Housing and land in Johannesburg council, 28 May to 30 September 2026

Sittings covered and the budget debate

This page covers housing and land: 28 chapters tagged with this topic across 6 sitting days, from 28 May 2026 to 30 September 2026. Only transcribed sittings are covered, and the topic includes housing, informal settlements, land, evictions and hijacked buildings.

At the budget debate on 28 May 2026, Cllr Nethamba (EFF) listed housing among what the EFF wants the budget to deliver. 28 May 04:04:04 Cllr Mokwena (ANC) described the IDP as a recovery blueprint with an inner-city revitalisation focus and a 'house' model. 28 May 04:45:24 The Executive Mayor, Cllr Morero, announced on 28 May 2026 that the city had won the Marble Towers case and spoke of Small Street development plans. 28 May 03:18:03 Cllr Morero said "We will support the Central Methodist Church" so that the church's dignity can be restored in Small Street. 28 May 03:18:03 promise

Informal settlements policy and land strategy

On 30 September 2026 council approved Item 4, the City of Johannesburg Informal Settlements Policy; all parties that responded said yes and the APC did not respond. 30 Sept 04:35:12 In the Item 4 debate, GOOD warned against upgrading hazardous land and the DA asked for electricity to be restored at Ezinqawe, where residents had been without power for eight months. 30 Sept 04:35:12 MMC Mabaso said the Informal Settlements Policy would help tackle shack farming and that the department is developing a system to deal with people owning more than one shack. 30 Sept 04:35:12 promise

MMC Mabaso asked council to approve Item 5, the Human Settlements Land Assembly Strategy 2025-2040, so strategic land parcels can be consolidated, and the item was carried. 30 Sept 04:48:52 On Item 16, recognition and upgrading of 379 informal settlements, Cllr Harris (ACDP) objected that household counts are inaccurate and that recognition amounts to permanence without plans for eradication. 30 Sept 07:09:50 On Item 16, MMC Mabaso said Human Settlements needs a council resolution to work in settlements it does not establish, and that by-law enforcement is not its mandate. 30 Sept 07:09:50

Human Settlements reports and Executive Director position

On 22 July 2026 Cllr Maluleka tabled items 20, 21 and 22, the Human Settlements and JOSHCO Q3 reports, in place of Cllr Mpolobosho, who had left. 22 Jul 05:51:11 On items 20 to 22, the ACDP, PA, ActionSA and DA criticised the housing backlog, council rental unit maintenance and 40% department performance. 22 Jul 05:53:03 The DA detailed JOSHCO's R391.5 million deficit and low collections, and an ANC councillor called for a permanent executive director. 22 Jul 05:53:03

MMC Mabaso said title deeds follow township establishment and are not selective, and that budget cuts and unpaid contractors have hurt performance. 22 Jul 06:15:27 MMC Mabaso said the council rental unit programme is under national moratorium and that the department is preparing a report on its future to table to the Mayoral Committee. 22 Jul 06:15:27 promise The recommendations on items 20, 21 and 22 were agreed by voice, with no numbers announced. 22 Jul 06:15:27

On 26 August 2026 council agreed Item 37, the rescission and re-advertisement of the Executive Director Human Settlements position. 26 Aug 03:56:00 MMC Mabaso said the appointed Executive Director was interdicted shortly after taking office and never returned, and that legal advisers allowed re-advertisement to end instability in the department. 26 Aug 03:56:00 Item 10, repealing the Child-Headed Household, Non-Qualify and Rent Relief policies already absorbed into newer policies, was agreed with ActionSA and ANC support. 26 Aug 07:06:08

Sales and leases of city land

On 25 June 2026 council approved Item 64, amending the lease over portion of Erf 7327 Lenasia Extension 7, with DA and FF+ dissent recorded. 25 Jun 07:27:34 Cllr Dewes (DA) said the Lenasia lease was signed in 1997 and JPC had failed to enforce its conditions for 29 years. 25 Jun 07:27:34 Cllr De Lange (FF+) said the Lenasia developer should not get another 20 years and the land should go to public participation and open bids. 25 Jun 07:27:34

On 26 August 2026 the Speaker declared items 11 and 12, development sales of Fairland erven, approved despite shouts of no, and the DA recorded opposition under Rule 84. 26 Aug 07:45:48 The DA opposed the Fairland sales citing outstanding environmental, traffic and City Power studies, while the EFF said it favoured a long-term lease and keeping land in public hands. 26 Aug 07:11:13 26 Aug 07:24:55 MMC Mnisi said the Fairland transactions were MFMA-compliant development sales, with title passed only once the developer met conditions. 26 Aug 07:41:24 MMC Mnisi said the environmental and other studies on the Fairland properties would be conducted once council authorised the transaction. 26 Aug 07:41:24 promise

Item 13, sale of Portion 19 of Erf 491, Ivory Park Extension 7, was agreed by voice; the EFF said Ivory Park residents wanted the land for settlement. 26 Aug 07:47:50 On 30 September 2026 Cllr Christians (DA) opposed Item 26, amending the Erf 56 Crown North development lease, saying the land was meant for parking but is used for business. 30 Sept 01:42:13 Cllr Molefe (ANC) supported the Crown North lease amendment, citing 400 permanent jobs, 600 construction jobs and 156 retail outlets. 30 Sept 01:42:13

Thanganani Mega City and Frankenwald developments

On 25 June 2026 council approved by voice Item 90, exempting the Thanganani Mega City development in Diepsloot from development contributions, and the DA recorded opposition under Rule 84. 25 Jun 03:45:09 25 Jun 03:59:59 MMC Mabaso said Thanganani Mega City is a provincial government initiative, with a developer investing R250 million, and that completed houses had stood vacant for over seven months. 25 Jun 03:59:59 MMC Mabaso said the Item 90 exemption is required under the development agreement so a clearance certificate can be issued and houses allocated. 25 Jun 03:59:59 Cllr Matabane said ActionSA would closely monitor implementation of the Thanganani Mega City project. 25 Jun 03:45:09 promise

On Item 15, the Frankenwald and Bergvallei mixed housing developments, Cllr Rambani (DA) said the report lacks disclosure of Calgro's spending and bulk infrastructure costs. 30 Sept 06:55:17 MMC Mabaso said the Frankenwald and Bergvallei land is private, Calgro is funding the work, and any financial agreement would return to Council. 30 Sept 06:55:17

Maxwell Court and Florence Nightingale buildings

On 22 July 2026 MMC Mabaso said Maxwell Court residents had refused relocation but would be relocated to Fleurhof in September. 22 Jul 06:15:27 promise On 27 August 2026 Cllr Nkonyeni (ActionSA) asked when the evacuation of the Florence Nightingale building in Hillbrow would be finalised. 27 Aug 00:09:18 Replying on the Florence Nightingale building, the responding MMC said the evacuation order was granted but alternative accommodation was the obstacle, with the building third on the list. 27 Aug 00:09:18