, Speaker, I think councillors will have an appreciation that on the council of 27-28 November 2024, a report for the appointment of the Executive Director of Human Settlements was approved in council. And on the 1st of December 2024, he assumed his role as an appointed Executive Director. Fourteen days later,"},{"start":14254,"end":14289,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"there was an interdict against his appointment. The matter went to court, Speaker, and he was then requested to stay at home because his appointment got interdicted. And since then he has not returned to the office because the interdict is still there."},{"start":14289,"end":14323,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"On the 7th of July 2025, seven months after his appointment, we received a letter from the MEC of COGTA citing that he did not meet the minimum requirements. But the city could not proceed with any of its processes because the matter was on the roll. So three months ago we were then advised"},{"start":14323,"end":14355,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"by the legal of the city that we can table a report in council to rescind the appointment of the ED and re-advertise the position. So what we communicated in the committee, Speaker, was that the position got interdicted and the appointed ED could not assume his responsibilities. And that's the status and that's where we are."},{"start":14355,"end":14387,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And the reason for legal to allow us to continue with the re-advertisement of the position, Speaker, is because the department has been severely affected by instability, and there is a need for us to appoint a permanent ED. But I will request councillors, Speaker, because the principles of open justice does allow for public to have access to all the court order records,"},{"start":14387,"end":14400,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"so I will request them to go to court so that they access the court order that was granted against the appointment of the acting ED because it is"},{"start":14400,"end":14430,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I mean, of the appointed ED because it is there. So, we are requesting speaker that this council to approve this report so that we re-advertise and get a permanent ED in the department so that we get someone who will respond to all the issues that has been ventilated in this meeting because the instability, the underperformance and all other challenges that we have endured in the department are as a result"},{"start":14430,"end":14461,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"of this process. And that's why we are requesting this council to approve this report so that we we re-advertise and get a permanent ED. So, all these issues that you have been raised here, speaker, can only be addressed when you've got a permanent ED appointment appointed that will then bring instability in the department. So, I know speaker that I'm I'm standing in for another MMC, but because this is the department that I am charged with the responsibility"},{"start":14461,"end":14491,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"to oversee, and I I felt it's prudent that I give this background for the benefit of all the councillors, especially those that also serve in the section 79 committee of human settlements because I've been presenting these issues in the meeting. And I still maintain speaker because I attended the court proceedings, and I'm aware of the interdict that was granted against the appointment of the of the ED of human settlements."},{"start":14491,"end":14498,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And that's the status. Hence, we are requesting to re-advertise this position so that we stabilize that department. Thank you very much."},{"start":14498,"end":14509,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, uh MMC. Uh colleagues, the recommendations are on page 37.6. Is the item agreed to?"},{"start":14509,"end":14512,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes."},{"start":14512,"end":14515,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. The item has gone through."},{"start":14515,"end":14519,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Now we are on item 38, which is the"},{"start":14519,"end":14531,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor. A point of order on who? We haven't even started. Thank you, Councillor. STC."},{"start":14531,"end":14543,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, councillors. It's um item 38 that we are in, and that is the recruitment and appointment process of the head of the department for public safety position."},{"start":14543,"end":14570,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. Colleagues, you are aware that we have a motion of urgency. So, we're going to ask the councillor that brought it, Councillor Maila, to present to us, and then we will look into it, and then we go to the item as indicated in the morning. The The item the the the motion"},{"start":14570,"end":14587,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the motion without notice, and the motion does comply. Councillor Maila. Councillor Raphadu, you come from outside. Can I help you? Okay. Can I help you?"},{"start":14587,"end":14591,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You are problematising me now. I look like somebody who's"},{"start":14591,"end":14592,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor, can you go to the point?"},{"start":14592,"end":14594,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, Madam Speaker, because"},{"start":14594,"end":14599,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Just hold on, Councillor Maila. I don't know if it's a point of order."},{"start":14599,"end":14629,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It is a point of information, Madam Speaker. Please allow me, and and please, because all of us are councillors here, and every council sitting is a teachable moment, Madam Speaker. In terms of the rules, I know uh when we have to put this kind of items, what do you have to do? So, I I want us so that in future, when we come back in the next term, we are aware, and we do the the right things, Madam Speaker. Did this urgent motion"},{"start":14629,"end":14636,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"follow all the compliance processes, and have all the people that are supposed to make sure"},{"start":14636,"end":14636,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"gore"},{"start":14636,"end":14641,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the signatures, uh it's within time. No, I'm asking,"},{"start":14641,"end":14642,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"akere"},{"start":14642,"end":14661,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"there's the process. It's within time. Did it meet that within time? Does it have all the signatures? Did it follow the right procedure? Can you teach us in that uh respect, Madam Speaker? That's all I'm asking for. That's all. If I'm out of order, you will rule, Madam Speaker, because there's time limit attached to it. There are issues that are attached to it. Please."},{"start":14661,"end":14663,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor."},{"start":14663,"end":14665,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Please. I think it's rule 90."},{"start":14665,"end":14667,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I said in the morning"},{"start":14667,"end":14667,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It's rule 90."},{"start":14667,"end":14698,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that we are going to check whether it complies, and we did check that. So, we are saying motion without notice, 93, and it is on page 39, and it says one, every motion requires notice except a motion proposing an amendment to a motion, raising a point of order, postponing or discharging or giving precedence"},{"start":14698,"end":14729,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"to an item on the council agenda by the councillor in charge, proposing a resolution on the report of a committee immediately after the conclusion of the debate on the report. And for which other rule and for which other rule states that the that the notice is not required. To introduce a motion without notice, a councillor must read the motion"},{"start":14729,"end":14757,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"out loud in the chamber and deliver a signed copy to the Secretary to Council, which was done. The presiding officer must put the question to allow or disallow the motion without notice to council. I thank you. And it's in the rule book. Can we move?"},{"start":14757,"end":14769,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"because as I've said, every council is a teachable moment. So, I'm reading the rules, and form of motions, rule 90. Were these followed? That's all I'm asking. Simple."},{"start":14769,"end":14790,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I have read the motion to you, and everything was followed. I read you 90, 9 0, and I even gave you the page. It's on page 39. I'm also not fighting."},{"start":14790,"end":14803,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Can we move? Councillor Christians, can we move? No, Councillor Christians, I read rule 93, and that's it. What? No, Councillor Christians."},{"start":14803,"end":14805,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Asseblief tog."},{"start":14805,"end":14817,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No. No, I'm done with Councillor with Councillor Raphadu. You are calling a point of order on a point of order. What is it, Councillor Christians?"},{"start":14817,"end":14845,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, earlier you said there's mind readers, now you're reading my mind also. Madam Speaker, I'm actually rising in terms of rule 72A. We're talking about the decorum of this house, yet Councillor Raphadu now has just breached rule 72A. You made a ruling. He stood up and challenged you again, yet Councillor Da Rocha stood up for his community, and you kicked him out. He's still sitting here. Madam Speaker, please don't be biased. Thank you."},{"start":14845,"end":14857,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Maila, can you come? Councillor Maila, can you come?"},{"start":14857,"end":14859,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, uh Madam Speaker."},{"start":14859,"end":14862,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Maila, hold on. Councillor Maila, hold on."},{"start":14862,"end":14864,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Must I hold on again?"},{"start":14864,"end":14865,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC MMC"},{"start":14865,"end":14866,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"All right."},{"start":14866,"end":14880,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Makhafola? Makhafola? Councillor Raphadu, I've seen your hand. Let Councillor Makhafola speak."},{"start":14880,"end":14884,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, speaker."},{"start":14884,"end":14888,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You can go."},{"start":14888,"end":14923,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, I just wanted to get clarity on the issue of the motion. We spoke about the issue of the motion in the morning, and there was no resolution that was taken upon to decide what decision you'll be communicating. Now we are on the item, speaker. We are on the item, and only now the motion issue is coming back. Is there fairness running the council or what is happening? Because if really the motion was to be considered, I believe that you should have addressed the issue of the motion in the morning while the motion was being raised, not at this time while we are already on the item. I don't think that is the right way to do things."},{"start":14923,"end":14955,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Makhafola, can I quickly explain to you? It is not an ordinary motion. It is a motion without notice. No, no, no. Wait. I'm speaking. I gave you a chance. Can you be seated? It is a motion without notice. And I said in the morning, when we get to the item, I will explain whether it complies."},{"start":14955,"end":14986,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And when we started with the item, I said it is complying. So, we will start with the motion. It is a motion without notice, thus it was not even on programming. It It has a time frame when it can enter. It had to enter by 6:00 this morning, and it was here by 6:00."},{"start":14986,"end":14993,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor um MMC Mgcina, and you are the last one on it."},{"start":14993,"end":15022,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. Thank you very much, uh Madam Speaker, and and I agree with you. This is a motion without uh notice. If you go to rules, the rule book says in rule number 93 uh number two of that rule, it says we need to introduce a motion without notice. A councillor must read the motion out loud in the chamber and deliver"},{"start":15022,"end":15037,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"a signed copy to the Secretary of Council, and then the the decision must be made there of by the chamber. I think that's the process that you must be subjected to right now. The presiding officer must put the question."},{"start":15037,"end":15049,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So, this is exactly the process that we are doing. The councillor is going to read out the motion. No, no, no. Colleagues,"},{"start":15049,"end":15052,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You're not allowing him to read the motion."},{"start":15052,"end":15056,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, can I start over?"},{"start":15056,"end":15060,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Kan ek by die begin begin?"},{"start":15060,"end":15061,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I read"},{"start":15061,"end":15066,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"ek het ek het 93 gelees."},{"start":15066,"end":15097,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yeah, no, you you see? See how difficult it is? The motion is a motion without notice, and such a motion comes 4 hours before the council sitting, and it did come. It actually came last night to the to the Secretary of Council, right? When we started council, I read out before I did anything,"},{"start":15097,"end":15127,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I read out that there was this motion, and I said it was given by Maila. After that, my words was that this motion we are going to check whether it is compliant, right? I came back now when I said when the item comes, I came back, and I said, \"Here is the item.\" And I said the motion"},{"start":15127,"end":15160,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"is compliant. I said it, right? I then went further when you lifted your hand, Councillor Raphadu. I read you 93, 9 3. I read everything. I read from where it says one, and I went I read the motion, I read the proposing, and I read how to introduce it. So, right now,"},{"start":15160,"end":15186,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"it says to introduce a motion without notice to introduce a motion without notice, a councillor, meaning the councillor that has given the motion, must read the motion out loud. He mustn't whisper,"},{"start":15186,"end":15188,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"hy moenie skinder,"},{"start":15188,"end":15218,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"in the chamber and deliver a signed copy to the Secretary to Council. The signed copy is here, right? The presiding officer must put the question to allow or disallow the motion without notice to council. So, after he has read it out, I will then ask all of you,"},{"start":15218,"end":15240,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"do you want the motion to go or you don't? You will then say like you always says, \"Yes or no,\" and the yays or the nays will have it, and that is where we are. And I'm not going to allow anybody to say anything. Raphadu, sit down."},{"start":15240,"end":15247,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Hlala phansi."},{"start":15247,"end":15275,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I ruled according to this book. I ruled. No."},{"start":15275,"end":15276,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh-uh, uh-uh."},{"start":15276,"end":15277,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Follow the rules."},{"start":15277,"end":15301,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Don't. Councillor Raphadu, I have explained it. Even if you give a supplementary, I'm not going to do anything to your supplementary. Your supplementary will be ruled out by me. No. Colleagues,"},{"start":15301,"end":15311,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, it's fine. Can I"},{"start":15311,"end":15344,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Before you even get up, I'm consulting here, before you even get up, and I'm not you you are not going to do this to me. Councillor Raphadu, you are not, not today. Just hold on, please. Can I consult?"},{"start":15344,"end":15347,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"ayisayiniwanga ngu-proposer wonke."},{"start":15347,"end":15348,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So therefore"},{"start":15348,"end":15349,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"ayikwalifayi."},{"start":15354,"end":15357,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"ngizenza igini, ayikwalifayi"},{"start":15357,"end":15358,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"because"},{"start":15358,"end":15359,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"isayiniwe"},{"start":15359,"end":15362,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"only by the proposer, while 90.1 says"},{"start":15362,"end":15365,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"kufanele isayinwe ngama-proposer neseconder."},{"start":15365,"end":15379,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, it's fine. It's fine, we'll vote on it, Speaker. You can proceed, we'll vote on it, Speaker."},{"start":15379,"end":15394,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"ikhomplaya kanjani? We wena ikhomplaya... that's why kufanele uyisertifaye wena ukuthi... athi tsamaya."},{"start":15394,"end":15425,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, Councillor Raphadu says everything is in order. No, no, no. Colleagues, colleagues, I must be very honest today with all of you. I must be very honest with all of you today. I'm seeing exceptional behavior, and it it it it really is a problem after the the Deputy Mayor stood up and said we must all ensure that the, you know, we hold the decorum of the house."},{"start":15425,"end":15435,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Maila, can you come in and carry on? Councillor Maila."},{"start":15435,"end":15443,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Raphadu's mic's on. Raphadu's"},{"start":15443,"end":15476,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I rise in terms of rule 93, subrule 1C, of the standing rules of orders and orders of council, and on behalf of the Democratic Alliance, to introduce a motion without notice postponing item 38. I have a signed written copy here with me for the Secretary"},{"start":15476,"end":15508,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"to Council. The motion, Madam Speaker, reads as follows: I hereby move in terms of rule 93, subrule 1C, of the standing rules and orders of council 2016 as amended and on behalf of the Democratic Alliance that consideration and decision on item 38 be postponed pending"},{"start":15508,"end":15538,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the finalization of the outstanding Special Investigating Unit's investigation, any personnel suitability assessments, any security vetting, integrity checks and related processes expressly referred to in item 38. And pending the outcomes thereof being placed before council to enable council to make a fully informed decision regarding the appointment of the head of department, uh public safety,"},{"start":15538,"end":15569,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"in the City of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, the motivation um says item 38 records that the second personnel suitability check conducted by GFIS found that the preferred candidate had been flagged as high risk by the Special Investigating Unit and that negative information existed indicating a potential security risk for the City of Johannesburg."},{"start":15569,"end":15599,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The report further confirms that the relevant SIU investigation and additional vetting processes remain outstanding and proposes enhanced conditions of appointment specifically to mitigate those unresolved risks. Council is therefore being requested to approve a permanent appointment to the position of head of department, public safety, before the integrity, security, and suitability processes"},{"start":15599,"end":15627,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"identified in the city's own report have been finally determined. This motion, Madam Speaker, does not seek to make any finding of guilt or misconduct against the candidate. It seeks only to ensure that council does not make a permanent appointment to this sensitive public uh safety position until the outstanding processes referred to in item 38"},{"start":15627,"end":15628,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You have 59 seconds left."},{"start":15628,"end":15643,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"have been finalized and council provided with the information necessary to properly exercise its decision-making responsibilities. I so move."},{"start":15643,"end":15670,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Maila. I am now going to ask councillors, are we in agreement with the motion?"},{"start":15670,"end":15689,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Thank you so much. For the second time, I'm going to repeat. Do you agree or you disagree? Okay."},{"start":15689,"end":15691,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No!"},{"start":15691,"end":15703,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. I I I I could not hear."},{"start":15703,"end":15734,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. Those of you that have your Bibles with you, you would have seen in the form of this that the presiding officer must put the question to allow or disallow, and you are not audible as to what you want, so we are going to vote for it. Okay? Right. Can we start the voting? We are going to ring the bells, and we are going to ensure that councillors"},{"start":15734,"end":15750,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"are inside, and we will vote. Councillor Christians. Councillor Christians. Your hand is up, uh you're having a conversation on the other side."},{"start":15750,"end":15755,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my hand is up just for clarity. When you say we're going to the vote, you mean you're going to count?"},{"start":15755,"end":15756,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yeah. I'm going to count."},{"start":15756,"end":15758,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you."},{"start":15758,"end":15921,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"What else do you do when you vote? You count. No, no, no. You vote. You You raise your hand and you vote or you make a X next to the ballot. Okay. Can we ring the bell to ensure that councillors everybody's in?"},{"start":15921,"end":15936,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you for the bells. Okay, let's start. Those who abstain, can we see your hands?"},{"start":15936,"end":15939,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Die's wat nie wil deel wees nie."},{"start":15939,"end":15955,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, there's one, two. Right, two that abstain. Okay?"},{"start":15955,"end":16037,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Those who are saying no, those who are against the motion."},{"start":16037,"end":16079,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Where's"},{"start":16079,"end":16164,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, colleagues. Thank you so much. You can put your hands down. Those that say yes."},{"start":16164,"end":16200,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You can lower your hands."},{"start":16234,"end":16240,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. Ai."},{"start":16240,"end":16265,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Those that abstain, as I said earlier on is two. Those that said no, ah yes neh, I must go to yes. Those that said yes is 82 and those that said no is a 110, so we are going to we are going to continue."},{"start":16265,"end":16280,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We are going colleagues Before you Okay, Councillor Maila."},{"start":16280,"end":16311,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much uh Madam Speaker. I rise in terms of rule 83 of the standing rules and orders of council to just place it on record um that the DA, the Democratic Alliance, wishes to make the following declaration of vote. We place it on record that the DA opposes item 38. Council has been expressly informed in its own report"},{"start":16311,"end":16315,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that the preferred candidate was flagged as high risk by the Special Investigating Unit"},{"start":16315,"end":16319,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, Councillor Maila. Councillor Maila!"},{"start":16319,"end":16325,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and that GFS"},{"start":16325,"end":16332,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Maila, we voted, we've done the voting, can you switch off your mic?"},{"start":16332,"end":16360,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Item 38 ah, item 38 we we are going to finish this item and then we'll go for lunch, so it depends on how fast and how slow you speak. Councillor Maila? Councillor Maila, you are number one on the list to speak on item 38."},{"start":16360,"end":16363,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And you've got 5 minutes."},{"start":16363,"end":16394,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yeah, no thanks very much uh Madam Speaker. My apologies, I I I was ready to fire on all cylinders. Um Madam Speaker, I I think the point has been made that um as the DA we would like to place it on record that um we stand opposed to item 38."},{"start":16394,"end":16423,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Council has been expressly informed in its own report that the preferred candidate was flagged as high risk by the Special Investigating Unit and that GFIS identified negative information indicating a potential security risk to the City of Johannesburg. Despite this Madam Speaker, Council is being asked to approve a permanent appointment"},{"start":16423,"end":16455,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"as head of department at Public Safety while material SIU security vetting and integrity processes remain unresolved. If council nevertheless approves this appointment, the DA reserves its rights to approach the High Court to review and set aside the decision. We further place it on record Madam Speaker, we further place it on record"},{"start":16455,"end":16485,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that we intend placing every single councillor on notice that the contents of item 38, including the identified security and integrity risks were before council when this decision was taken. Should subsequent legal proceedings establish that the decision was unlawful, irrational, taken in bad faith or in reckless disregard of the information before council,"},{"start":16485,"end":16510,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the DA will seek every appropriate remedy available in law, including appropriate cost orders where legally justified. In terms of Rule 84 Madam Speaker, we request that the DA's opposition to item 38 be formally recorded in the minutes of today's council proceedings. I thank you."},{"start":16510,"end":16524,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor U Lotz from GOOD."},{"start":16524,"end":16538,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Lotz your time is moving. Can you press the button?"},{"start":16538,"end":16569,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Executive Mayor, members of the mayoral committee, fellow councillors, officials, and the residents of Johannesburg. Thank you for the privilege of addressing this chamber for the first time. Today, we consider item 38, the recruitment and appointment of the head of department, Public Safety. This is not a routine administrative matter. This is a decision that carries the weight of life and death for many residents."},{"start":16569,"end":16600,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The report before us outlines a thorough recruitment process, and I've noticed the risks. Speaker, qualifications alone do not make a Public Safety head. Johannesburg is a city in pain. The communities of Westbury, Eldorado Park, Riverlea, Alexandra, Diepsloot, and Finetown are a bleeding are bleeding not metaphorically, but literally. Mothers bury their sons, children walk to school through gang territories,"},{"start":16600,"end":16631,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"drug markets operate illegally, illegal firearms circulate freely, and our residents wait and wait for safety. Public safety is a municipal competency. It is not optional, it is not secondary, it is not something we outsource to national government. The city is the first responder in the in community safety through JMPD, EMS, uh Disaster Management, and our integrated urban safety strategies."},{"start":16631,"end":16662,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yet, Speaker, we have not seen proactive initiatives, and in many cases not even responsive action. Our communities call for help, and the silence is deafening. This is why item 38 matters. The incumbent The incumbent must understand the enormity of this post. Public Safety is not a ceremonial title, it is a battlefield command. It requires a leader who can develop"},{"start":16662,"end":16665,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"a clear, measurable plan to combat gang violence,"},{"start":16665,"end":16667,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You have 50 seconds left."},{"start":16667,"end":16697,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"deploy JMPD strategically, not symbolically. Coordinate EMS and Disaster Management to respond rapidly to work to violent incidents. Work with SAPS structures, restore trust uh that community in communities that feel abandoned. If Council approves this appointment, then let it be clear, the City of Johannesburg expects and requires a Public Safety head who will confront gang violence head-on,"},{"start":16697,"end":16709,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"who will reclaim our streets, and who will deliver safety to every community, not only those with loud voices or media attention. Our residents cannot wait another year. They cannot wait another month."},{"start":16709,"end":16710,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You have 10 seconds left."},{"start":16710,"end":16720,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Some cannot wait another day. Speaker, I support the recommendation only on the condition that the"},{"start":16720,"end":16727,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Lotz. Councillor Foley from the DA, you have 3 minutes."},{"start":16727,"end":16756,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. I Councillor Foley rise on item 38, recruitment and a appointment process of the Head of Department Public Safety position. All protocol observed. Speaker, in my speech to council on the 30th of March, 2026 on item 63, recruitment and appointment process of the Executive Head Social Development, I said the following, that the Democratic Alliance rejects the selection process and the app- appointment outright."},{"start":16756,"end":16784,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We base this on the following: The panel interview that was held on the 19th 19th of December, the third panel member was listed as the external expert was Mr. Malotana, who is now ranked one as the candidate. Uh which with a questionable 93 total score. In a press statement on the 29th of July, the Democratic Alliance, member of pa- uh Provincial Legislature, Jack Bloom Jack Bloom who's now Deputy Minister wrote to the Public Protector"},{"start":16784,"end":16812,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"requesting an urgent investigation in the suspicious appointment of Mr. Lesiba. On the 14th of October 2025, the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, suspended Mr. Malotana with immediate effect, and the Democratic Alliance in Gauteng called for his axing. This is approximately 2 months before he was part of the selection panel. How can this happen in the City of Joburg, a world-class African city? This is certainly not world-class in any way."},{"start":16812,"end":16844,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"As part of today's item 38, the report states in a second PSC, I'm sorry about the repetition, personal suitability check report, GFIS further conducted an environmental scanning and found that the can- candidate was flagged as a high risk by the SIU. The second PSC report to uh was indicated there is a negative in- information which indicates potential security risk for the City of Joburg. Due to the PSC report and the high risk identified by the SIU, an external legal opinion was obtained"},{"start":16844,"end":16852,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"uh around the suitability of the appointment which are attached to the item. I'm very concerned about the ability and the integrity of the panel members that approved this"},{"start":16852,"end":16853,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You have 59 seconds left."},{"start":16853,"end":16882,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"this candidate and ranked him number one. Just a reminder that all councillors that can that vote on this can be held personally liable for voting for an item that could have a serious impact on the City of Joburg. It was If ever there was a time to vote against party lines, this is it. The choice is yours. It will be recorded as such. When Helen Zille becomes the mayor after the municipal elections on the 4th of November, and the administration fades into the sunset,"},{"start":16882,"end":16899,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"a new dawn of professionalism will become the norm for the City of Joburg, and then and only then will it become a world-class African city that works for all in it, most particularly the ratepayers. I thank you, Speaker."},{"start":16899,"end":16908,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mabelebele."},{"start":16908,"end":16938,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Honourable Speaker, members of council and fellow residents of Johannesburg. The report shows that the top candidate, Mr. Lesiba Arnold Maloto Malotana scored highest in the interviews and competency assessment, yet he is flagged as a high risk by the Special Investigating Unit. Despite this, the ANC-led administration is prepared to proceed with his appointment hiding behind illegal uh hiding behind legal technicalities and"},{"start":16938,"end":16944,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"enhanced conditions. Eish, what happened to good governance? Oh wait, they never learn."},{"start":16944,"end":16945,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"Ba tla tswa ka letswalo,"},{"start":16945,"end":16973,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"State of Johannesburg versus the blues. Speaker, as per Rule 84, as ActionSA we would like to put on record our opposition to this unethical appointment. I smell a rat. This is the second appointment from the Department of Health. Public safe Public Safety is the heartbeat of our city. We cannot afford uh We cannot afford leaders clouded by investigations."},{"start":16973,"end":17003,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Johannesburg deserves leaders who pass both the competency test and the integrity test. I will repeat this. Johannesburg does not need leaders who are merely qualified on paper. It needs leaders who are clean, ethical, and trusted. Speaker, as ActionSA we stand for integrity, transparency, and service excellence. This is proven in the City of Tshwane,"},{"start":17003,"end":17013,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"hence the ANC leaders in Tshwane are manufacturing stories that does not exist about the Executive Mayor of Tshwane. Johannesburg deserves uh better."},{"start":17013,"end":17029,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor, just hold on. Whoever is sitting by the mic of Councillor Gwamanda, can you switch it off? Thank you, councillor, you can carry on."},{"start":17029,"end":17051,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Eish, those that have got a problem with my accent, eish I don't know. ActionSA stands for integrity, transparency, and deserve service excellence. This is proven in the City of Johannesburg, hence um All right. Speaker, I need protection from the red people. Johanne-"},{"start":17051,"end":17080,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You know yourself. Let's be honest, if this government continues to govern Johannesburg, Johannesburg will be a ghost town. Honourable Speaker, the people of Johannesburg are tired of excuses, they are tired of corruption, they are tired of ANC failed governance. With Johannesburg facing service delivery failures, unemployment and infrastructure decay, we need lea- leadership that puts the residents first."},{"start":17080,"end":17111,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Some politicians need to check their expiry date on their careers. And those benefiting from this broken system, get your CVs ready. Change is coming, especially for those parties with two seats. Less politics, more potholes fixed, more jobs, more accountability, only ActionSA can fix Johannesburg. Only Herman Mashaba can fix Johannesburg, the rest of you take the back seat."},{"start":17111,"end":17131,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Who's going to stand in for Councillor Nhlapo? Who's standing in for Councillor Nhlapo from the EFF? Or do we move on? Councillor Mogapi."},{"start":17131,"end":17136,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. On behalf of Councillor Nhlapo, we note the report."},{"start":17136,"end":17157,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Mogapi. Councillor Mzolo."},{"start":17157,"end":17187,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Eh, yikho lokho Speaker. Eh, ngikubingelele Speaker, ngibingelele i-Executive Mayor, ngibingelele i-Deputy Executive Mayor, ngibingelele ama-MMC akhona la ngaphakathi kwethu, ngibingelele amakhansela amahle we-GLU, abanye angisababingeleli angithi bayakhala mangibabingelela. Ngibingelele abahlali baseGoli, ngibingelele ezami eSoweto. Lo omi lana uKhansela uMzolo,"},{"start":17187,"end":17194,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"umakhelwane kaKhansela uRadebe esiqeda ukumbeka njengosihlalo we-Finance."},{"start":17194,"end":17226,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So, Speaker, I rise on item 38. Uh, but Madam Speaker, I will not spend my entire time reading what is in the report, the report is there for everyone to read. What is important Speaker is that uh Public Safety needs professional leadership, it needs measurable performance, it needs accountability, most important it needs leadership that serve the residents of Johannesburg rather than political egos."},{"start":17226,"end":17256,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, let us respect due process, let us respect the presumption of innocence, let us respect the integrity of the city. Let us manage identified risk and ensure that the susfe- successful candidate is held to clear performance and governmental standards. Uh Speaker, uh what is interesting is the is what is happening when I look around council."},{"start":17256,"end":17285,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, uh the DA loves presenting itself as the party of seriousness, professionalism, and discipline, yet somehow their biggest contribution today in council is turning up uh as walking billboards in those ugly blue T-shirts. We have an Uh when I look around, I see a silver fox being told what to wear to council. Imagine that, Madam Speaker,"},{"start":17285,"end":17318,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"a grown man who has lived long enough to earn the silver in their hair now apparently needs political fashion instructions before he can enter these chambers. They They come dressed alike, speak alike, vote alike. At some point you must ask you you have to ask are these councillors exercising independent political judgment or are they or are they simply following instructions from the blue headquarters? And the DA should be careful about lecturing everyone about leadership. Johannesburg does not need politi-"},{"start":17318,"end":17330,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mzolo. Councillor, just hold on for me. Councillor Christians, what's your point of order?"},{"start":17330,"end":17347,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, decorum again. It seems that Speaker, you can hear decorum. I'm being shouted at in the while I'm speaking to you, Speaker. Speaker, in terms of Rule 72, we spoke about decorum. This is now in"},{"start":17347,"end":17350,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Christians, can I get the rule?"},{"start":17350,"end":17352,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"In terms of Rule 72 Madam Speaker, point of order."},{"start":17352,"end":17369,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Deppe, switch off your mic. Councillor Deppe, switch off your mic. And if Deppe is not here, somebody has switched on her mic. Thank you, Councillor Christians."},{"start":17369,"end":17386,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"In terms of Rule 72(1) Madam Speaker, I did say it, unfortunately you didn't hear it because there was howling from the other side. Madam Speaker, we're talking about decorum and processes of council. You just warned the councillor who's speaking now about bringing this house down, he's continuing. Councillor Mzolo"},{"start":17386,"end":17388,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu,"},{"start":17388,"end":17396,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"remember. We are people because we are of people, don't forget that, thank you."},{"start":17396,"end":17405,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh Councillor Christians, his language was was good. Um Councillor Mzolo, your time is running, Councillor Mzolo."},{"start":17405,"end":17411,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, uh thank you Speaker. Uh I did not get the previous councillor's name, but it's true."},{"start":17411,"end":17432,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. Nami lokhu engikwenzayo la lomjovo engiwufakayo ngiyanisiza ukuthi nakusasa manicabanga ukwenza lokhu enikwenzile nikhuzane, nizibheke nithi ngempela sibadala kangaka soze saphathwa abantu. Buka nje nami ngigqoke ishembe lami lokugcina kodwa anihloniphi nize neyikibha eyi-blue. Asikho lapho khansela, nakhu la sikhona."},{"start":17432,"end":17455,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Johannesburg does not need politicians who spend more time managing appearances than addressing the daily struggles of residents. A blue T-shirt does not fix a pothole. A blue T-shirt does not restore electricity. A blue T-shirt does not make our communities safer, and wearing the same shirt certainly does not make an opposition party more effective."},{"start":17455,"end":17458,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Eh, ngoba sebakhala kakhulu sengize ngapha."},{"start":17458,"end":17485,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Then we have ActionSA, the party that sometimes gives the impression that political independence is optional. Madam Speaker, their politics can resemble a cult of personalities. Mashaba speaks, everyone nods. Mashaba moves, everyone follows. Mashaba decides, suddenly suddenly they discover that it's their"},{"start":17485,"end":17490,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Uyezwa angithi phela? Mangikhuluma bese kuthiwa Ngiyabonga Speaker."},{"start":17490,"end":17503,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh Mashaba Mashaba decides, everyone suddenly discovers that it was it was their idea all along. Council needs political parties with a mandate and councillors with a backbone,"},{"start":17503,"end":17505,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"baba kabani bani,"},{"start":17505,"end":17534,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"not political discipline waiting for the next instructions. So Madam Speaker, while the DA worries about blue T-shirts and ActionSA worries about pleasing Mashaba, we'll focus on the residents of Johannesburg. Item 38 requires oversight, yes, it requires accountability, yes, but more importantly it requires leadership that understands that public office is about serving people, not performing politics."},{"start":17534,"end":17543,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Let DA keep their matching T-shirts. Let ActionSA keep their political worship. We'll keep doing the work."},{"start":17543,"end":17552,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ngabe sengiyakhuluma ngabanye abanama-seats awu-two abahlezi bekhotha iBhayibheli kodwa sekuyisikhathi se-lunch, ngiyabonga."},{"start":17552,"end":17567,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Mzolo. Councillor Mabaso, MMC Mabaso. Can I Can we hear the response from the MMC?"},{"start":17567,"end":17579,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ayi. Kahle kahle Speaker yazi sinenkinga entsha manje mina angazi sizoyithini le. Angazi sizoyithini le nkinga kaMzolo manje lapha eyi."},{"start":17579,"end":17606,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, but uh thank you very much, Speaker. Uh Speaker, I think as this council we must appreciate that finally we are filling this position that has been vacant for too long. That's what we must appreciate. Public Safety is one of the departments uh that has suffered instability for quite some time. Uh but Speaker, over and above that,"},{"start":17606,"end":17636,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the recommendations uh that are presented in the report, they does actually protect the interest of council. If you look at recommendation three and recommendation five, they talk to the clearance the security clearance that must be provided prior to the finalisation of the appointment uh of the of the ED. So, if there are any"},{"start":17636,"end":17670,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"security issues uh that are there Speaker, I think that process will then assist this council. And I request Speaker that we approve this report. The interest of council will be protected in the process. The requirement of the security clearance I think will be adhered to prior to finalisation of the appointment. But this appointment is going to assist us as the city to stabilise"},{"start":17670,"end":17686,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"all these departments uh that have enjoyed the instability for quite some time. So, I will request and urge this council to approve this report so that we stabilise Public Safety. Thank you very much."},{"start":17686,"end":17699,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, MMC um Mabaso. Colleagues, the recommendations are on page 38.11 to 38.12, is the item agreed to?"},{"start":17699,"end":17712,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No!"},{"start":17712,"end":17741,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. Can I go for a second time? Is it agreed to? Colleagues, the yeses have it. Councillor Christians."},{"start":17741,"end":17765,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, our speaker clearly stated the the illegal the the the illegal parts of this uh this uh item. Madam Speaker, please record the Democratic Alliance's uh opposition to this item in terms of Rule 84, and we reserve our rights. Thank you."},{"start":17765,"end":17769,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor De Lange and Councillor Harris."},{"start":17769,"end":17775,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just for the council record also just note"},{"start":17775,"end":17775,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you."},{"start":17775,"end":17777,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the VF Plus doesn't support this item. Thank you."},{"start":17777,"end":17780,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Harris."},{"start":17780,"end":17788,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, uh I concur in terms of Rule 84, the ACDP's dissension must please be noted. Thank you."},{"start":17788,"end":17795,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Harris. Councillor Malelele Mabelebele, oh sorry."},{"start":17795,"end":17800,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yeah. Uh Speaker, thank you. Please uh do note uh ActionSA's dissent as well, thank you."},{"start":17800,"end":18000,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. We are also noting there that it went through according to the vote earlier. Thank you, colleagues. We are going to break for lunch. It is now 14:55, we are going to come back You are running out, you don't even know what time you're coming back! You are coming back at 15:30, and 15:30 sharp."},{"start":18059,"end":18061,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Oh mame!"},{"start":18061,"end":18062,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay."},{"start":18062,"end":18070,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Akazi"},{"start":18070,"end":18071,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Sure, sure, sure."},{"start":18071,"end":18080,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Hhayi a marabi."},{"start":18080,"end":18081,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ubani lo?"},{"start":18081,"end":18082,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ayi akalali wena."},{"start":18082,"end":18085,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"U,"},{"start":18085,"end":18131,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Hhayi hhe-eh ayenzi lento."},{"start":18131,"end":18143,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Hey! Okay."},{"start":18143,"end":18417,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Yazi uyabo, bebese bheda uyabo, eish!"},{"start":18417,"end":18425,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, okay, okay, not so."},{"start":18425,"end":18426,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Alright."},{"start":18426,"end":18449,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Hhayi ushaphu."},{"start":18449,"end":18499,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"Le batla mang?"},{"start":18499,"end":18505,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Oh ha."},{"start":18505,"end":18506,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Two."},{"start":18506,"end":18706,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay."},{"start":18706,"end":18708,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ehena awuboni inyama?"},{"start":18708,"end":19009,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Inyama ya."},{"start":19009,"end":19015,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Kahle le isale ibusy ngizohlala ngiphethe ucingo yho."},{"start":19015,"end":19058,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Yoh!"},{"start":19058,"end":19271,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Ufuna umuzwa ukuthi awukho right."},{"start":19271,"end":19283,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Mukomi."},{"start":19283,"end":19302,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Eyi iyaphusha 35."},{"start":19302,"end":19489,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And I just counted myself."},{"start":19489,"end":19492,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Yebo."},{"start":19492,"end":19530,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Shame."},{"start":19530,"end":19597,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Alright."},{"start":19597,"end":19800,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Hha-a."},{"start":20920,"end":20940,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can I ask all the whips that are here to get their councillors to come in. We are already 20 minutes late. Why are we doing this? You are not the entire council Kyle. Kyle."},{"start":20940,"end":20946,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Begin jy. Gaan jy my? Gaan jy my?"},{"start":20971,"end":20985,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh colleagues, can we get the aircon working? Hello, Patience. Patience. Hello, Patience. Can we get the aircon working, please?"},{"start":20999,"end":21003,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Yazi iqiniswa."},{"start":21043,"end":21052,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Let's just say in the next 20 minutes. So can we commit on 20 minutes, ne?"},{"start":21064,"end":21093,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The aircon happens to be upstairs and they are busy with it. They said I must tell you the next 20 minutes. The aircon cannot move from upstairs. Colleagues, can we carry on with our meeting? I'm not a whip so I can't be whipping people outside. Can we get in?"},{"start":21098,"end":21101,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, what's the next item? Can"},{"start":21117,"end":21130,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Chair of chairs. Where's the whip? And where's the executive?"},{"start":21135,"end":21158,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC Amad, can you take your seat? Uh councillors, we resume on item five and that is the introduction of CoJ Security Access Restriction by-laws."},{"start":21158,"end":21175,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We are back to our normal agenda. So we on the item that was number five. And we will call on the ACDP Councillor C. Rohlssen. He is not in. So is there anyone from the ACDP that's taking over?"},{"start":21175,"end":21178,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh yes, certainly there is, Madam Speaker."},{"start":21178,"end":21179,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, councillor."},{"start":21179,"end":21186,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh I rise to speak to uh the this item, item five. The intention to"},{"start":21186,"end":21188,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Please speak into the mic, Councillor Harris."},{"start":21188,"end":21235,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"introduce a new Security Access uh Restriction by-law, and then also the public participation for these laws. Before I say that the ACDP will uh note these reports, Madam Speaker, may I just uh commend the uh Johannesburg Zoo for the fantastic job that they are doing in terms of making that facility such a welcoming, clean, and world-class facility available to the citizens of Johannesburg. So, um I just want to commend the MMC for overseeing politically one of the better uh departments within the city. Having said that, uh the ACDP notes this report. Thank you."},{"start":21235,"end":21243,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Harris. Can we have Councillor Kreusch? I hope I'm pronouncing it right. From the DA."},{"start":21243,"end":21266,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh thank you, Madam Speaker. Then I'll go with that, cuz I still know who I am. Um thank you. I rise, Madam Speaker, on item five. Uh all protocol observed. Now, when I joined council in 10 years ago, the the uh restricted suburbs at the time were roughly about 300."},{"start":21266,"end":21274,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor, just hold on. Councillor Wissler, can you please um ask the councillors next to you to lower their voices?"},{"start":21274,"end":21275,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you."},{"start":21275,"end":21277,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, councillor."},{"start":21277,"end":21368,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Uh hope I get rewarded the lost time. Um so so what we've seen is we've seen the growth from 300 to roughly 500 road closures within the City of Johannesburg. Now, I want to categorically make it very clear that the DA supports the uh road closure policy from 2018 in its entirety, and we must acknowledge the importance of residents being able to secure themselves, but it's also important that we do it in an orderly manner as these estates and closures increase in size. And that's obviously due to the collapse of policing and law and order and enforcement, etc. So So I want to make it very clear that uh we support the closure policy, but we also support the need for uh uh by-laws to be able to enforce and uh uh encourage compliance as these estates grow. So So in that sense, we see this as a strengthening and uh robusting, if you want to call it, of the road closure policy and making it more tenable and encouraging accountability, as well as uh protecting social cohesion, cuz it's very important that societies are able to uh engage one another and that there are mechanisms in place to be able to support that. So So in principle, the DA does support the uh public participation of uh the by-laws for the City of Johannesburg, but I reserve some conditions on behalf of the Democratic Alliance, and I think"},{"start":21368,"end":21443,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"one of them is that there is a bona fide and comprehensive public participation. We really need uh associations to participate. We need residents. We need importantly affected parties to be able to contribute to those uh by-laws and and what they are are going to be uh encouraged to do. And And secondly, the other provision from the Democratic Alliance is that it comes to the Section 79 Transport Committee in the next term, so that they can provide themselves some input and accountability to the quality and nature of those uh by-laws, and make sure that they are conducive for everybody, and the fact that they are constitutionally viable. So, that's where we stand on that. Now, I don't know about you, but I certainly believe in Joburg, and I'm looking forward to the next couple of months and the elections, and I would like to to throw it out to this entire chambers, those who believe in Joburg, to stand up and to stand in solidarity about whether they do believe in this Johannesburg, and certainly in a Johannesburg governed by uh a DA government and led by an amazing lady called Helen Zille. And so I close my uh item with that. Thank you."},{"start":21443,"end":21465,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor T. Thema from ActionSA. Councillor not here. Thank you. Can we have Councillor Komane from EFF? Councillor not here. Can we have Councillor Supe from the ANC? Thank you."},{"start":21465,"end":21481,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Greetings, Speaker. Madam Speaker, let me greet the Executive Mayor, member of the Mayoral Committee, fellow councillor, official and the resident of Johannesburg. Special greetings to our"},{"start":21481,"end":21482,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Nobhala,"},{"start":21482,"end":21506,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, Comrade Sasabona Manganye. Speaker, let me begin by congratulating the ANC on a successful holding its manifesto launch at Riverside. It was an important opportunity to engage community and reaffirm our commitment to the people of Johannesburg. That is why"},{"start":21506,"end":21507,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"ngithi,"},{"start":21507,"end":21508,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker,"},{"start":21508,"end":21510,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"ngithi ngibonga uNobhala."},{"start":21510,"end":21600,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, I rise to speak on item five dealing with the proposed Security Access Restriction by-laws. We welcome the effort to establish a clear and consistent framework for security-related access restriction. Johannesburg is a complex city, and the residents deserve both safety and accessibility. Community must be able to take reasonable measure to improve security. To build road must remain accessible to emergency service, public transport, pedestrian and other legitimate users. Madam Speaker, implementation must be supported by clear responsibility, reasonable time frame, and proper condition between the relevant city department including JRA, JMPD, and emergency service. Meaningful public participating is also essential. Affected resident, business, and community organization must have opportunity to raise their concern and provide input. We particularly emphasize emergency access. No restriction should ever prevent an ambulance, fire engine, or law enforcement vehicle."},{"start":21600,"end":21606,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"from reaching resident in an emergency."},{"start":21606,"end":21636,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The city must also assess the traffic impact of restriction as closing or restricting one road can simply shift congestion to surrounding area. Approving restriction must further be monitored and periodically reviewed because circumstances and community needs change. The city should also maintain a centrally accessible record to approve of approved"},{"start":21636,"end":21666,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"restriction to promote transparency and accountability. Our key recommendation are therefore: Number one, clear and transparent application criteria. Number two, guaranteed emergency and essential service access. Number three, meaningful consultation with affected communities. Madam Speaker, ultimately, we must find the right balance between safer communities"},{"start":21666,"end":21696,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and accessible public roads. We support the direction of the item and call for an implementation framework that is fair, transparent, practical and responsive to resident. Madam Speaker, I wish to inform this council that the Ward 111, Glenfountain and Ebony Park is the home for ANC and we wish to make a promise we are we"},{"start":21696,"end":21717,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"we're going to have a CAPEX budget and advance service delivery. We also wish to inform this council that Ward 111 is no-go area for the DA, Freedom Front Plus, Speaker. Thank you, Speaker."},{"start":21717,"end":21722,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Councillor Christians."},{"start":21722,"end":21727,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Christians."},{"start":21727,"end":21745,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we spoke about decorum before lunch. Now, the Constitution of this country is being hindered. There are no no-go areas in South Africa. And that is a direct threat in this House, Madam Speaker, and you need to take action. Thank you."},{"start":21745,"end":21751,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Supe. Councillor Supe."},{"start":21751,"end":21768,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Supe, can you withdraw where you are saying no-go areas? That is a threat on its own. You can't say there's no-go area. We all can go where we want to go."},{"start":21768,"end":21771,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, no, no, colleagues. Colleagues, the time is"},{"start":21771,"end":21773,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, Speaker. I withdraw, Speaker."},{"start":21773,"end":21777,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Ma'am. Thank you so much."},{"start":21777,"end":21789,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor ag, MMC Amad, can you please respond to the to the item? You were the only MMC inside here whilst the"},{"start":21789,"end":21790,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, they just walked in."},{"start":21790,"end":21794,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, no, no. Please respond. They did not hear anything."},{"start":21794,"end":21819,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Speaker. Councillor Harris and all the councillors who have made the input, I will indeed escalate the inputs to MMC Kunene. We welcome those inputs, and I will also tell him to be like the MMC who's responsible for City Parks and Zoo. Thank you."},{"start":21819,"end":21824,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor, ag, thank you, MMC."},{"start":21824,"end":21831,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Next item."},{"start":21831,"end":21846,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Just hold on. Just hold on, colleagues. We are multitasking here. Recommendations are on page 4.5. Is the item agreed to? 5.4, sorry."},{"start":21846,"end":21850,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Do we agree to the item?"},{"start":21850,"end":21851,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you."},{"start":21851,"end":21864,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Item 6 is acceptance of grant funding from the Global Environment Facility for project implementation in collaboration with the Development Bank of South Africa."},{"start":21864,"end":21870,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Freedom Front Plus, you are two, so I'm not sure who's going to speak."},{"start":21870,"end":21872,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Raadslid Boer."},{"start":21872,"end":21875,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Dankie, Mevrou die Speaker."},{"start":21875,"end":21888,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"My caucus leader has sent the speakers list through on Monday evening, and I was also on the speakers list for Item Number 6, so can I please be acknowledged on this item? Thank you."},{"start":21888,"end":21891,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Ons gaan jou laaste vat, nê?"},{"start":21891,"end":21898,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. Councillor Harris."},{"start":21898,"end":21906,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Good afternoon once again, Madam Speaker. I rise to speak to the acceptance of the grant funding from the Global Environmental Facility."},{"start":21906,"end":21909,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Please speak into the mic, Councillor."},{"start":21909,"end":21936,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Certainly. The ACDP welcomes the inclusion of the City of Johannesburg in the Sustainable Cities Integrated Program. The program is a pilot in the city where rooftop solar photovoltaic systems will be installed on municipal buildings to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and strengthen energy security. The pilot project is intended to demonstrate the technical and operational viability of"},{"start":21936,"end":21945,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Harris, hold on. Executive Mayor and Councillor Ndlela. Thank you. Councillor Harris."},{"start":21945,"end":21975,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Are you resetting the clock, Madam? The pilot project is intended to demonstrate the technical and operational viability of rooftop solar installations, though it will contribute only a portion of the total potential identified in a study. While this project is confined to municipal buildings, we trust the city will become a leading advisory service to residents who want to implement similar technology. There are advantages and disadvantages to using"},{"start":21975,"end":22005,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"solar energy and renewable energy integration as part of the energy mix and energy grid. We trust this pilot will generate more advantages for citizens, specifically with relation to the cost associated with generating electricity. The unanswered question to this stage, at this stage, is what will the return on investment be on the 6.5 million US dollars the city is required to pay over the next five years"},{"start":22005,"end":22013,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"for this project? So, having said that, Madam Speaker, the ACDP acknowledges and notes this report. Thank you."},{"start":22013,"end":22023,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor Harris. Councillor U. Lotz from GOOD."},{"start":22023,"end":22054,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, Executive Mayor, members of the Mayoral Committee, fellow councillors, officials, and the residents of Johannesburg. Speaker, I rise to speak on Item 6.1. I stand here with humility, but also with clarity. Johannesburg is a city of immense potential, but also immense pressure. Our residents expect stability, accountability, and reliable services. They expect us to manage public finances responsibly,"},{"start":22054,"end":22085,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and they expect us to deliver. As council considers major programs, including the Global Environment Facility's Sustainable Cities Planning and Decarbonisation Program, we must recognize both the opportunity and the responsibility. The GEF-8 grant brings approximately 54 million into our city for rooftop solar, energy efficiency upgrades, modern metering, and net-zero planning. These are important interventions"},{"start":22085,"end":22118,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that can strengthen our resilience and reduce our reliance on Eskom. But the grant also requires a co-financing commitment of 117 million over three years. This is drawn from City Power's existing Medium-Term Financial Expenditure allocations. It is not new money. It is money already under pressure from ageing infrastructure, maintenance backlogs, and service delivery demands. This means we must be vigilant, we must ensure that multi-year commitments"},{"start":22118,"end":22150,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"remain realistic. We must guard against procurement delays, exchange rate volatility, and a billing system that and billing system vulnerabilities that undermine revenue collection. And we must strengthen oversight over municipal entities, because they carry the weight of our commitments. If they fail, the city fails. If they succeed, the city succeeds. Delegation of authority to the City Manager and Executive Director"},{"start":22150,"end":22170,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"for Environment and Infrastructure Services is normal and legally compliant, but delegation does not mean abdication. Council retains full oversight over City Power, over procurement, over budgets, and over reporting. Oversight is not a technicality; it is a safeguard."},{"start":22170,"end":22172,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"35 seconds."},{"start":22172,"end":22199,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"My commitment in this chamber is simple: to ensure that every rand we spend delivers measurable value; to ensure that every commitment we make is matched by the capacity to deliver; to ensure that Johannesburg plans realistically, spends wisely, and delivers consistently. Our residents deserve a city that is responsible, resilient, and ready for the future. I intend to play my part in making that a reality. Thank you, Speaker. The report is noted."},{"start":22199,"end":22211,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Councillor Y. Zigebe from the UDM."},{"start":22211,"end":22242,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, the transition to cleaner and more reliable energy is no longer merely an environmental ambition. It is an economic, financial, and service delivery necessity for Johannesburg. This program offers the city an opportunity to improve energy efficiency in municipal facilities, install rooftop solar, modernize bidirectional metering, and strengthen the technical planning required for a lower-carbon future. However, we must be clear about what is before us."},{"start":22242,"end":22272,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The estimated 200 megawatts of rooftop solar and 10 megawatts of battery storage represents the city's potential. They are not what this 54 million grant will immediately deliver. Council must guard against presenting a pilot project as though it were already a city-wide energy solution. The pilot must instead prove that the city can design, procure, implement, and maintain renewable energy infrastructure responsibly. If it succeeds, it can become"},{"start":22272,"end":22303,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"a credible foundation for expansion and further investment. Speaker, the city is also indicating co-financing of approximately just above 100 million from City Power's medium-term allocations. While this commitment is not contractually binding and remains subject to annual budget approval, council must still insist that existing infrastructure priorities are not displaced without proper justification. Every rand committed must produce measurable value, reduced electricity costs, greater energy resilience,"},{"start":22303,"end":22332,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"functioning municipal facilities, and a credible pathway towards reducing dependence on Eskom. We further welcome the proposed modernization of metering and billing systems. Johannesburg cannot build an embedded generation market on inaccurate accounts, unregistered installations, and unreliable data. Bidirectional metering, feed-in arrangements, and electricity wheeling must be governed by transparent tariffs, sound systems, and equal access to opportunities, not reserved"},{"start":22332,"end":22362,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"for large private interests only. This program must also create opportunities for local technicians, young graduates, small businesses, and communities historically excluded from the energy economy. The UDM supports this item, but our support carries an expectation of disciplined implementation, transparent procurement, and regular reporting to council. We should receive clear milestones, expenditure reports, energy generated, savings achieved, and the number of municipal facilities benefiting."},{"start":22362,"end":22372,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Johannesburg must move from studying its energy future to responsibly building it. Joburg can work. Let's get to work."},{"start":22372,"end":22395,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Koekemoer from the DA. Are you around? Okay."},{"start":22395,"end":22400,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Your time is starting."},{"start":22400,"end":22413,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Chuma, switch off your mic. You are not even on the speakers list. Councillor Moatshe, switch off your mic."},{"start":22413,"end":22442,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Looks like we are playing musical mics today. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to speak on Item 6, which asks council to approve the acceptance of a 3 million US dollar international grant to support Johannesburg's Energy Resilience Program. The funding will be used for energy efficiency projects, rooftop solar on municipal buildings, bidirectional metering, electricity wheeling, and studies to reduce the city's reliance on Eskom."},{"start":22442,"end":22472,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The DA supports the item as the objectives are broadly aligned with existing DA positions on municipal own generation, private sector participation, and market reforms on renewable energy. The DA's energy policy explicitly supports a diversified and competitive electricity market. We cannot, however, support this item as an unconditional future-dated blank cheque. The only reservations we have is that the city must ensure that the commitments do not create unfunded obligations,"},{"start":22472,"end":22487,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"or override planning and budgetary processes. Grant conditions must be accompanied by strict oversight to ensure transparent procurement and measurable outcomes and proper management. But we support the item. Thank you, Madam Speaker."},{"start":22487,"end":22499,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Koekemoer. Councillor Masuku from ActionSA."},{"start":22499,"end":22513,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. I'll speak on behalf of Councillor Masuku. Speaker of Council, Executive Mayor, members of the Mayoral Committee, fellow councillors, residents of the City of Johannesburg,"},{"start":22513,"end":22516,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"dumelang."},{"start":22516,"end":22546,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I stand to speak on Item 6. Speaker, there are times in this council when we must disagree, when we must interrogate, and when we must demand better. But there are also times when an opportunity is clearly in the interest of Johannesburg and its residents, and we must have the wisdom to recognize it. This is one of those opportunities. The city has been allocated 3 million US dollars,"},{"start":22546,"end":22577,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"approximately 54 million, in grant funding through the Global Environment Facility in partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Speaker, we are talking about funding that will support energy efficiency improvements in municipal facilities, rooftop solar, improvements to our metering and billing systems, and technical work towards a more energy-resilient Johannesburg."},{"start":22577,"end":22607,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"At a time when our electricity infrastructure is under tremendous pressure, when City Power is financially constrained, and when residents and businesses continue to feel the consequences of an unreliable electricity network, this grant couldn't have come at a better time. There is a saying that do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and I think that principle applies here. However, Speaker, supporting this item does not mean that we stop asking difficult questions."},{"start":22607,"end":22637,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"In fact, responsible governance requires us to do both: take the opportunity and interrogate the risk, because there is one aspect of this report that deserves council's attention. The city has indicated approximately 6.5 US dollars, around 117 million, in co-financing derived from City Power's budget allocation for renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives."},{"start":22637,"end":22668,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yet, the report also tells us that allocation is not contractually binding and remains subject to annual budget approval and available fiscal resources. That raises an important question: What happens if the city is unable to provide the full co-financing commitment? Could that place the grant at risk? Could it create future financial or implementation obligations to the city? Those are the questions that must be answered, because, Speaker, getting the money is one thing;"},{"start":22668,"end":22698,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"turning that money into infrastructure that actually works is another. We have seen too many projects in the city begin with announcements, budget, and ambitious targets, only for the implementation to become the problem. That cannot happen here. If we accept this funding, then there must be proper project management, proper financial controls, clear timelines, and continuous oversight. And ultimately, residents must be able to see what that investment has delivered."},{"start":22698,"end":22725,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So, yes, Speaker, we support this grant, not blindly, not without questions, but because Johannesburg cannot afford to reject an opportunity to strengthen its energy resilience simply because there are risks that require proper management. Our responsibility is not to run away from those risks; our responsibility is to manage them, oversee them, and make sure that this opportunity delivers for Johannesburg. ActionSA supports this item. Thank you."},{"start":22725,"end":22739,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Mkasi from EFF."},{"start":22739,"end":22771,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Speaker. All protocols observed. The EFF supports Item 6 because we cannot reject resources that strengthen the capacity of this city to deliver sustainability. The report proposes the acceptance of a 3 million US dollar Global Environmental Facility grant, approximately 54 million, for Sustainable Cities Planning and Decarbonisation Integrated Program."},{"start":22771,"end":22800,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The city is further committing approximately 6.5 million US dollars in co-financing over the medium-term period. But, Speaker, let us be clear: supporting this item does not mean giving the administration a blank cheque. The report speaks about sustainable cities, resilient infrastructure, energy efficiency, solar PV, and climate resilience. Fine."},{"start":22800,"end":22831,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"But sustainability cannot be measured only by how many solar panels we install on municipal buildings. A city is not sustainable when people in Zandspruit wake up without water. A municipality cannot speak proudly about becoming a climate-resilient city while working-class communities are forced to queue for water, buy water, borrow water, and live with unreliable supply. The EFF 2026 local government manifesto says that municipalities must guarantee universal,"},{"start":22831,"end":22862,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"reliable, and affordable access to basic services, and that qualifying poor households must receive free basic water. It further commits EFF municipalities to repairing, expanding, and maintaining water infrastructure, including pipes, reservoirs, and treatment plants, while eliminating water losses caused by leaks and poor maintenance. That is exactly where Zandspruit must enter this discussion. Because when we look at this report, we see detailed commitments"},{"start":22862,"end":22893,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"around rooftop solar, energy efficiency, metering, and feasibility studies, but we do not see a dedicated intervention in this item for the water crisis confronting communities such as Zandspruit. Therefore, our support must come with a political demand. The city must not use sustainability funding as an excuse to postpone basic service delivery. We demand that the administration identify the water infrastructure failures in Johannesburg, quantify the backlog, identify the funding required,"},{"start":22893,"end":22899,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"provide a timetable for intervention, and report back to council on actual progress."},{"start":22899,"end":22904,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"ts","text":"Vanhu va ka hina a va na mati, ende mati i vutomi. Handle ka mati, ku hava vutomi."},{"start":22904,"end":22927,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The EFF manifesto is very clear: rebuild internal municipal capacity by employing engineers, plumbers, technicians, artisans, and other skilled professionals, and establish permanent municipal teams responsible for roads, water, and sanitation. That is the solution we need. We do not need another endless cycle of consultants producing reports while people of Transit Camp"},{"start":22927,"end":22928,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"ba hloka metsi."},{"start":22928,"end":22939,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We need pipes repaired, reservoirs upgraded, pressure stabilized, leaks fixed, and water delivered to people of Scrapyard and Phumlani."},{"start":22939,"end":22942,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"st","text":"Botshelo bo ko Konda batho ba sena metsi."},{"start":22942,"end":22948,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The manifesto even commits EFF municipalities to fixing water leaks"},{"start":22948,"end":22979,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"GEF because of it is being complemented by National Environmental Management Act of 1998, which is also a foundational statutory framework for Environmental Management Act through government of South Africa. It is also tabled that energy mix is an alternative energy usage, which is one of the very important asset, which is very one of the important element that we need to utilize in making sure that we're educating our community to utilize a alternative energy usage,"},{"start":22979,"end":23010,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"in sustainable development for service delivery that it's supposed to be effective in our communities. Speaker, it's also a resilient and energy efficiency for urban environment enabling green infrastructure for financial sustainability in development of our infrastructure, also in reducing dependency on Eskom and non-renewable energy infrastructure crisis that we are facing, also due to the expansion of our South African population."},{"start":23010,"end":23041,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, Global Environment Facility is also a trust fund established in 1992 during the Rio Earth Summit to help and tackle our planet's most pressing environmental issues like climate change and global warming that is affecting our environmental infrastructure. Speaker, Global Environment Facility consists of 189 international countries, and it's internationally which also consists"},{"start":23041,"end":23073,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"of international institutions, which is academics and also meritocratic and also civic society organizations, and also private sector are also part of Environmental Facility, Global Environmental Facility, and in addressing environmental issues, including raising awareness around the importance of mixed energy. Speaker, Global Environmental Facility funding is going to support the project"},{"start":23073,"end":23090,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that is contributed by the donors from all over our continent, which consists of 40 Global Environmental Facilities,"},{"start":23090,"end":23119,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"which they contribute financially, contributed from the donor countries, which are representing every which they replenish in every four years. The World Bank serves as a Global Environmental Facility trustee administration, the Global Environment Facility trust fund, and in South Africa, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries,"},{"start":23119,"end":23151,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and Environment is responsible for administration of Global Environmental Facility in this country. There are almost 126 projects in the Global Environmental Facility in South African portfolios that include 57 of national and 69 at a regional and global level."},{"start":23151,"end":23182,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, in June 2022, Global Environmental Facility has mobilized almost 885 million of funding resources for this project in South Africa. The Sustainable Cities Integrated Program is one of the focal areas in Global Environmental Facility 8 Integrated Programs. The World Bank is the lead implementation agency, and the DBSA is leading the South African child project."},{"start":23182,"end":23220,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The program serves as a pivotal platform for urban areas worldwide to adopt integrated planning and implementation strategies towards sustainability. Building on foundational work on the Global Environment Facility 6 cycle, DBSA is a part of the City of Johannesburg project and the program that has evolved under the Global Environmental Facility 8 cycle, and now in Global Environmental Facility 8,"},{"start":23220,"end":23250,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"it's focusing on the low-carbon and resilient infrastructure, sustainable waste management, and nature-based solutions. Speaker, the Integrated Program targets selected municipalities, including metropolitan, secondary cities, to transform urban system infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that affect our ozone layer, to improve energy across"},{"start":23250,"end":23287,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"our country, and enhance our environmental sustainability. Speaker, the City of Joburg is among the municipalities approved to participate in SCIP under the Global Environmental Facility 8 that has allocated almost 3 million US dollars, as confirmed in the letter from the DBSA, Annexure A. DBSA appointed the consultancy"},{"start":23287,"end":23317,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"to lead the project preparation phase and also to a proper prior planning. This phase, Speaker, has involved active engagement with selected municipalities across the country to develop a detailed project proposal in line with SCIP objectives. Speaker,"},{"start":23317,"end":23350,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"these documents form the basis for the final endorsement process by the Global Environmental Facility Chief Executive Officer, CEO, and also this GEF has also granted final approval for South African Sustainable Cities Planning and Decarbonisation Integrated Program, thus marking our successful completion of the endorsement process. Speaker, on energy efficiency improvement in the City of Joburg facilities,"},{"start":23350,"end":23387,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the City of Joburg aims to implement targeted energy efficiency interventions across the municipality and facilities. The inclusion of retrofitting existing infrastructure with energy-efficient fittings, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, HVAC systems, and water heating, implementation of smart energy management systems, and promoting of behavioral change initiatives. This effort will contribute to reduce the city's operational consumption"},{"start":23387,"end":23400,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and associated emissions, while also lowering utility costs. Speaker, Johannesburg Metropolitan"},{"start":23400,"end":23431,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Metro Police Department has been selected as a pilot for energy efficiency and renewal energy initiative because, because of the strategic importance as a key point for the city security of, if our infrastructure. Eh, Speaker, as critical municipality service, JMPD operate must be, JMPD operations must be, must remain, must always remain fully eh functional, making sure that energy liability and eh,"},{"start":23431,"end":23452,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"also resilient is essential. Around solar system, eh Speaker, eh we deployed municipalities are eh for on the rooftop. Eh from the rooftop. Eh Speaker, the City of Joburg intend to roll PV system on the rooftop of municipality."},{"start":23452,"end":23453,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"45 seconds left, councillor."},{"start":23453,"end":23475,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"buildings as a part of embedded generations for focus will be utilizing roof space and generate clean energy eh to reduce reliance on the national grid and contribute of City of, city long-term sustainable of five goals. Eh Speaker, this initiative will also"},{"start":23475,"end":23476,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"32 seconds."},{"start":23476,"end":23479,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Hmm? Pardon?"},{"start":23479,"end":23481,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You have 30 seconds left."},{"start":23481,"end":23506,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, thanks, thanks, thank you, Speaker. Eh, this initiative will also serve as a model to, for expanding renewal energy and uptake across the sectors. The implementation of, the implementation of bi-directional metering and billing system to is, is to make sure that the greater, the greater integrated of decentralization of energy sources in the City of Joburg to modernize"},{"start":23513,"end":23516,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC Sekwaila."},{"start":23522,"end":23525,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Afternoon, Speaker. Eh,"},{"start":23525,"end":23529,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Ah, MMC, just hold on, just hold on. You"},{"start":23529,"end":23536,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Raadslid Boer, ek het gesê ek los jou vir laaste."},{"start":23536,"end":23544,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can, can whoever's mic is, okay, Councillor Karolia, your mic is on. Switch it off."},{"start":23544,"end":23558,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Haai, mevrou die Speaker, ek het eers gesê die agteros kom ook in die straal, in die kraal, maar nou wil ek ook sê ek wil ook my stuiwer in die armbeurs gooi, um. Dankie vir die geleentheid. Um, goeiemiddag weereens. Goeiemiddag meneer die Burgemeester,"},{"start":23558,"end":23590,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMCs, fellow councillors. Um, I largely agree and I've been covered with most of the previous councillors that were speaking about this item. Um, and of course, the city is in such a dire strait financial position. Um, our residents are longing for stable electricity, a stable water supply, every form of support that we can get, um, we must accept. I mean, it's, it's not an massive amount of money, it's $3 million, um, together with our own funding of 6.5 million brings us up to closely"},{"start":23590,"end":23622,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"R170 million. And we have to accept this and, and, and make, make sure that those funds are used, um, in a proper way, that every single cent of this, of this grant funding and our own contribution is, is, is delivered in, in, in, in, in proper, um, installations to generate solar power. Uh, we have to create the trust of those international organizations to, to be willing to help us and to say that we are a reliable"},{"start":23622,"end":23640,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"partner and when we give a grant to the City of Johannesburg it is spent wisely and we as the Freedom Front support this grant and we will, uh, do proper oversight through the Section 79 EISD Committee to make sure that those funds are spent wisely as well. We support it. Thank you very much."},{"start":23640,"end":23644,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Baie dankie, raadslid. Agteros kom definitief in die kraal."},{"start":23644,"end":23650,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Sekwaila, MMC."},{"start":23650,"end":23680,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thanks, Speaker. Uh, good afternoon to you. Good afternoon to the Executive Mayor, Deputy Executive Mayor in absentia, colleagues, councillors, residents of Johannesburg. Uh, Speaker, I think let me appreciate, uh, the concerns raised by councillors and obviously the, the support displayed in this particular item. It is true that our mission to transform, uh, City Power into an energy company, this is a classical example"},{"start":23680,"end":23710,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"of what we intend to do as a city, and I'd like to believe that it's a good way to go. It's a lesson that we have learned out of the negative effect of load shedding that we've experienced a couple of years ago or months ago, and we felt that in fact this will bring a relief, in fact, and create capacity and efficiency in city properties and building where the business will keep on being, uh, you know, rendered if we do rooftop solar system and battery storage within our city facilities, and in fact to unroll it around government"},{"start":23710,"end":23741,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"facilities as well. And, um, I must indicate that obviously, uh, working with external partners, obviously they will be interested in knowing very well that this money are spent in accordance with a particular mission. And I must indicate, uh, the concern by Councillor Mkasi that, uh, you know, comrades mustn't eat the money. Let me, uh, assure you, uh, Mkasi that, no, we'll make sure that this money is spent, uh, in accordance with the mission as dictated."},{"start":23741,"end":23761,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I think also Zigebe raised the issue that otherwise they will need a report, uh, time after time with regard of where we are and the expenditure processes and so on, what have you. So I intended to be as open as possible with regard to this particular matters. Uh, let me thank and request council to note this item. Thanks, Speaker."},{"start":23761,"end":23769,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, MMC. The recommendations are on page 6.7. Is the item agreed to?"},{"start":23769,"end":23771,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed."},{"start":23771,"end":23774,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Next item, STC."},{"start":23774,"end":23792,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Item 6 is acceptance of grant funding. Item 7, sorry. Item 7 is the gas price determination methodology of Egoli Gas Pty Ltd for July 2026 to June 2031."},{"start":23792,"end":23798,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"ACDP, Councillor Harris."},{"start":23798,"end":23829,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh, Madam Speaker, I rise to speak to this item. Um, in March 2026, Egoli Gas submitted the request for an increase in the price of gas. The pricing model expired on the 30th of June 2026. The new pricing model was to have started on the 1st of July 2026. It is now the end of August and this council is asked to approve a pricing model retroactively. This raises an interesting moral and ethical question."},{"start":23829,"end":23860,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Is this regulated, in this regulated environment, should prices be increased by Egoli Gas without approval of the pricing model and the increases by council? In the ACDP opinion, it is expedient for Egoli Gas to do that, but it is not fair on consumers. The delay in presenting this report to council is an administrative lapse that should not be tolerated. An observation on the pricing model, it appears to be a complex technical model designed to deter anyone outside"},{"start":23860,"end":23876,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"of the industry who is tempted to find out how the pricing for gas is determined. The layperson will be lost in the jargon. The ACDP notes the complex pricing model and we accept this. Thank you."},{"start":23876,"end":23884,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Harris. Can we go to Councillor Masuku of ActionSA."},{"start":23884,"end":23893,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Good day, Speaker. Eh, all protocol observed. Speaker, ActionSA note this report."},{"start":23893,"end":23902,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Masuku. Councillor Mkasi."},{"start":23902,"end":23933,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes. Um, thank you very much again, Speaker. The EFF rises to support item 7, but we support it with our eyes wide open because supporting a methodology does not mean surrendering our responsibility to the people. This report before council concerns the gas price determination methodology of Egoli Gas for a period of July 2026 to June, uh, 2031. The methodology incorporates CPI adjustment, bulk gas purchase costs, system losses, network costs and"},{"start":23933,"end":23966,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and a basic energy charge. The report also says that there is an element of cross-subsidization between large industrial users and designated residential customers, specifically to protect vulnerable households from tariff shocks. The EFF therefore says protect the poor, protect consumers and make affordability non-negotiable. Um, Speaker, we cannot debate the price of gas in this council while people in Zandspruit are struggling to access something far"},{"start":23966,"end":23997,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"more fundamentally, uh, just water. What is the meaning of sophisticated five years, uh, pricing methodology when a child in Zandspruit cannot open a tap and receive reliable running water? What is the meaning of, uh, talking about cost reflectivity when working-class families are forced to carry containers looking for water? And what message are we sending to residents when council can spend amount of, uh, time discussing methodologies, formulas and tariffs, but"},{"start":23997,"end":24027,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"communities continue to experience water shortages and failing, uh, infrastructure? The EFF 2026 manifesto is absolutely clear: local government must guarantee reliable access to basic services, because a basic, because service delivery is a development obligation and matter of human dignity. The manifesto specifically commits EFF municipalities to ensure that every household has access to clean, safe and reliable running water, while fixing reported water leaks within"},{"start":24027,"end":24057,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"a day and establishing dedicated plumbing teams in high leakage areas. That is the standard we must bring in this council. People of Johannesburg must not become a permanent waiting room for basic services. The manifesto further commits to rebuild municipal internal capacity, employing engineers, plumbers, technicians and artisans, creating permanent municipality teams responsible for water, sanitation and infrastructure. It calls for repair, expansion and maintenance of pipe, reservoir, treatment plants"},{"start":24057,"end":24090,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and priority informal settlements and historically underserviced communities. So when we support item 7, we demand the same seriousness when it comes to water. Speaker, there is another issue that is, that this report itself raises. The report says the city's role is now limited to confirming whether the methodology has been correctly applied and not, and noting tariffs for transparency, affordability and non-discrimination, because NERSA is responsible for the regulatory approval of gas pricing methodologies. Yet the recommendation before council"},{"start":24090,"end":24091,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"50 seconds."},{"start":24091,"end":24121,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"says that council should approve the methodology. We therefore ask, what exactly is council approving if the report tells us that the determination of the methodology falls within the mandate of NERSA? We cannot have when public resources and the affordability of working-class households are involved. The EFF support an approach that protects vulnerable consumers, but protection cannot stop at the gas meter. It must extend to water tap, the sanitation system, electricity connection and every other basic"},{"start":24121,"end":24125,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"municipality. Therefore, our support for this item comes with a clear message:"},{"start":24125,"end":24126,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"20 seconds."},{"start":24126,"end":24147,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"do not, uh, do not tell Zandspruit that there is no money for water while there's always money for consultants, contractors and endless administrative processes. Let us, um, approve what is legally appropriate, protect the vulnerability consumers, demand transparency from Egoli Gas. Um, Johannesburg that"},{"start":24147,"end":24156,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mathe."},{"start":24156,"end":24189,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Eh, Speaker, eh, ANC is supporting the, the report and also is noted a report due to that the report around, eh, around gas price methodology, gas price, gas price, eh, determination methodology, eh, of Egoli Pty Ltd, eh, from July 2025, 2025 to 2020, 2031."},{"start":24189,"end":24192,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I thank you, Speaker."},{"start":24192,"end":24197,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Mathe. MMC Sekwaila."},{"start":24203,"end":24234,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thanks once again, Speaker. Um, let me once again appreciate the support on this report of the methodology around Egoli Gas and ensure that the city still continues to regulate a manner in which this most important component of an energy mix is regulated, so that we don't leave it only around, uh, you know, private sector. I think the following item, Speaker, will speak about traffic, I mean tariff."},{"start":24234,"end":24266,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"This one actually concentrates largely, uh, on, on actually the methodology that must be in line with NERSA regulation. Uh, ours is just to make sure there's alignment as a city, and actually we approve, uh, this particular item. Uh, I know there's a report that came to council some couple of months ago in terms of, uh, you know, a study with regard to Egoli Gas and, um, uh, Kelvin Power, if whether they can still be visited by the city"},{"start":24266,"end":24280,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"uh, be part of the whole entire energy mix of the city and bring them back. That study is still on to determine if whether it's profitable for us to bring them back or not, but let me, uh, request council to approve this item. Thanks, Speaker, thanks."},{"start":24280,"end":24286,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, MMC. The recommendations are on page 7.5. Is the item agreed to?"},{"start":24286,"end":24288,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed."},{"start":24288,"end":24290,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you."},{"start":24290,"end":24301,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Item 8 is Egoli Gas 2026/27 tariffs for July 2026 to June 2027."},{"start":24301,"end":24306,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Harris."},{"start":24306,"end":24330,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Um, Madam Speaker, I rise to speak to item 8, uh, the increase in the price of gas. It is in line with the Consumer Price Index, so the ACDP does welcome it. May I just take this moment as well to wish all the Pirates supporters the very best year they're ever going to have. Thank you."},{"start":24330,"end":24338,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Um, Councillor Masuku, ActionSA."},{"start":24338,"end":24345,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Honourable Speaker, all protocol observed. ActionSA note this report. Thank you."},{"start":24345,"end":24355,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Masuku. Councillor Mkasi, EFF."},{"start":24355,"end":24364,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh, thank you very much, Speaker. Uh, the Economic Freedom Fighters, the EFF, note the report. Thank you."},{"start":24364,"end":24369,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Mkasi. Councillor Mathe."},{"start":24369,"end":24373,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Eh, Speaker, ANC has noted the report as well. I thank you, Speaker."},{"start":24373,"end":24377,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. MMC Sekwaila."},{"start":24382,"end":24415,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, thanks, Speaker. Um, let's thank the councillors for their support and noting of this item. Uh, though I'm disappointed on Councillor Harris, I know on the issue of Pirates, uh, talking from ACDP, I will assume that they are preaching peace and so on. And that peace and love is only resonated very well when you support, uh, Chiefs. Uh, thanks."},{"start":24415,"end":24424,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I wish council to support the, uh, this item. We'll engage further with Councillor Harris to come back to Kaizer Chiefs. Thank you."},{"start":24424,"end":24433,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, MMC. Uh, colleagues, the recommendations are on page 8.4. Is the item agreed to?"},{"start":24433,"end":24435,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed."},{"start":24435,"end":24444,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Councillor Mathe, switch off your mic."},{"start":24444,"end":24475,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh, councillors, we're on item 9, which is the request for council approval of the public participation notice in terms of Section 33(1) of the Local Government Municipal Finance Management Act of 2003, and Part 3 of Chapter 4 of the Municipal Finance Management Act Asset Transfer Regulations 2008, in respect to contracting for Rea Vaya Phase 1A Bus Operating Company Agreement."},{"start":24475,"end":24480,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Rohlssen is not in. Who's going to speak on his behalf?"},{"start":24480,"end":24483,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, Madam Speaker, I'm taking it."},{"start":24483,"end":24484,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you."},{"start":24484,"end":24515,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Um, Madam Speaker, I'm going to repent on behalf of Councillor Harris, because we preach love and peace indeed. So he's repenting, he's coming back to Kaizer Chiefs. Uh, Madam Speaker, we note the report, um, with the concerns and, and the decisiveness that the department has taken to say that, um, we must not be found to be violating the Competition Act."},{"start":24515,"end":24532,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So we say, um, this report is welcomed, and we must put our foot down, so that those who want to monopolize, um, the system, they must be dealt with accordingly. God bless you. Bye."},{"start":24532,"end":24538,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Uh, Councillor Kreusch."},{"start":24538,"end":24570,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. All protocol observed. Um, look, I think I want to start by unequivocally stating the Democratic Alliance's position on public transport and that we support the idea that the city needs a functional and efficient bus service, and the citizens deserve that. Uh, they deserve a bus service that is on time, they deserve a bus service that is cash positive,"},{"start":24570,"end":24602,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"free of all sorts of shenanigans. And to be frank, the Rea Vaya system has really not performed well, and after 15 years looking at the state of Piotrans and the loss of its contractual services is just indicative of the failure of the city to succeed. That being said, um, the Democratic Alliance does not support this item, and fundamentally because we consider it an absolute hospital"},{"start":24602,"end":24635,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"pass to the city. To contractually sign to provide R3.2 billion over seven years and then expect sort of a commitment of R820 million back over seven years is a 25% return on investment, which is very weak economics. And when I look at the Treasury's red-flagging of this contract, there's some credible concerns. I mean, a R10 million liability red flag over passenger safety, one. Two, the fact that, you know, the new contractor, which is actually"},{"start":24635,"end":24666,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the contractor for Phase 1B, so we have a problem with monopolization of the route for one, and two, now we're going to rebuild this depot for another R213 or R14 million out of the city's budget, okay, and not even from Treasury. Now, Treasury's already made it very clear that it's divesting from BRTs because of the way in which there has been a chronic amount of double-dipping from taxi associations running on the same routes with these Rea Vaya"},{"start":24666,"end":24697,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"buses. And so although we want a functional bus service, we want a successful bus service, this is an absolute hospital pass. It is bad for the city in the sense that we are going to be carrying huge costs at a very high risk. We feel it is rushed. We supported this item initially because of public participation, but we've gone from zero to hero in a very short space of time, and I have a sneaky feeling it's got a lot to do with a new government coming in in the next two or three months."},{"start":24697,"end":24727,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So poor returns, no real visibility of KPIs, uh, the fact that it's a monopoly and that Phase 1B, although it's better run, it still runs at a chronic loss. So we have to really look at this business model, we've got to look at why and how it has really failed. We've looked at the slow progress on 1C(a), which was the Alexandra bus company. We've had to prop up 63 buses as a city for them,"},{"start":24727,"end":24754,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and Treasury has made it clear there is no more CapEx spend on Rea Vaya. It's over. So in this point in time, we do not support this item because it is not appropriate at this time, and we need to take a strong look at other models, economic models to provide a very successful and fruitful bus system for this city. So I stand at that point. So no, the DA does not support this item. Thank you."},{"start":24754,"end":24778,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Um, Councillor Thema from the EFF? Not here. Oh, from ActionSA? Not here. Councillor Komane from the EFF? Not here. Uh, ANC, Councillor Maake."},{"start":24778,"end":24783,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. He's not here, mara the ANC is noting the report. Thank you very much."},{"start":24783,"end":24798,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Uh, MMC Mabaso, can you please respond?"},{"start":24798,"end":24807,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC Mgcina, can you please respond?"},{"start":24807,"end":24821,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, thank you very much, Madam Speaker. We are noting the comments as presented by members in the chamber, and we'll escalate all the clarity-seeking questions as well. Thank you."},{"start":24821,"end":24834,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, MMC. Um, the recommendations on page 9.11, is the item agreed to?"},{"start":24834,"end":24843,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No!"},{"start":24843,"end":24849,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The noes have it."},{"start":24849,"end":24871,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, the noes have it. The noes have it. So this item is not carried. No one is, I'm not saying it's not carried, sorry, it's not agreed to. Yes, Councillor."},{"start":24871,"end":24886,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The noes have it! We've, no, no, no. We have asked whether the house agrees. We asked whether the house agreed."},{"start":24886,"end":24914,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'll wait for all of you to keep quiet so that I can speak. We asked for the house, do they agree on what is on page 9.11? And the noes said it louder than the yeses. No, no, no, colleagues, colleagues, the noes were louder than the yeses. Let's agree to that."},{"start":24921,"end":24929,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor, Councillor Raphadu."},{"start":24929,"end":24947,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Um, while, while, while we're not disputing what you are saying, but as the ANC we are asking for a roll call, Madam Speaker, because we don't agree. Thank you very much. It's within the rules, it's within our rights. They can howl all they like."},{"start":24947,"end":24979,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Raphadu! Councillor Raphadu! Councillor Raphadu, you've asked for a roll call, right? I did not respond. So you cannot say they can ask for what they, they can say what they want to. No, no, no. No. We asked, two wrongs don't make a right. Two wrongs don't make a right. We've asked for the decorum of the house."},{"start":24979,"end":24988,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. So you've asked for a roll call, we'll do that. Okay? Can we have the bells rung?"},{"start":25088,"end":25114,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Can we start the process? The doors have been closed long ago. They were closed because of the aircon. Can I, Councillor. Can I have those that abstain, can you put up your hands?"},{"start":25114,"end":25118,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Three."},{"start":25134,"end":25146,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can I have the noes?"},{"start":25146,"end":25150,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Masera, is your hand up?"},{"start":25169,"end":25178,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"There's no belly dancers here. There's no belly dancers or pole dancers."},{"start":25194,"end":25200,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You don't count those two councillors that just walked in. You don't count them."},{"start":25200,"end":25202,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Don't count them."},{"start":25202,"end":25207,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"They just walked. No, no, no, the doors were closed."},{"start":25207,"end":25215,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The doors were closed. We are not counting them. Rules are rules."},{"start":25215,"end":25229,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, no, no. This is not the Speaker of Tshwane. That is, those councillors were outside when we started voting."},{"start":25229,"end":25236,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, no, no. The drums were rolling."},{"start":25236,"end":25244,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And I will do it to any side that does that."},{"start":25244,"end":25250,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Those that say yes. I love your hair."},{"start":25338,"end":25343,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Peter, can you count or are you having humps there?"},{"start":25352,"end":25355,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Is the mayor not voting?"},{"start":25371,"end":25376,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Sifumba, don't go out. Hear the results."},{"start":25393,"end":25398,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We still have 30 items to go."},{"start":25398,"end":25399,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker."},{"start":25399,"end":25402,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You can, you can lower your hands."},{"start":25411,"end":25416,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Raphadu, you can lower your hand."},{"start":25459,"end":25461,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Mhm."},{"start":25461,"end":25467,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, those that abstained is three."},{"start":25467,"end":25482,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Those that said no is 42, and those that said yes is 112."},{"start":25482,"end":25493,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"But the issue is the nos were louder. They can scream with their nos."},{"start":25493,"end":25499,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You, the, the yeses were quiet. Yes, you were quiet."},{"start":25499,"end":25501,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yeah."},{"start":25501,"end":25508,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. Councillor Christians, we note the dissent of the DA."},{"start":25508,"end":25539,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, before Councillor Raphadu goes, I just want to say congratulations. He actually quoted the rule correctly this time. The second thing, Madam Speaker, is, the second thing, Madam Speaker, is the irregular way the counting just happened. If you read the rule book, as you said you are following the rule book, it clearly states that when a roll call is called, we just got to vote by show of hands. There is no ringing of the bells. By ringing of the bells, you've allowed, you've allowed people to come in to be counted, to be voted, who are not in the house."},{"start":25539,"end":25559,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And, and the fact that you did not count those because you closed the door prior to the rules allows for it, has disadvantaged them from voting. That's the second thing. The third thing, Madam Speaker, in terms of the rules of council, Rule 84, please record the opposition of the Democratic Alliance on this item. Thank you."},{"start":25559,"end":25560,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Dankie."},{"start":25562,"end":25565,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Next item."},{"start":25568,"end":25582,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The next item is Item 10, which is a repeal of misaligned and redundant policies in the Human Settlements Department and removal from the policies register, policy register."},{"start":25582,"end":25589,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Matabane from ActionSA, are you in the house?"},{"start":25589,"end":25595,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. ActionSA would love to note and approve the report. Thank you."},{"start":25595,"end":25605,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Then we have Councillor S. Mavhona from the ANC."},{"start":25605,"end":25607,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mavhona, are you here?"},{"start":25607,"end":25614,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'm here, Speaker. Thank you, Honourable Speaker of Council."},{"start":25614,"end":25614,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Greet-"},{"start":25614,"end":25617,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mavhona, please speak into the mic, ma'am."},{"start":25617,"end":25642,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. Thank you, Honourable Speaker of Council. Greetings to Executive Mayor, Dada Sello Morero. Greetings to Executive Deputy Mayor, Loyiso Masuku. Greetings to Chief Whip of Council, eKhazamula Chauke."},{"start":25642,"end":25656,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Greetings to Chair of Chairs, Councillor Adolf Marema. Greetings to fellow councillors and also the mayoral members."},{"start":25656,"end":25664,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Greetings to guests in the gallery, and most important, residents of the City of Johannesburg."},{"start":25664,"end":25671,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Just hold on, Councillor Mavhona. Councillor Moloisane, please."},{"start":25671,"end":25675,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Stop what you're doing. Councillor Mavhona, please, you can carry on."},{"start":25675,"end":25705,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. I rise to speak on Item 10, which seeks approval in repeal and remove redundant Human Settlement policy from the poli- from the policy register. Speaker, according to the department, the three policy identify to repeal, namely the Child-Headed, the Child-Headed Household Family Policy,"},{"start":25705,"end":25734,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the Non-Qualify Policy and the Rent Relief Policy, have already been inco- incorporated into more compressive and updated policy. Their key, their key protec- protection and benefits remain intact, and have been strengthened."},{"start":25737,"end":25766,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Have been strengthened through the Housing Allocation Policy, the, the Serviced Stand Policy and the, eish, and the Expanded Social Package Policy. Importantly, the report confirm, the report confirm that not beneficiary, eish,"},{"start":25766,"end":25796,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"but that not beneficiaries will disadvantages, no disadvantages, no services delivery gaps will ri- arise, and the city will continue to, to meet its constitutional obligations regarding housing and social support."},{"start":25796,"end":25828,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"This proposal is not about reducing protection or limiting access to housing opportunities. Rather, it is about simplify the city's policies, improving accountability and making sure the city can serve residents more efficiently and effec- effectively."},{"start":25828,"end":25837,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The African National Congress note and approval the report. I thank you."},{"start":25837,"end":25842,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC Mabaso, it's yours."},{"start":25842,"end":25849,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Speaker. We request council to approve the report. Thank you."},{"start":25849,"end":25864,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. It's Item 10. Recommendations is on page 10.8. Is the item agreed to?"},{"start":25864,"end":25866,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed."},{"start":25866,"end":25873,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Councillor Mhlongo, what's your point of order?"},{"start":25873,"end":25885,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, no, that is, that's not a point of order, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon to you. Madam Speaker, I'm just rising to ask that Item 11 and 12 be read together into records. Thank you, Madam Speaker."},{"start":25885,"end":25890,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Oh, thank you."},{"start":25890,"end":25910,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Item, Item 11 is a proposed development sale of Portion 2 of Erf 1226 Fairland and Erf 1202 Fairland, read together with Item 12, which is a proposed development sale of Portion 4 of Erf 1226 Fairland."},{"start":25910,"end":25924,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. On this item, Councillor Lotz, you only speak on Item 11. I'll guide as to how they speak."},{"start":25924,"end":25955,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, honourable councillors, members of the executive. This item speaks directly to one of the deepest structural injustices that still shapes our city: apartheid spatial planning. Decades after democracy, too many of our residents still wake up at 4:00 a.m., travel for hours and spend up to 40% of their income just to reach places of work,"},{"start":25955,"end":25985,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"education and opportunity. This is not a legacy issue. It is an ongoing economic barrier that keeps families trapped in poverty. People must be able to work where they live. Item 11 gives us an opportunity to confront this injustice with the seriousness, with seriousness and urgency. It aligns with the growing national recognition, including proposals from Rise Mzansi and other civic actors,"},{"start":25985,"end":26016,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that South Africa must build homes closer to where people work, not someday, not theoretically, theoretically, but now, through the concrete, through concrete municipal action. Johannesburg cannot continue expanding outward while economic, economic activity concentrate, is, remains concentrated inward. We must reverse the pattern. That means densifying well-located land, converting underutilized buildings and ensuring that new developments"},{"start":26016,"end":26045,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"are not pushed to the periphery where transport costs swallow household income. But colleagues, we must also be honest about the risks and watch points. First, funding. Well-located housing is more expensive to deliver, and Item 11 requires us to be clear about how co-funding will be secured, how partnerships will be structured and how we will protect the city from unfunded mandates."},{"start":26045,"end":26075,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We cannot commit to plans that look good on paper, but collapse under financial pressure. Second, regulatory bottlenecks. If we do not streamline zoning, approvals and building control processes, we will continue losing years to red tape. Spatial justice cannot wait for administrative delays. Third, integration with transport. Housing closer to jobs only works if mobility is safe,"},{"start":26075,"end":26108,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"affordable and reliable. We must ensure that Item 11 aligns with Rea Vaya, Metrobus and future corridor plans. Fourth, a community acceptance. Densification must be done responsibly with proper consultation so that communities feel included rather than displaced. Colleagues, Item 11 is not just a technical report. It is a moral commitment. It is a chance to reshape Johannesburg into a city where opportunity is not determined by your postal code,"},{"start":26108,"end":26119,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"a city where families live near jobs, where children walk to school, and where economic participation is not punished by distance. Let us adopt Item"},{"start":26125,"end":26135,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mhlongo, you have three, six minutes because you're speaking on both the items."},{"start":26135,"end":26164,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Good evening to the Executive Mayor of the city, Councillor Dada Morero, the Executive Deputy Mayor in absentia, Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Chauke, Chair of Chairs, that is my chairperson, Councillor Bonani Marema, MMCs that are still available in the house,"},{"start":26164,"end":26190,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Section 79 chairpersons, and all councillors, together with the members of the community in the gallery. Good evening to all of you. Madam Speaker, the, I rise on behalf of the African Independent Congress on Item 11 and Item 12, Madam Speaker. I could not agree more, Madam Speaker, with the latter speaker, Councillor"},{"start":26190,"end":26205,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor, let me see, that's Councillor, that's Councillor Lotz, Madam Speaker. I rise to note and approve both items, Item 10 and Item 11. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker."},{"start":26205,"end":26221,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Mhlongo. Councillor Nkomo from the DA, are you in the house? You have 16 minutes. Councillor Nkomo's not, oh."},{"start":26221,"end":26250,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, residents of the City of Johannesburg, members of the media, fellow councillors, good afternoon. Speaker, the Democratic Alliance cannot support Items in 11, Items 11 and 12 in their current form. And I want to make our position clear. We are not opposed to development, we are not opposed to investment, and we are not opposed to unlocking the value of underutilized municipal land. But development must be responsible,"},{"start":26250,"end":26280,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"evidence-based and in the long-term interest of, of the City of Johannesburg and its people. And these reports simply do not meet that test. Firstly, Speaker, the reports fail to adequately justify and demonstrate why the outright sale of these properties is the most viable option. The original consultation process for Item 11 contemplated alienation through sale and or long-term lease. Yet what comes before council today has somehow been narrowed,"},{"start":26280,"end":26311,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"narrowed to an outright development sale. Where is the business case comparing these, those options? Where is the calculation showing what Johannesburg could earn from a 30, 40 or 50-year development lease? Where is the assessment of the future appreciation of this property? And where is the explanation for why the city should permanently surrender ownership of a strategic asset when it could potentially facilitate development, generate an income stream,"},{"start":26311,"end":26341,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and still remain, and still retain ownership for future generations? Secondly, Speaker, we are being asked to approve these sales before we even know what can, what can sustainably be developed on this land. EISD requires ecological assessments, wetland studies, fauna and flora studies and a sensitivity map. Critically, the report itself says, says that the extent and nature of the development will depend on the outcome of these studies."},{"start":26341,"end":26370,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Those are not administrative boxes to tick afterwards. They determine the developable, the developable footprint. How can council responsibly sell land for development before it knows what portion of land can actually be developed? Speaker, that is how municipalities create white elephants and leave surrounding communities dealing with consequences. Speaking of consequences, Speaker, this brings me to my third point."},{"start":26370,"end":26392,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The questions pertaining to infrastructure are nowhere near settled. JRA still requires traffic impact assessments examining the effect of the surrounding road network, access, circulation and parking. For Portion 4, a traffic impact assessment and site access study still needs to be undertaken. And the Transport Department has indicated-"},{"start":26392,"end":26422,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Nkomo, just hold on. Councillor Schay, these screens are not made to play games on. They are definitely not made to play games on. Please don't do that. No, I can see from here what's happening. I can see what every councillor is doing. I can see what every councillor is doing."},{"start":26422,"end":26428,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Schay, don't. Councillor Schay, don't. Councillor Nkomo, can you go on?"},{"start":26428,"end":26458,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, thank you very much, Speaker. Sorry, sorry, colleagues. For Portion 4, a traffic impact assessment and site, site access study must still be undertaken. And the Transport Department has indicated that it requires further transport planning studies. Residents of Ward 98, who will be affected the most, are already experiencing pressure on the roads and municipal infrastructure. This in addition to the persistent electricity challenges which my colleague, Councillor Beverley Jacobs,"},{"start":26458,"end":26488,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"has been championing. Before adding hundreds of additional residential units, offices and commercial activity, where is the City Power's capacity assessment? What additional load will this development place on the network? Can the existing substations and transformers carry it? What upgrades are required? What will they cost? And when will, and when will they be delivered? We cannot continue approving development first and expecting infrastructure to somehow catch up later."},{"start":26488,"end":26518,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Infrastructure must lead development. Speaker, Item 12 is presenting more questions than answers. Within this report, there is also an issue that council should not simply brush aside. Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo objected because it had identified Portion 4 for possible expansion of a historical cemetery. The important point is that one municipal entity has identified a possible future municipal need for land that another entity now wants to sell permanently."},{"start":26518,"end":26546,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yet council is being asked to accept that this property is not required for municipal purposes. Surely that contradiction deserves proper resolution before disposal. There are also serious questions about the history of these properties. The annexures of Item 11 indicate that Portion 2 of Erf 1226 and Erf 1202 were previously awarded for development in 2006. But what trans- what, but that transaction was sub-"},{"start":26546,"end":26577,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that transaction was subsequently cancelled before, because of a developer non-performance. What happened? Were there development constraints? What lessons were learned? And how has JPC satisfied itself that council is not repeating the same mistakes 20 years later? Similarly, Portion 4 was, was previously taken to market. JPC's 2019/20 reporting records an RFP advertised in November 2019,"},{"start":26577,"end":26607,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"closing in January 2020, with an anticipated investment value of approximately 200 million. Yet Item 12 does not properly tell council what, what, Item 12 does not properly tell council what became of that. Before we launch another disposal process, council deserves to know why the previous one did not produce the develop- the development it, it envisaged. Finally, Speaker, some of the consultation underpinning Item 11 is itself several years old,"},{"start":26607,"end":26637,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"including comments from the councillor. The report records that departments and entities were approached from, for comments in February 2022. We are making this decision in August 2026. Infrastructure conditions change, electricity networks change, traffic volumes change, municipal requirements change. A decision of this magnitude should be based on current information and not stale assurances. So the DA's position is reasonable."},{"start":26637,"end":26669,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We are not asking council to abandon development. We are asking council to do the responsible thing and defer Items 11 and 12. Bring us an updated infrastructure capacity assessment. Bring us traffic studies. Bring us City Power's assessment. Complete the environmental studies. Resolve the JCPZ objection. Explain the previous failed development processes. And most importantly, bring council a proper financial comparison between outright sale and a long-term lease, development lease."},{"start":26669,"end":26695,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Only then can council make an informed decision about what, about what delivers the greatest long-term value to the people of Johannesburg. Until then, selling these properties would not be decisive leadership. It would be an irreversible and irresponsible decision made with incomplete information. Before I take my seat, Speaker, I would like to emphasize the DA do not support these items. I thank you."},{"start":26695,"end":26702,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Councillor Xulu, ActionSA, are you in the house?"},{"start":26702,"end":26723,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Greetings to you, Speaker, fellow councillors, members in the gallery, and to the residents of Johannesburg. Speaker, Councillor Xulu unfortunately had to be excused due to ill health. It is on that note that ActionSA shall note both Item 11 and 12 respectively so. Thank you."},{"start":26723,"end":26735,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Dladla, EFF, are you in the house? Yes."},{"start":26735,"end":26765,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, thanks very much. Councillor Dladla is not here, but Councillor Moepi will speak on the item, Item 11 and 12. Greetings to yourself, Speaker, and all protocols observed. Madam, Madam Speaker, the question before this council is not whether Fairland must develop. The question is whether development requires the city"},{"start":26765,"end":26794,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"to permanently surrender public land. This report ask, asks us to dispose of two municipal properties measuring at approximately 59,100 square meters and 34,520 square meters for mixed-use development. The developer will carry the development and bulk services cost, and the land will be sold at market-related value through tenders."},{"start":26794,"end":26826,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"That may look financially neat, Madam Speaker, but it, it is strategically short-sighted. The report itself tells us this site sit close to the Beyers Naudé Drive and the N1 within the precinct where major private developments already exist. That means this, that means this is not dead, dead land with no future value. It is strategically located public land whose value is likely to grow as the precinct grows."},{"start":26826,"end":26857,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yet the city proposes a once-off sale. Even the valuation figures requires caution. The report records 29.5 million for Portion 2 and 17.4 million for Portion, for Erf 1202, which up- with updated valuation still to be obtained before tender. Council is, is therefore being, being asked to approve disposal before the final value is even before us."},{"start":26857,"end":26890,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"This also conflicts directly with the EFF 2026 Local Government Election Manifesto. The manifesto is clear that EFF municipality will stop the sale of municipal, municipal-owned land and instead use public land for redistribution and development purposes. It also commits municipality to, to use land for housing, business activity, youth development and local economy transfor- transformation. We cannot campaign on keeping land in public hands and then vote to sell"},{"start":26890,"end":26920,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"strategically located municipal land. There, there is a better model, Madam Speaker. The city can retain ownership and use a long-term lease, develop partner, developer partnership or, or concession that compels the private developer to invest while the public asset remains within the people, the, the people's hand. That agreement can ring-fence affordable housing, local jobs,"},{"start":26920,"end":26949,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"township and SMME procurement, public amenities and a share of long-term value for the city. Speaker, the report talks about, the report talks about jobs and economic growth, but it gives council no binding, binding job target, no local procurement percentage, no affordable housing quota and no quantified economic benefit, community benefit."},{"start":26949,"end":26980,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The EFF manifesto demands local economic development, support for SMMEs and public asset uses, used for people, for the people, not sold off piece by piece. We therefore, as much as we, we would support this report, we are of the view that the development, we agree with the develop- the developing of land. We are saying yes to mobilization of private capital."},{"start":26980,"end":27000,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes, but keep ownership in public hands and make, make the development serve the Johannesburg for generation, not just procure a once-off receipt today and that's the end of it. We therefore, with those concern, Madam Speaker, support Item"},{"start":27000,"end":27001,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"11 and 12. Thank you very much."},{"start":27001,"end":27010,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor. Councillor Kwapeng from the ANC, are you here?"},{"start":27010,"end":27015,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh Councillor Mulelu will be speaking on behalf of Councillor Kwapeng, Speaker."},{"start":27015,"end":27016,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much."},{"start":27016,"end":27047,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Uh greetings, Madam Speaker. Executive Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, Chief Whip of Council, the Chair of Chairs, our newly appointed Chair of the Finance Committee, members of the Mayoral Committee, fellow councillors, officials, and most importantly, let me acknowledge the residents of Johannesburg."},{"start":27047,"end":27074,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, I rise to speak on Item 11 and 12 relating to the proposed development and sale of municipal properties in Fairland for mixed-use development. These items should not be considered merely as property transactions. They must be considered within the broader economic development mandate of the city."},{"start":27074,"end":27101,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Municipal land is not simply an asset recorded on a balance sheet. When strategically located municipal land is released for appropriate and well-planned development, it can become a catalyst for investment, economic activities, employment creation, business growth, sustainability, sustainable municipal revenue. It is therefore important"},{"start":27101,"end":27126,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that we welcome developmental intentions behind these proposals while ensuring that the city receives maximum public value for these transactions. The properties in Fairland are strategically located with proximity to the N1. This creates an opportunity for well-planned mixed-use development that can contribute meaningfully to the surrounding economy."},{"start":27126,"end":27150,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Item 11 proposes the development and sale of two properties for mixed-use development, while Item 12 proposes the development and sale of Portion 4, Erf 1226 for mixed-use uh development. Madam Speaker, the fundamental question before council should therefore not simply be how much money will the city receive from the sale."},{"start":27150,"end":27175,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The more important question is what economic developmental value will the city and its residents receive from the development that follows. A once-off property transaction may generate immediate revenue. However, a successful development can generate economic value for many years through construction activities, permanent employment, business opportunities,"},{"start":27175,"end":27202,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"an expanded rate base, increased investment, and opportunities for small and emerging businesses. We therefore support the principle of using a prop- appropriately identified municipal assets to stimulate economic development. However, we recommend that these transactions are assessed within a clear developmental return framework."},{"start":27202,"end":27229,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Item 11 contains a number of important safeguards. The report indicates that the costs associated with preparing the site for development will be borne by the successful developer, while the development proposal will be subject to a public tender process. The report also provides for updated market-related valuations before the properties are released for tender."},{"start":27229,"end":27259,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"These are positive measures because the city should not unnecessarily carry development developmental costs where the market can reasonably absorb them. However, council should also ensure that the tender process does not focus exclusively on the highest purchase price. Where legally and procurement-wise, consideration should also be given to the quality, feasibility, and economic impact of the proposed development."},{"start":27259,"end":27289,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"A developer offering the highest price, but delivering limited long-term economic value, may not necessarily represent the best outcome for the city. The Ward Councillor's comment highlights the importance of ensuring that infrastructure meets the requirements of the proposed development, while also raising concerns regarding the potential increase in uh tra- tariff volumes. These considerations are very critical, Speaker."},{"start":27289,"end":27315,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Economic development can also cannot take place in isolation from infrastructure planning. Development should not create an avoidable burden on surrounding communities or existing municipal infrastructure. We therefore recommend that infrastructure capacity, traffic impact, and access requirements remains a priority to the development approval process."},{"start":27315,"end":27345,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The involvement of Johannesburg Road Agency is particularly important in ensuring that appropriate traffic, road, and access planning is undertaken. Emergency access must also remain non-negotiable. The report already made provisions for building plan approval, compliance with applicable EMS bylaws, and adequate access for emergency vehicles. These requirements must strictly be maintained."},{"start":27345,"end":27374,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"There is also an important environmental consideration, Speaker. Item 12 requires specialized environmental assessments, including ecological, wetland, fauna and flora assessments before the final development footprint and land uses are determined. We welcome this approach. Economic development must be sustainable development. We cannot pursue economic growth today at the expense"},{"start":27374,"end":27401,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"of creating environmental liabilities for the future generations. The appropriate approach is therefore to facilitate development while ensuring that the environmental risks are properly assessed, mitigated, and managed in accordance with the applicable legislative requirements. The financial provisions contained in these reports deserve attention."},{"start":27401,"end":27429,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Item 11 provides for a market-related valuation and places development-related costs and municipal charges on the purchaser. These provisions provide an opportunity for the city to protect its financial interests while still facilitating productive development. However, our responsibility should not end once the properties have been sold."},{"start":27429,"end":27456,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Council must be able to monitor whether the development commits associated with these transactions are actually implemented. We therefore recommend that the Economic Development Committee, together with relevant portfolio structures, receive period- periodic reports on the implementation of significant municipal land development transactions. We should not only know that the municipal land was sold,"},{"start":27456,"end":27483,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"we should know whether the approved development was implemented, what investment was generated, how many jobs were created, what infrastructure commitments were fulfilled, and what additional municipal revenues was generated. This brings me to a broader economic development opportunity for Johannesburg. The city owns significant land assets. If these assets are managed strategically,"},{"start":27483,"end":27510,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"they can become instruments of economic transformation and inclusive growth. Municipal land can support mixed-use development, affordable commercial space, SMMEs, logistics, innovative housing, and integration development. For this reason, I recommend that the Economic Development Committee considers the establishment of a municipal land economic development dashboard."},{"start":27510,"end":27540,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Such a dashboard could identify major municipal properties released for development and track key indicators. This would help municipal land manage from a primarily transactional process into a strategic economic development instrument. We therefore welcome Item 11 and 12 and support the principles of unlocking strategically located municipal land for productive economic use."},{"start":27540,"end":27570,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"However, we urge council to focus not only on disposable value, but on the developmental value. The success of these transactions should not only be measured by the price achieved when the land is sold, it should also be measured by the investment attracted, jobs created, businesses that are supported, and the economic activities sustained thereafter. Let us use municipal assets to stimulate investments and inclusive economic"},{"start":27570,"end":27600,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"growth. Let us ensure that development is properly planned and supported by adequate infrastructure. More importantly, Speaker, let us ensure that whenever public assets are released, the people of Johannesburg receive meaningful and measurable value in return. This is how we can move beyond simply managing municipal properties and begin using municipal"},{"start":27600,"end":27628,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"assets as strategic instruments for inclusive, sustainable, and long-term growth. In conclusion, Speaker, the people of Johannesburg are not interested in political slogans or carefully packaged promises. They want results. They want jobs, investment, functioning infrastructure, opportunities for small businesses, and most importantly,"},{"start":27628,"end":27656,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"a government that can turn Johannesburg public assets into tangible economic opportunities. This is where the contrast becomes clear. The ANC has consistently understood that municipal assets are not simply items to be disposed on a balance sheet. They are instruments of development, transformation, and economic inclusion. The DA may confidently"},{"start":27656,"end":27684,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"may confidently speak about market forces, but the people of Johannesburg are entitled to ask a very simple question. What economic value has actually been delivered to the residents of Khayelitsha? Cause at the end of the day, governing is not about who speaks the loudest about the economy, it is about who actually builds it. Thank you very much."},{"start":27684,"end":27698,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. MMC Mnisi, you need to respond on two items, so you have 10 minutes."},{"start":27698,"end":27728,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Executive Mayor, the Deputy Executive Mayor, fellow MMCs, the Chief Whip of Council, Chair of Chairs, and uh fellow councillors, the guests in the gallery, and most importantly, our residents of the City of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, the transactions that are before us are not direct transactions"},{"start":27728,"end":27760,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"or direct sale, rather. They are clearly titled Development and Sale. These are to be developed for human settlement and title will be passed over. Madam Speaker, the studies that uh Councillor Nkomo was referring to will be done during town planning process, all those that are part and parcel of approval plans."},{"start":27760,"end":27789,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"This is what we have always done. I am not quite too sure what has changed today. All assessments, Madam Speaker, will further be conducted once we have council authority to transact on the property. In a development sale, Madam Speaker, we award the development and the developer must meet all the conditions before the title is transferred."},{"start":27789,"end":27794,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We recognize the importance of unlocking the value of municipal land and ensuring that city"},{"start":27794,"end":27810,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"MMC, take a seat. Can you take your seat, MMC? Councillor Christians."},{"start":27810,"end":27866,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise in terms of Rule 72. Madam Speaker, um it's not against you, uh MMC, through you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'm just concerned. I thought that when the MMC would have started, she would have started from a legal side, and maybe legal can advise us. This house has passed a resolution in the previous term that there shall be no sale of properties in the city, brought by the EFF. Should we not be rescinding that first before we can move forward in terms of sales of properties? Thank you."},{"start":27866,"end":27896,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Christians, this report comes from the committee. This is a committee report. I don't know where the EFF gets in, but this is a committee report. Thank you, MMC. I have corrected him. MMC Mnisi, carry on."},{"start":27896,"end":27927,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, it's fine. Let's leave him, councillors. Uh we recognize the importance of unlocking the value of municipal land and ensuring that the city-owned assets are put to productive use. Municipal property is a strategic resource, and when properly leveraged, it can contribute to economic growth, investment, employment creation, and the expansion of the city's revenue base. We have satisfied ourselves, Madam Speaker, that the proposed transaction"},{"start":27927,"end":27948,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"is transparent, financially prudent, compliant with the MFMA, and in the best interest of the residents of the City of Johannesburg. To all councillors who are for development and economic growth, thank you very much. We request council to approve the items. Thank you, Madam Speaker."},{"start":27948,"end":27979,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, MMC. This was Item 11 and Item 12. So, Item 11 is on page 11.8, the recommendations, and the recommendations for Item 12 is on page 12.8 to 12.9. Are these items agreed to?"},{"start":27979,"end":28005,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed! No!"},{"start":28005,"end":28022,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It doesn't matter how long you scream, but the yeses have it. Councillor Christians. Who's that screaming, ha-ah? Kyle, is it you? No, Councillor Kyle, no,"},{"start":28022,"end":28025,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"is baie laat in die dag in."},{"start":28025,"end":28058,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in terms of uh Rule 84, I rise on behalf of the Democratic Alliance to raise our opposition to this item on two reasons. One, as stipulated by uh Councillor Nkomo, this is an incomplete um report, does not give enough uh information for an informed decision. And secondly, we believe that council is acting against a resolution of this council, which prohibits us from sale of any land in the City of Johannesburg by the City of Johannesburg. Thank you."},{"start":28058,"end":28070,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Christians. It's noted. We're onto the next item."},{"start":28070,"end":28084,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Right. Um Item 13 is a proposed sale of Portion 19 of Erf 491 in Ivory Park Extension 7."},{"start":28084,"end":28096,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, your voices. Um Councillor T. Mhlongo, AIC."},{"start":28096,"end":28125,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, thank you very much once more, uh Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise actually to note this report, Madam Speaker. If you look at it, Madam Speaker, it speaks directly to what this uh council seeks to achieve, whereby we see the township development, uh Madam Speaker. So, we approve this report with no reservations at all. Thank you."},{"start":28125,"end":28135,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Mhlongo. Councillor P. Xulu, are you still in the house? There's no Xulu. Oh."},{"start":28135,"end":28146,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh greetings to you once more, Speaker. As previously communicated, Councillor Xulu was excused due to ill health. However, we will proceed to note the item."},{"start":28146,"end":28155,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Dladla, EFF."},{"start":28155,"end":28182,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. It's Councillor Moepi. Uh the EFF note the report, not only because uh the MMC is giving me a look, uh that we do. Uh but maybe I should add, I don't know if that will Okay, let me not start with the MMC. Uh"},{"start":28182,"end":28198,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I'm of the view that uh the people of Ivory Park, Madam Speaker, had already demonstrated that they needed that land for settlement, not anything else. However, we do note the report. Thank you very much."},{"start":28198,"end":28218,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. MMC Mnisi, don't do that to the councillor. Um Councillor Lebea from the ANC. Who's the other councillor that's standing?"},{"start":28218,"end":28228,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh okay, yeah. No, uh thank you, Madam Speaker."},{"start":28228,"end":28236,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"nso","text":"Eh ke re thobela. Eh Madam Speaker, e re ke dumedise"},{"start":28236,"end":28270,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"uh Speaker Margaret Arnolds, Executive Mayor Councillor Dada Morero in his absentia, uh Chair of Chairs, uh Chief Whip Councillor Kasamula Chauke, uh members of the Mayoral Committee. Uh always, uh Speaker, my introduction will be different to others. Remember, in this Mayoral Committee, there is other MMC we need to applaud."},{"start":28270,"end":28300,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The MM- the likes of uh Eunice Mgcina, the likes of uh Councillor Mlungisi Mabaso, uh the likes of MMC, the one I'm serving with in this uh portfolio, uh Nomoya Mnisi, you are recognized. Your touch base in my ward and the change that you made in my ward have been recognized."},{"start":28300,"end":28360,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh Councillor uh MMC Mabaso, uh I would like to appreciate uh the effort that you made. You transformed many informal settlement in my ward. Uh for that, I appreciate, uh Councillor Mabaso. Um uh members of uh this uh members of councillors, officials, and the residents of Johannesburg, not forgetting the profound and capable ANC Regional Secretary, uh Comrade Sasabona Manganye. Uh Madam Speaker, uh this item is likely be similar with uh the above item, 11 and 12, whereby transactions are taking place. So, I will not taking many much of the time. I can see that uh uh"},{"start":28360,"end":28363,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"nso","text":"eh nako e lle kemahotlo."},{"start":28363,"end":28370,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So, I will therefore, as ANC, note the report. I thank you. Thank you."},{"start":28370,"end":28373,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Kizwa kizwakala? Kizwakala."},{"start":28373,"end":28378,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Lebea. MMC Mnisi."},{"start":28378,"end":28383,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, we request council to approve the report. Thank you."},{"start":28383,"end":28398,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor Mnisi, MMC Mnisi. Um Item 13, the recommendations are on page 13.4 to 13.5. Is the item agreed to?"},{"start":28398,"end":28401,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed."},{"start":28401,"end":28404,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. STC."},{"start":28404,"end":28411,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Item 14 is implementation plan for the Township Economies By-law."},{"start":28411,"end":28415,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor R. Harris."},{"start":28415,"end":28444,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I rise to speak to Item 14, the implementation plan for the Township Economies By-law. The by-law is aimed at regulating, formalizing, and growing micro and small businesses in townships. In noting this report, the ACDP acknowledges that the implementation of the Township Economies By-law requires coordinated institutional and operational support across departments and entities."},{"start":28444,"end":28473,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We trust this cooperation will be effective, but it must not be used as a tool to stifle development through onerous requirements and excessive red tape. Communication and stakeholder engagement processes are vital to promote awareness and respect of the by-law. Compliance should be encouraged. It is critical that support be provided to facilitate business formalization, ongoing stakeholder feedback, and to support"},{"start":28473,"end":28502,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"implementation readiness across the city. We urge that the stakeholder engagement must include the Socio-Economic Rights Institute and the Human Rights Commission. These bodies are notorious for picking holes in policies to emasculate the enforcement agencies and to defend lawlessness based on technicalities. The ACDP notes the implementation plan as presented. I thank you."},{"start":28502,"end":28521,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor Harris. Councillor T. Mhlongo. Councillor Mhlongo."},{"start":28521,"end":28527,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, thank you, Madam Speaker. No, I note the report. Thank you."},{"start":28527,"end":28531,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Mhlongo. Councillor Y. Zigebe from the UDM."},{"start":28531,"end":28534,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The report is noted, Chair. Thank you, Speaker."},{"start":28534,"end":28545,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Y. Zigebe. Um Councillor De Lange from the Freedom Front Plus."},{"start":28545,"end":28576,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. All protocol observed. Madam Speaker, to implement a by-law of this nature, we are really charting into unfamiliar waters. This will take many years to achieve a certain level of regulation and compliance. The words \"an inclusive economy\" are mentioned quite often. Madam Speaker, but what does this mean? Business must have the opportunity and the right to trade freely in a free-market economy"},{"start":28576,"end":28607,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and to create jobs in local communities. Madam Speaker, localized business must be able to grow and expand, to offer services in their local communities, and to receive funding from government, to receive commercial loans from bankers, and to strengthen through government programs and support. Madam Speaker, and to the chamber, please listen up to the following."},{"start":28607,"end":28637,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The above, unfortunately, comes at a cost. Local businesses must be regulated to qualify for the above benefits. They must pay taxes and they must pay VAT if they qualify when they reach that threshold. Why is this important, Madam Speaker? Because they must also contribute to the national fiscus to provide"},{"start":28637,"end":28671,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"what everybody always cries about: free education, free housing, and free medical services that emanates from taxes. Madam Speaker, if the by-law is implemented correctly, it will provide the city its first glimpse ever into the informal economy of Johannesburg and provide sustainable growth. And this will also assist job seekers not to travel to the north to find job opportunities,"},{"start":28671,"end":28702,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"but to find proper jobs within their own communities. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, if this by-law is done correctly, it also may assist to eradicate poverty and unemployment that is currently standing at almost 50% in South Africa, the highest in the world, in the local communities where the business owners and the job seekers live. I thank you."},{"start":28702,"end":28714,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor De Lange. Uh the acting Councillor Xulu."},{"start":28714,"end":28719,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Speaker, thanks. Uh it's Councillor Moatshe. We note the report."},{"start":28719,"end":28727,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Moatshe. Councillor Dladla, EFF."},{"start":28727,"end":28740,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Uh without uh stating the obvious, the EFF would like to note the report. Thank you."},{"start":28740,"end":28755,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Dladla. Councillor Mabuza, ANC."},{"start":28755,"end":28785,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Greetings, uh Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor, members of the Mayoral Committee, fellow councillors, and uh the residents of Johannesburg. I rise to speak on Item 14, uh dealing uh with the implementation plan for the Township Economic By-law. Madam Speaker, township economies are not a marginal part of Johannesburg's economy. They are part of the economic life of our city across Johannesburg."},{"start":28785,"end":28800,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Small traders, informal businesses, home-based enterprises, spaza shops, service providers, and emerging entrepreneurs provide livelihoods and services to communities every day. For many residents,"},{"start":28800,"end":28823,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And so township enterprise is not simply a business opportunity. It is a means of survival. It is employment. It is household income. It is community economic activity. We therefore welcome the implementation plan and the city's effort to create a more coordinated framework for township economy development."},{"start":28823,"end":28850,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The report seeks to formalize business, support informal traders, improve compliance, strengthen coordination and create mechanism for business empowerment and monitoring. These are positive objectives. Madam Speaker, however, Madam Speaker, the success of this by-laws will depend on how it is implemented."},{"start":28850,"end":28872,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Our message is that regulation and development must work together. A trader must understand what the law requires. The city must make compliance accessible and where the entrepreneur is willing to comply, the municipality should make the process as practical and as efficient as possible."},{"start":28872,"end":28901,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We therefore welcome the proposed coordination between Economic Development and departments such as your JMPD, Finance, ICT, JDA, JPC and City Power, Johannesburg Water and Pikitup. But coordination must produce results. We should not have a situation where an entrepreneur receive a message from Economic Development, another from Finance and another from enforcement agencies."},{"start":28901,"end":28927,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The city should provide single coordinated experience for township business. Madam Speaker, we recommend simplifying compliance journey. A trader should be able to understand what permit is required, where do I apply, what documents do I need, how much does it cost, how long will it take, what happens if my application is unsuccessful and how do I appeal."},{"start":28927,"end":28949,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Digital registration can assist with this, particularly when combined with physical support for entrepreneurs who may not have reliable digital access. The city should also invest in trader education. Compliance becomes so much easier when people understand the rules."},{"start":28949,"end":28978,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Enforcement remains important. We are not arguing against enforcement. A developmental municipality must protect consumers, maintain public space and ensure that business complies with applicable laws. But enforcement should be consistent and proportionate. Where a business is capable of becoming compliant, the city should prioritize bringing that business into the formal economy."},{"start":28978,"end":29005,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"This is how we expand the tax base, improve business sustainability and protect livelihoods. The implementation plan should therefore measure not only enforcement action, but also business brought into compliance. We recommend quarterly reports on, reporting on business formalized, permit issues, SMME supported, job created, enforcement actions,"},{"start":29005,"end":29028,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"appeals resolved, permit turnaround times, trader satisfaction and access to market and procurement. These indicators would allow council to determine whether the by-law is achieving its developmental purpose. Madam Speaker, township business also need infrastructure."},{"start":29028,"end":29055,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"A trader cannot operate effectively without appropriate trading space. They need waste collection, they need electricity, they need safety, they need access to customers, they also need storage and they need access to finance and markets. This means the township economy by-law must not be implemented by Economic Development alone. It must become the whole of a city program."},{"start":29055,"end":29084,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Procurement is another important opportunity. The city itself is a major purchaser of goods and services. We should therefore look at how compliant township business can participate more meaningfully in municipal procurement and supply chain. This would allow the city to become not only a regulator of township business, but also facilitator of economic opportunities."},{"start":29084,"end":29108,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The same applies to access for finance. Many small businesses struggle not because they lack entrepreneurial ability, but because they lack affordable finance, financial literacy and business development support. The city should therefore strengthen partnership with development finance institutions, financial institutions and other stakeholders."},{"start":29108,"end":29130,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, the implementation plan gives us a foundation. Our responsibility now is to ensure that it becomes visible in communities. The incoming Economic Development Committee should receive regular implementation reports, should be able to identify where progress is taking place and where additional intervention is required."},{"start":29130,"end":29157,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The message should be straightforward: Regulate fairly, enforce consistently, support aggressively. This is how the township economy becomes a engine of inclusive growth. Madam Speaker, we support item 14 by the implementation of the township economy by-law, but we recommend that implementation be judged by the outcome rather than the activity."},{"start":29157,"end":29182,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"How many businesses survived, how many expanded, how many jobs were created, how many entrepreneurs entered the formal economy, how many gained access to markets? These are the measures that will tell us whether the policy is working or not. Let us ensure that township entrepreneurs experience government not only through regulation,"},{"start":29182,"end":29193,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"but through opportunity, support and partnership. That is a developmental economy we should be building. I thank you."},{"start":29200,"end":29206,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. MMC Mnisi."},{"start":29206,"end":29231,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, we welcome all the inputs from councillors. The point about an inclusive economy is very much critical. For us, inclusion means creating an environment where township businesses can enter the market, comply, grow, access finance and create jobs within their own communities."},{"start":29231,"end":29259,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"However, Madam Speaker, regulations must not become a barrier to entrepreneurship. Our approach is therefore to educate, support, formalize and when necessary enforce. The implementation plan is deliberately interdepartmental involving your JMPD, Health Department, the Legal, JDA and"},{"start":29259,"end":29285,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"JPC. This ensures that the implementation is coordinated and that enforcement is consistent and accountable. The JMPD's standard operating procedures, Madam Speaker, are particularly important because they provide a clear process for enforcement, documentation, impoundment, storage and the release of goods."},{"start":29285,"end":29308,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, this by-laws gives us an opportunity to better understand and support the informal economy of Johannesburg. If implemented correctly, it can help businesses move towards formalization, unlock access to opportunities and contribute to local job creation."},{"start":29308,"end":29332,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"In conclusion, Madam Speaker, our objective is not to regulate businesses out of existence, but to create an environment where they can comply, grow and contribute to the economy of the City of Johannesburg. We request council to approve and note the by-laws. Thank you."},{"start":29332,"end":29354,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, MMC Mnisi. The item was item 14, right? And the recommendations are on page 14.4. Is the item agreed to?"},{"start":29354,"end":29356,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed."},{"start":29356,"end":29373,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Chair of Chairs, I'll give you the first to speak. I'm not sure what Councillor Mhlongo wants to say, but I'll give you first. Thank you, Chair of Chairs."},{"start":29373,"end":29403,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, thank you very much, honorable Speaker of Council of the City of Johannesburg. I rise wanting to elevate item 47 and also item 22 to 28, which are oversight reports, and want to suggest that after dealing with the two elevations,"},{"start":29403,"end":29416,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"yeah, I have had it, Speaker. Maybe we can try and deal with the rest of the items tomorrow morning. Thank you."},{"start":29416,"end":29419,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mhlongo."},{"start":29419,"end":29433,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I rise, Madam Speaker, to ask that we read into record two items, item 15 and item 16. Thank you."},{"start":29438,"end":29443,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"You people put me in a corner, ne? Okay."},{"start":29453,"end":29469,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, Chair of Chairs, we are going to do 15 and 16, right? And then we take your elevated ones, and we will then finish and come back tomorrow. Is that fine? Okay, we agree with that?"},{"start":29469,"end":29470,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed."},{"start":29470,"end":29492,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you. Okay, STC, you read item 15 and 16 together, and then after that, we go to item 47, and then we do 22 to 28, because 22 to 28 does not have speakers. Is that fine? Thank you."},{"start":29492,"end":29513,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Right, item 15 is Region A Regional Economic Development Plan, Investment Atlas and Implementation Plan, read together with item 16, which is Region E Regional Economic Development Plan, Investment Atlas and Implementation Plan."},{"start":29513,"end":29516,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, now I need to find myself."},{"start":29516,"end":29523,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Councillor R. Harris, drie minute."},{"start":29523,"end":29525,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Nie ses minute nie, Mevrou Speaker?"},{"start":29525,"end":29529,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Oh, wait, wait, wait. So you're going to have six minutes."},{"start":29529,"end":29530,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you."},{"start":29530,"end":29533,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Okay. Maar drie kan ook maak."},{"start":29533,"end":29536,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Ek weet, ja."},{"start":29536,"end":29565,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I rise to speak to items 15 and 16. As the ACDP, we commend the architects of these plans for well-researched and well-thought-out and well-documented plans. From a desktop research perspective, it will be unfair to critique the high standard of the plans for the regions. I found the catalytic project framework particularly interesting, purely from the point of view of what is left out."},{"start":29565,"end":29595,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"More emphasis could be placed on the digital environment and gaming as viable industries. In a way, these plans are like carrying coals to Newcastle. What I find problematic is the socioeconomic and spatial analysis. The gross value added table presented clearly indicates that Region G is the most deprived region in the City of Johannesburg. Is it too difficult to craft a plan to uplift this region?"},{"start":29595,"end":29624,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Region B is shown to be relatively affluent. If a deeper dive is taken into this region, it will reveal that Ward 69 and 82 are a far cry from the aggregated figures attributed to them. There are no economic opportunities channeled into these wards. Unemployment is rife. Poverty strides these wards like a colossus. Death lives there because being an assassin seems to be the career of choice for young people."},{"start":29624,"end":29655,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The social ills plaguing these areas are a direct result of what is not being done in those areas. We see that many of those people are marginalized and they are trapped in those areas, the slums owned by the City of Johannesburg. Then we must ask: When will Ward 69 and 82 receive the kind of attention"},{"start":29655,"end":29681,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"that is so wonderfully expounded in these plans? To the administrators in Development Planning and Economic Development, please leave your offices. Look at what is happening on the ground in Ward 69 and 82 and other historically disadvantaged areas, then craft development plans that are just, equitable and an indication that the metro is in tune with the pain and suffering of the voiceless and downtrodden."},{"start":29681,"end":29687,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We note these plans. May implementation be speedy and seamless. I thank you."},{"start":29687,"end":29698,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor Harris. Yeah, you did it in three minutes. Councillor Zigebe, six minutes."},{"start":29698,"end":29700,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Both noted, Speaker. Thank you."},{"start":29700,"end":29716,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor Zigebe. Yo, four seconds. Councillor De Lange, you only have three minutes, because you're only on the one item."},{"start":29716,"end":29742,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. All protocol observed. Madam Speaker, this is the kind of report I really enjoy reading, even though it appears more like a five-year study plan. It gives us an economic footprint of activities in a region stretching from Lanseria in the west all the way to Ivory Park in the east."},{"start":29742,"end":29770,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The report mentioned economic nodes and different precincts like Lanseria City, like the Midrand Logistic Freight Hub and the Waterfall Green Eco-Estate. Then, unfortunately, it also mentioned the highly unemployed areas where the Diepsloot industrial hub and the Hustle Link townships and"},{"start":29770,"end":29797,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"transport programs closer to Ivory Park, Rabie Ridge and Kaalfontein. And this is where the trick comes in, Madam Speaker. In the body of this report, it is highlighted that this investment atlas and implementation plan will be heavily depending on private sector investment. So how do we achieve this milestone over five years, Madam Speaker?"},{"start":29797,"end":29827,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Big business are seeking clean, safe, well-connected to municipal services with constant flow of water and electricity, and then of course fast, reliable internet connection. Madam Speaker, coming back to the marginalized areas, at committee level, really for years we have been discussing the following: Because to attract big business, Madam Speaker, business are looking"},{"start":29827,"end":29856,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"for financial gain and for rebates. Unfortunately, nowhere in this report it mentioned any special economic zones. This is the only way that we will attract investments in high unemployed areas of Rabie Ridge, Kaalfontein and Diepsloot. Madam Speaker, maybe the city, if we look at the regional plan for Region A,"},{"start":29856,"end":29870,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"can follow the Coega model down in Gqeberha. This is the only way that we are going to be able to attract big business and to put us in a position to make sure"},{"start":29870,"end":29871,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"29 sekondes."},{"start":29871,"end":29875,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"it creates job opportunities in Region A. Thank you, Madam Speaker."},{"start":29875,"end":29890,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor De Lange. Councillor Reddy from the DA, you are speaking on both the items. You have 16 minutes."},{"start":29896,"end":29926,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Good evening, Madam Speaker. To paraphrase Martin Luther King, we have a dream. Ah, but perhaps that quote is inappropriate in this instance, because even the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm or Aesop's Fables have more substance than some of what we've been presented today. The only analogy I can think of is Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country, a book that reflects on injustice, inequality and a system that has failed its people."},{"start":29926,"end":29956,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on items 15 and 16 relating to the Department of Economic Development's Development Plan, Investment Atlas and Implementation Plan for Regions A and E. I say failed our people because for the last five years, I've served on the Section 79 Committee, and during that time we've seen very few proposals accompanied by concrete, sustainable and properly funded implementation plans."},{"start":29956,"end":29983,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Instead, we are once again presented with a collection of ambitious ideas, many of them desirable, certainly, but without evidence of research, evaluation, prioritization or sustainable funding. These plans speak extensively about developmental nodes, particularly in historically disadvantaged communities. But we must remember that many of those communities remain disadvantaged today, 32 years into our democracy."},{"start":29983,"end":30011,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The DA supports sustainable development. We support investment, economic growth and the upliftment of communities. But the development must be practical, sustainable and beneficial to the broader economic ecosystem, not simply a list of aspirational projects. This is where these plans fall short. Both Region A and E plans fail to adequately confront the infrastructural challenges facing Sandton and Fourways."},{"start":30011,"end":30042,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"They fail to adequately address the transport challenges experienced by residents daily, by workers and commuters. They fail to address poor roads, inadequate road connectivity. They fail to address aging and inadequate water and sewer infrastructure that requires urgent investment and replacement. And they fail to adequately confront an electricity supply that is simply too unreliable for a city that wants to attract and retain investment."},{"start":30042,"end":30068,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"These are not luxuries. These are the basic foundations of a successful economy. Madam Speaker, we welcome development in our townships and disadvantaged communities, but we cannot ignore the reality that many residents of these communities work in major metropolitan economic centers in our city, and these people need reliable, affordable and efficient public transport and infrastructure to get to work."},{"start":30068,"end":30097,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"There's a dire shortage of properly functioning taxi and bus facilities in areas across these regions. Take Sandton taxi rank in Ward 103. For years, residents and commuters have heard promises of an upgrade and redevelopment. It has repeatedly appeared in IDP planning and budgeting, but yet the project remains incomplete, and in practical terms, commuters continue to use an overcrowded and dilapidated facility."},{"start":30097,"end":30127,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Promises are not projects. Budgets are not implementation. And plans are not progress. We now talk about creating a smart hub between Alexandra and Sandton. What does smart mean when residents in both suburbs can experience prolonged water and electricity outages? What does a smart hub achieve if there's no seamless integration between taxis, buses, rail and e-hailing services?"},{"start":30127,"end":30158,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"What message are we sending to investors when existing infrastructure is allowed to deteriorate while we announce new and expensive projects? Madam Speaker, we already have an example in the Alexandra Automotive Hub, which has stood largely empty for a number of years, despite the massive investment made into it. Once again, we appear to be ignoring what we already have while looking for new places to spend money."},{"start":30158,"end":30186,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"For a cash-strapped city, this is simply not sustainable. The City of Johannesburg is not just broke; it's broken. The responsible approach is to maintain, repair, upgrade and maximize the infrastructure we already have before embarking on another round of expensive new projects. The DA welcomes the expansion of economic activity into the outer reaches of Johannesburg and regions,"},{"start":30186,"end":30212,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and the inclusion of economic opportunities in disadvantaged communities. But development cannot happen in isolation. For if we want business to invest, we must give them confidence. This means reliable water, reliable electricity, functional roads, effective transport networks, efficient municipal services, and infrastructure that actually supports economic activity."},{"start":30212,"end":30238,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, we have heard of similar grand visions before: Vision 2030, Vision 2040, and yet another collection of ambitious plans. There's nothing wrong with long-term planning, and in fact future planning is essential. But a five-year or 10-year plan means nothing if we cannot demonstrate what will be delivered in year one."},{"start":30238,"end":30268,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We cannot continue making promises that never become reality. We cannot continue announcing projects for political headlines while basic services deteriorate. And we cannot continue spending scarce municipal resources without demonstrating measurable outcomes. Johannesburg is not merely facing a financial crisis; it is facing a crisis of functionality. And the people of this city are paying the price."},{"start":30268,"end":30296,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"They are paying through unreliable services. They are paying through deteriorating infrastructure. They are paying through lost economic opportunities. And ultimately, they are paying through declining living standards. Madam Speaker, the DA believes that there is another way. We pledge to prioritize the fundamentals: water, roads, electricity, transport and municipal infrastructure. We want to create a stable and sustainable business environment,"},{"start":30296,"end":30326,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"one that attracts investment, retains businesses and creates jobs. Because when you create a sustainable job, you not only support an individual, you support a household, you support a family, you support a community. That is the economic development that Johannesburg needs, not another glossy plan, not another unfunded promise, and not another nice-to-have. But implementation, accountability, sustainability and results"},{"start":30326,"end":30356,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"is the key to success. Madam Speaker, I welcome our incoming Mayor, Helen Zille, who has visited communities across our city and has seen firsthand the decay and degradation that the residents are experiencing. The DA has presented a manifesto that sets out a practical program to address these challenges and restore functionality across Johannesburg. Our city doesn't need another dream; it needs a plan that works"},{"start":30356,"end":30377,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and a political will to implement it. It's time to stop promising our residents a better Johannesburg tomorrow while failing them today. It is time to make the city work again for all its people. Thank you."},{"start":30377,"end":30388,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Moeti from ActionSA, you have 10 minutes."},{"start":30388,"end":30396,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, not even. Thank you once again, Speaker. ActionSA notes both items 15 and 16. Thanks."},{"start":30396,"end":30409,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor. Councillor Dladla from the EFF, you have eight minutes."},{"start":30409,"end":30428,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Eish, I'm even losing my voice over this. I don't know if it's the fact that I've been referred as Councillor Dladla today, but nevertheless, the EFF is noting the report, both item 14 and 15 and 16, rather. Thank you very much."},{"start":30428,"end":30441,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Acting Councillor Dladla. Councillor Bolani from the ANC, where are you?"},{"start":30441,"end":30442,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Here, Madam Speaker."},{"start":30442,"end":30451,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"He's not here. Oh, here you are. You have 20 minutes."},{"start":30451,"end":30481,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Greetings, Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor, members of the Mayoral Committee, fellow councillors, officials and residents of City of Johannesburg. I rise to speak on item 15 dealing with the Region A and item 16 dealing with Region A and Region E Development Plan, Investment Atlas and Implementation Plan. Madam Speaker, Region A represents both the economic potential and the developmental inequalities of Johannesburg."},{"start":30481,"end":30510,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It includes major economic areas such as Midrand, Fourways, Kyalami and Lanseria, while also including communities such as Diepsloot and Ivory Park, where unemployment, poverty and infrastructure challenges remain significant. This is precisely why a regional economic development approach is important. Economic development cannot be planned as if every part of Johannesburg has the same opportunities"},{"start":30510,"end":30538,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and challenges. We need strategies that understand the character of each region. We therefore welcome the Region A REDP and, in particular, the attempt to connect economic development with transport, infrastructure, township economies, SMMEs, skills and spatial transformation. This integrated approach is essential. A business cannot operate effectively without infrastructure."},{"start":30538,"end":30564,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"A worker cannot access employment without transport. An entrepreneur cannot grow without markets. Young people cannot participate fully in economy without relevant skills. Madam Speaker, the investment atlas is particularly useful because it gives us a picture of the economic opportunities and potential projects across the region. But an atlas is only useful if we act on it."},{"start":30564,"end":30594,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The greatest risk is that the city produce another excellent strategic document, but struggles to translate it into funded and implemented projects. The supporting analysis itself identifies the need for logistics investment, youth innovation, mobility infrastructure, transit-oriented development, skills development, township last-mile distribution, blended finance and better data."},{"start":30594,"end":30600,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We should therefore welcome these priorities while insisting on implementation discipline."},{"start":30600,"end":30604,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"discipline."},{"start":30604,"end":30628,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, Region E gives us Johannesburg and a remarkable economic opportunity within one region. We find some of the city's most important economic assets, including Sandton, Alexandra, Wynberg, Marlboro, and Modderfontein. The region has established strengths in financial service, technology, logistics, and tourism. The question before us is therefore not whether Region E has economic potential."},{"start":30628,"end":30657,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"It clearly does. The important question is whether the economic potential can be converted into inclusive economic opportunity. We welcome the REDP because it begins to address this question. The proposed initiatives include an Alexandra Smart Trade and Manufacturing Hub, a Smart Mobility Hub, digital economic initiatives, a Sandton 24-hour economy, a finance and digital banking hub, youth innovation, last-mile delivery, and smart logistics."},{"start":30657,"end":30685,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"These initiatives have the potential to connect economic with communities that have historically not benefited sufficiently from Johannesburg economic strength. These initiatives, Madam Speaker, can grow communities that have historically not benefited sufficiently from Johannesburg economic strength. Madam Speaker, Sandton is a major economic centre, but economic development must not remain geographically concentrated."},{"start":30685,"end":30715,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The relationship between Sandton and Alexandra provides a particularly important opportunity. We should be asking how the wealth-generating capacity of Sandton can create opportunities for residents and businesses in Alexandra, Wynberg, Marlboro, and surrounding communities. This is what inclusive growth should mean in practice. It should mean access to markets. It should mean access to finance. It should mean skills. It should mean digital inclusion. It should mean transport connectivity. It should mean opportunities for SMMEs."},{"start":30715,"end":30746,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, the proposed digital finance initiatives are particularly interesting. Access to financial technology can help small businesses participate more effectively in the formal economy. But digital inclusion requires more than technology. People need skills. They need affordable connectivity. They need financial literacy, and they need business support. We therefore recommend that the implementation plan include measurable targets for youth participation, SMME support, township enterprise integration."},{"start":30746,"end":30776,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, the proposed Smart Trade and Manufacturing Hub in Alexandra also provides an opportunity to strengthen township manufacturing. Township economies must not remain predominantly consumption-based. We need to encourage production. We need businesses to manufacture. We need businesses to process. We need businesses to distribute, and we need enterprises that can participate in broader supply chains. This is how we create sustainable employment. The proposed smart logistics and last-mile delivery initiatives can also assist in connecting township"},{"start":30776,"end":30806,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"enterprises to markets. Madam Speaker, the 24-hour economy presents another opportunity, but it must be developed responsibly. A successful 24-hour economy requires safety, transport, lighting, reliable services, appropriate infrastructure, and an environment in which businesses can operate with confidence. Economic development and public safety must therefore work together."},{"start":30806,"end":30835,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, the same principle applies to the relationship between established economic centres and township economies. We should be asking how businesses operating in major economic nodes can connect with emerging enterprises in Diepsloot, Ivory Park, and other communities. This is how spatial transformation becomes economic transformation. Our recommendation is therefore that the REDP implementation plan include explicit targets for SMME participation, youth employment, local procurement, and township enterprise integration."},{"start":30835,"end":30862,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Madam Speaker, financing will also be critical. The report indicates that future projects remain subject to funding and Council approval. This means that the new committee must understand the difference between identifying an opportunity and funding an opportunity. We need to develop partnerships with the private sector and development finance institutions where appropriate. We also need to ensure that the city prioritises projects based on economic impact."},{"start":30862,"end":30891,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Not every project can be implemented simultaneously. We should therefore focus on projects capable of creating the greatest combination of jobs, investment, economic activity, and spatial transformation. Madam Speaker, we support Item 15 and Item 16. But our support comes with a clear recommendation. Let us not allow the Region A REDP and Region E REDP to remain strategic documents. Let us turn it into project pipelines. Let us find priorities."},{"start":30891,"end":30907,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Let us monitor them. Let us report on them, and let us measure their impact on the lives of residents. I thank you, Madam Speaker."},{"start":30907,"end":30920,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, Councillor Bolani. Can we have MMC Mnisi responding?"},{"start":30920,"end":30950,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you to all the councillors for the contributions. I want to start by responding to Councillor Dlanga, Madam Speaker, through you, for his contributions and making or rather raising the important question of how we attract investment into areas with high unemployment. The point about infrastructure is important, Madam Speaker."},{"start":30950,"end":30980,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Investors need reliable water, electricity, roads, safety, and digital connectivity. Without these fundamentals, it becomes difficult to attract and retain private sector investment. The councillor also raised the issue of Special Economic Zones and incentives. This is an important consideration, particularly for areas such as Ivory Park, Kaalfontein, and Etwatwa. We need to look"},{"start":30980,"end":31011,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"at how the city can use its land, infrastructure, partnerships, and available incentives to make these areas more attractive to investors. At the same time, Madam Speaker, investment cannot be concentrated only in already developed precincts. Our responsibility is to ensure that economic opportunities reach communities that have historically been excluded from investment. The proposed approach must therefore"},{"start":31011,"end":31041,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"be about connecting investment to local economic development, ensuring that when businesses invest in these areas, our communities benefit through jobs, SMMEs opportunities, skills development, and local procurement. We will continue working with the JDA and JPC and other stakeholders to identify opportunities and strengthen the investment pipeline in these areas. Madam Speaker,"},{"start":31041,"end":31071,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"our measure of success cannot simply be the amount of investment attracted. It must also be where that investment goes, how many jobs it has created, and whether it changes the economic fortunes of that community. Madam Speaker, we agree with Councillor Reddy that development must be practical, prioritised, and supported by sustainable funding. The concerns around"},{"start":31071,"end":31101,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"water, electricity, roads, transport, and connectivity are legitimate, Madam Speaker. These are fundamental requirements for attracting investment and supporting local businesses. However, the Regional Development Plans are not simply a wish list. They provide a framework to identify priorities and coordinate interventions across the city and its entities. We must also ensure that we"},{"start":31101,"end":31130,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"maintain and maximise existing infrastructure while investing in new opportunities. As I sit down, Madam Speaker, our measure of success must be whether these plans attract investment, create jobs, and improve the quality of life of residents, particularly in historically disadvantaged communities. Thank you, Madam Speaker. We request Council to approve these plans."},{"start":31130,"end":31150,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, MMC. The recommendations on page 15.15 and 15.16 and 16.17 to 16.18. Do we agree to this?"},{"start":31150,"end":31152,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed."},{"start":31152,"end":31189,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Those of you that are informed that the live streaming has stopped, we have just checked. It is still streaming. Whoever says it's not, tell them to buy data. Colleagues, we are now going to Item 47. Oh, sorry. I'm not the Secretary. Secretary to Council."},{"start":31189,"end":31196,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillors, we are now on Item 47, and that is the implementation of the Alderman policy."},{"start":31196,"end":31204,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. We are starting with Councillor Mokoena from the EFF."},{"start":31204,"end":31219,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you very much, Speaker. Speaker, Item 47 asks Council to confer the Alderman title on long-serving current and former councillors. The EFF recognises that institutional memory and sustained"},{"start":31219,"end":31222,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Can you please speak into the mic, Councillor?"},{"start":31222,"end":31252,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The EFF recognises that the institutional memory and sustained public service have value. But as we approach the end of political term, we must also say something uncomfortable. Longevity in office must never be confused with service to the people. A title can recognise years served; history will judge what was done with those years. The revised policy establishes"},{"start":31252,"end":31282,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"an objective threshold at at least 20 points. A councillor receives one point for each year of municipal service, additional points for every 10 years served, and higher weighting for service as an MMC, Section 79 Chairperson, Opposition Leader, Chief Whip, Speaker, Mayor, and Chair of Chairs. The report is also clear that membership of political term must not automatically qualify anyone. Records"},{"start":31282,"end":31314,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"must be verified, including service in other municipalities. That insistence on verifiable evidence is important and should be defended. The first phase identifies 19 serving councillors from the 2021 to 2026 term and 33 former councillors from the term 2016 to 2021 term, while older records are still being progressively verified. The EFF supports the principle that the same criteria"},{"start":31314,"end":31344,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"must apply to everyone and that no person should be excluded merely because historical records take longer to verify. Recognition cannot be credible if the process is selective, politically manipulated, or based on incomplete records. But Speaker, the EFF 2026 Local Government Election Manifesto reminds us what meaningful councillor service actually"},{"start":31344,"end":31375,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"looks like. It records EFF councillors fighting corruption, defending poor communities, expanding access to free basic services, securing infrastructure, protecting people against unlawful eviction, and demanding accountability from mayors and municipal managers. The manifesto says the work of the EFF councillor must build capable, developmental, and people municipalities. That is a far higher political test"},{"start":31375,"end":31397,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"than simply accumulating points through years and position. This is why we say the Alderman title must never become a retirement medal for occupying office while communities remain without water, electricity, housing, roads, and dignity. A person may satisfy the administrative threshold of this policy,"},{"start":31397,"end":31398,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"30 seconds."},{"start":31398,"end":31427,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"but residents will still ask: When taps were dry, where were you? When corruption stole from the poor, did you speak? When informal settlements burned, when unemployment destroyed households, and when municipal services collapsed, what did your years in Council produce? Those questions cannot be answered by a badge. The estimated direct cost of the first phase is R25,400 for Alderman badges,"},{"start":31427,"end":31454,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"with certificates produced internally. That amount is modest, but the principle remains that public expenditure must be justified and transparent. It is also notable that the report records no communication implications and no departments or bodies consulted."},{"start":31454,"end":31471,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor. Can you switch off your mic, please, ma'am? Councillor Nkubungu. Councillor, please forgive me."},{"start":31471,"end":31501,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. You're getting there. Honourable Speaker, I rise on behalf of the African National Congress to also put our comment on this milestone achievement of this Council, this administration, and through many hard efforts. I rise in support of Item 47, which deals with the implementation of the revised Alderman policy."},{"start":31501,"end":31532,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Honourable Speaker, this report is important because it speaks to something that we sometimes overlook in local government: the value of service and contribution made by councillors to the development and functioning of the city. Council approved this revised Alderman on the Council that was held on the 26th of June 2025, following consideration and refinement through the Rules Section 79 Committee. The policy now provides a clear framework for recognition of serving and former councillors"},{"start":31532,"end":31562,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"who have rendered sustainable and exceptional service to local government and the City of Johannesburg. I particularly welcome the fact that this recognition is not simply based on political affiliation or membership of a particular Council term. The policy establishes a points-based system with a minimum threshold of 20 points, and requires historical service records to be verified. This is important because recognition must"},{"start":31562,"end":31593,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"be based on objective, transparent, and auditable criteria. Honourable Speaker, I also support the phased implementation approach. We are dealing with historical records spanning many years and, in some instances, service rendered in some municipalities. It is therefore appropriate that the legislature takes the necessary time to verify the dates of services and positions held, and other relevant information before titles are conferred."},{"start":31593,"end":31624,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"For we don't want mistakes in this thing. What is particularly important is that the phased approach must not disadvantage those whom the records have not been verified or finalised. Honourable Speaker, recognising of services should never be understood as merely giving someone a title. It is about acknowledging years of commitment to residents, communities, and the institutions of local government. Many councillors serve under difficult circumstances."},{"start":31624,"end":31658,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"They deal with difficulty with communities, respond to service delivery challenges, particularly in oversight and legislation. They carry the expectations of residents every day. Where that service meets requirements of approved policy, it is appropriate that the institution recognises it. I therefore support and recommend that Council includes the conferment of Alderman title on those"},{"start":31658,"end":31688,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"who qualify. At the same time, I urge the legislature to continue applying a criteria consistently and without favour. The credibility of this policy depends on fairness, transparency, and equal treatment in all qualifying councillors. Honourable Speaker, let us therefore support this item as an institutional mechanism that serves and preserves the dignity of public service and ensures that those who have given their years to local government are honoured correctly."},{"start":31688,"end":31700,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I support this report. Finally, Councillor Christians will be an Alderman, and we'll be getting advice from him officially because he has been trying to do that. Thank you very much, Speaker. We note this report."},{"start":31700,"end":31702,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Councillor."},{"start":31702,"end":31703,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Danko."},{"start":31703,"end":31709,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Mposula, why is your mic on?"},{"start":31715,"end":31718,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Vraag en antwoord, nê?"},{"start":31718,"end":31726,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Christians, are you giving us advice?"},{"start":31726,"end":31758,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, always. That's why this time I'm using the laptop to show I'm not that old. Speaker, in terms of this report, I want to say thank you very much to the officials and your office for going through it under such a short time. However, there are some amendments I'd like to make to correct in terms of the policy itself, so that we cannot be called a Council that just pushes things through because we are gaining from it."},{"start":31758,"end":31767,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So Speaker, the first part I'd like to raise is on page 47.4."},{"start":31767,"end":31768,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So you must go slowly, nê?"},{"start":31768,"end":31802,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yes. 47.4. I'll go as slow as possible while educating. Just before Policy Implications, the paragraph there: \"The above list comprises of former councillors identified for assessment. Only those individuals whose verified service history results in 20 or more points...\" At that point is where I'd like to make the amendment: \"will be included,\" not \"are included.\" \"Will be included in the final list of recipients recommended for conferment of the...\""},{"start":31802,"end":31833,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And now this is where the policy differs. There are two types of Aldermen. Those who are currently councillors here in this chamber will be Aldermen. Those who have served previously, not only in the previous term, but even before that, become Honorary Aldermen. And I think that's the correction that needs to be made here. Before \"Alderman title,\" it should be \"Honorary Alderman title,\" because those are the two categories. So that's the first part. The second recommendation that I'd like to make"},{"start":31833,"end":31866,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"is in the recommendation itself, that because you've still got to verify those 33, that Recommendation 4 falls away until the verification is made, and then it comes back to Council as Honorary Aldermen, because as it currently is, it is incorrect. They are not being conferred the Alderman title, but the Honorary Alderman title. And I can see the Secretary to Council shaking his head. So let me refer you, Secretary to Council, through you, Madam Chair, to"},{"start":31866,"end":31914,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"the revised Alderman policy. Number two, Definition of Terms. And the third paragraph talks to: \"The title of Honorary Alderman of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Council is conferred as the highest award to a former councillor in recognition of their exceptional service to Council.\" So we cannot have councillors who are former and not currently councillors being conferred to as Aldermen. And that is why I say we need to amend it, and that is my recommendation to the house, that we withdraw Number 4, because we cannot confer people who are not currently councillors as Aldermen. They'll be conferred as Honorary Aldermen. Thank you."},{"start":31914,"end":31921,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Kom ek verstaan net gou reg."},{"start":31921,"end":31952,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Recommendation Number 3, right? Councillor Christians, are you listening? Recommendation Number 3 speaks to councillors in the term 2021 to 2026, right? Then Recommendation Number 4 speaks to councillors from 2016 to 2021. Some of them are here."},{"start":31952,"end":31981,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Some of them are here. Nê? No, no, no, some of them are here. I am here. I gave you a chance. Some of them are here, right? Councillor Tyrell, shush. So 2016 to 2021, some of them are here. 2021 to 2026, they are here."},{"start":31981,"end":32013,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The last one, from what I understand, is Number 5, are those councillors, and I will mention, like Minister Parks Tau, Mfikoe, are those that are no longer here. Those are the ones that we are saying the historical records have not yet been fully verified, and they will be assessed"},{"start":32013,"end":32046,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"upon completion of the verification process and, where eligible, submitted to Council for consideration in the next ceremony of bestowment that will be convened by the Speaker of Council. Okay? So those people, there are others in the DA that's also not here, and they are also going to be given this Alderman. But those of 2021,"},{"start":32046,"end":32060,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"in actual fact, from 2016 to 2026, a lot of us are here. A lot of us are here."},{"start":32060,"end":32062,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Uh-uh, asseblief."},{"start":32062,"end":32093,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So I want to understand, do you understand what I'm saying? Because there is an amount, and it has been loaded on the drive, right? There's an amount for 2021 to 2026, which is not 19, they are 26. The ones from 2016 to 2021, they are 33. Okay?"},{"start":32093,"end":32098,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"Jou hand was op. Kom ek hoor."},{"start":32098,"end":32129,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the reason why I didn't interject is because the rules clearly state when the Speaker is speaking, none of us are allowed to speak or interject. So that's why I waited till the end. Madam Speaker, what you're saying is correct, except the wording in this report is incorrect, because it has two categories. It has categories saying \"Qualifying Serving Councillors 2021 to 2026,\" which is where your name is. Even though you and I also served in the previous term, that second batch"},{"start":32129,"end":32155,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"is only of councillors who served in that term and are not currently serving. So that is why I'm saying for those councillors in that batch, not serving in this current term, are Honorary Aldermen, and that's the correction I'm making. That's why I'm also saying in terms of that batch, it has to be corrected in the recommendations as well, which is Recommendation 4. Thank you."},{"start":32155,"end":32170,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"So we can fix that \"Honorary\" and then it goes, am I right? We can amend and put in the \"Honorary\" and then we go."},{"start":32170,"end":32200,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the body, yes, but in the recommendation, if it's still being verified as is being said in the body of the report, then Item 4 has to fall away because you haven't verified all of them yet. Unless you're saying they are. And then, Madam Speaker, if you allow me, the policy also says that it's not the Speaker, and this is where we had the issue with Councillor Hoon, it's not the Speaker that recommends it. They are nominated"},{"start":32200,"end":32206,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"by current councillors. So there's no nomination process that's started yet. Thank you."},{"start":32206,"end":32212,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I hear you. The ones that need to be verified are the ones..."},{"start":32212,"end":32213,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Obo Mme"},{"start":32213,"end":32239,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Connie Bapela and those people are the ones that need to be verified. There's no one else to be verified. The list is here with those. No, we are verifying before 2016. We are verifying 2011 to 2016. Those are the ones we are verifying. That's why I said, like Minister Parks Tau, like Connie Bapela,"},{"start":32239,"end":32263,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and others, they are the Number 5. They are Number 5. Those are those that are gone. The Mfikoes and others. If you have read the report, you will understand what we are talking about. MMC..."},{"start":32263,"end":32265,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, thank you very much."},{"start":32265,"end":32277,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We'll do the change according to how you've asked that, but I am still adamant that Number 5 are those people that we did not sit with them in the old chamber."},{"start":32277,"end":32307,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay, no, thanks very much, Speaker. I think we heard you, you are loud and clear. I just have one clarity-seeking question. I just want to check if there are councillors that do qualify in terms of the criteria and that are not on the cohort that is currently here, what should then happen to them? Because I know of two councillors in the ANC that are actually qualifying in terms of the criteria. Thank you."},{"start":32307,"end":32309,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"In which term?"},{"start":32309,"end":32312,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"This current term."},{"start":32312,"end":32314,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Who are those councillors?"},{"start":32314,"end":32318,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Raphadu and Councillor Twala."},{"start":32318,"end":32319,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And Francisco."},{"start":32319,"end":32320,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Raphadu and Councillor Twala."},{"start":32320,"end":32323,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Yeah, Councillor Francisco as well."},{"start":32323,"end":32325,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We will check on that."},{"start":32325,"end":32326,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you."},{"start":32326,"end":32356,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We will check on that, and we will, because we don't want to leave anyone behind. But I want to tell you, I don't agree with Councillor Raphadu. Yoh! It's a very light note. It's a light note, Raphadu. Thank you so much. Can we then agree that those amendments that was asked and those that we need to add, we will do that, because we have to do it by tonight,"},{"start":32356,"end":32380,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"as we have to do it tomorrow. Councillors, the recommendations are on page 47.5. Councillor Alex Christians, can I just speak finish quickly? Okay, wait now."},{"start":32387,"end":32400,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. Okay, the issue... I'm... you're not..."},{"start":32400,"end":32408,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"when there's so many voices. Can the councillor at the back switch off his mic or her mic? And I know it's Johannes."},{"start":32408,"end":32411,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Um I am Oh, sorry."},{"start":32411,"end":32415,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Sorry, sorry. The councillor here, switch off your mic."},{"start":32415,"end":32419,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Seerane, switch off your mic."},{"start":32419,"end":32420,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Hhayi bo!"},{"start":32420,"end":32422,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"The ghosts are walking."},{"start":32422,"end":32432,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Um Councillors, I want to say that we are going to verify Councillor Raphadu and Councillor Twala."},{"start":32432,"end":32436,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And if And Councillor who?"},{"start":32436,"end":32439,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And Councillor Francisco, right?"},{"start":32439,"end":32442,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"We are going to verify them."},{"start":32442,"end":32445,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, we are going to verify them."},{"start":32445,"end":32447,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay."},{"start":32447,"end":32449,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh but"},{"start":32449,"end":32452,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"um Chair of Chairs, hey today,"},{"start":32452,"end":32452,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"af","text":"vandag."},{"start":32452,"end":32456,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Chair of Chairs, can you come?"},{"start":32456,"end":32488,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"No, thank you very much, uh Speaker. I I do agree with uh the amendments and corrections made because they are more of a language than you know, they are more of a typo that we can actually deal with and agree going forward. I don't I don't see any difference from what uh In fact, perhaps that is why he's getting an alderman uh you know, with the wisdom that he's bringing across. I agree actually"},{"start":32488,"end":32500,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"with what he has been raising. Um I would want to ask Council to uh note the report accordingly. Thank you."},{"start":32500,"end":32531,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Sorry, Speaker. Also, I I was making an assessment. I realized that uh on the names uh But I'm not worried because he's still going to do an assessment. I'm not worried about the omissions of the names. Um I'm definitely sure that uh when you do your assessment, you will realize those other councillors that are omitted from either parties. So it doesn't necessarily need to be from the DA or the ANC or what. So I want to ask Council to"},{"start":32531,"end":32534,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"approve or note the report. Thank you."},{"start":32534,"end":32543,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor"},{"start":32543,"end":32575,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Okay. Chair of Chairs has agreed with Councillor Christians, and we will do the wording accordingly. And I'm still repeating the three names that we get that we got now. We are going to verify whether they do qualify. Remember, there's a point system, and we need to look into the point system. So we will then uh deal with that, and yeah, that's that. Uh Councillors, the recommendations are on page 47.5,"},{"start":32575,"end":32586,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"and it goes with the um amendments that Councillor Christians has given us. Can we then agree to it? Because Chair of Chairs has also agreed to it."},{"start":32586,"end":32591,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed. Thank you."},{"start":32591,"end":32605,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Councillor Christians, you can also I know you right like to write emails and you like to write things. Just write what that that amendments of yours is. Okay, now we're going to"},{"start":32605,"end":32610,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Secretary to Council."},{"start":32610,"end":32618,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"22 to 28."},{"start":32618,"end":32623,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"I feel like an alderman."},{"start":32623,"end":32653,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh Councillors, we are on item uh 22, which is an oversight report uh to the Pochi unregistered uh illegal cemetery in Region G, Orange Farm, read with item 23, which is an oversight uh visit report to the Drieziek uh 3 Multi-purpose Center. Item also 24 is an oversight visit report to the Drieziek uh Lily Park."},{"start":32653,"end":32686,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"And item 21 is an oversight report to the Joburg City Library, read with also item 26, which is an oversight report uh to the Johannesburg Theater, also read with item 27, and that's an oversight report to the Orange Farm Lakeside Park, and also read with item 28, which is an oversight uh oversight visit report to the Orange Farm Multi-purpose Center. And item Oh, sorry. That's"},{"start":32686,"end":32721,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much, STC. There are no speakers here. So item 22, the recommendations are on page 22.3. Item 23, it's on 23.2. Item 24 is on 24.3. Item 25 is on 25.4. Item 26 is on 26.2. Item 27 is on page 27.2. And item 28 is on 28.3."},{"start":32721,"end":32726,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Is Are these items all agreed to?"},{"start":32726,"end":32727,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Agreed."},{"start":32727,"end":32746,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Uh STC, next item."},{"start":32746,"end":32750,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Uh we are now back to item 17."},{"start":32750,"end":32756,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Oh."},{"start":32756,"end":32762,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Apologies, Councillors. We are now in announcements. Thank you."},{"start":32762,"end":32786,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Colleagues, you know this alderman, ne? We are sitting here with it, and we are busy with that alderman as we are sitting here. So you can imagine we had to pick up all those that we did not include. Um there are no announcement There are announcements. Tomorrow morning we're starting"},{"start":32786,"end":32787,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"zu","text":"Hhayi."},{"start":32787,"end":32816,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Tomorrow morning we are starting at 10:00. We are starting with the acknowledgment. You're getting Those that are aldermen will get their alderman at 10:00 to 11:00. And then we are going to start our normal Council sitting from 11:00. So please be here at 10:00 so that we can get done. And please, let us not do what we did today. We wasted our own time."},{"start":32816,"end":32823,"video":"oFqccXTZjJU","lang":"en","text":"Thank you so much. Drive safely. Don't do what I don't do. Let's go home."}]}