Council adopts 2024/25 adjustment budget, 138 for and 105 against

Adjustment budget adopted by show of hands

At the 36th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting on 13 March 2025, council approved item 55A, the 2024/25 operating adjustment budget, with 138 for, 105 against and none abstaining. 13 Mar 01:49:36 Items 55B and 55C, the capital adjustment budget and funding plan, were approved with 137 for, 106 against and none abstaining. 13 Mar 01:57:59

The Executive Mayor said the adjustment budget was debated on 27 February but not voted on, so he wrote to the Gauteng MEC. 13 Mar 00:56:03 The Executive Mayor said the Gauteng MEC required adoption of the adjustment budget by 18 March 2025 with no further extension. 13 Mar 00:56:03 promise In the item 55 debate, the DA and ACDP opposed, citing collection rates, debt and bulk infrastructure, while the UDM, ATM, EFF and ANC supported. 13 Mar 01:10:37

Cllr Tefu (ANC) objected to the DA's request to record dissent on the budget after voting and asked that it be referred to the Rules Committee. 13 Mar 01:57:59 Cllr Christians (DA) invoked rule 84 to record dissent, but the Speaker ruled on legal advice that councillors cannot participate in dissent after voting. 13 Mar 01:57:59

Section 79 committees enlarged to 18 members

Recommendation 2 of the Section 79 committees item, raising membership from 15 to 18 members and alternates, carried with 215 for, 32 against and 7 abstentions. 13 Mar 03:40:01 Recommendation 4 of the Section 79 committees item, which Cllr Knott said embeds the renaming of the gender committee, carried with 215 for, 31 against and 7 abstentions. 13 Mar 03:33:39 13 Mar 03:40:01 An EFF speaker called the Section 79 increase unaffordable, and a speaker from a smaller party said it was not budgeted for, citing a cost of R5.4 million. 13 Mar 03:30:00

On the Section 79 recommendations, the Speaker ruled that a show of hands comes first and a division may be called afterwards under Rule 79. 13 Mar 03:38:09 The EFF Chief Whip demanded a division on Section 79 recommendations 2 and 4, which the Speaker allowed after Rule 79 was read. 13 Mar 03:46:52 The doors were closed for a roll-call division on recommendation 2, but the transcript of the roll call is garbled and no result is captured. 13 Mar 03:52:08

Sandton Drive and Goudrand Hall motions rejected

A DA motion to rescind the renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled was rejected with 61 in favour and 170 against. 13 Mar 05:18:48 Cllr Boer (FF+) said the no votes on the Sandton Drive motion could not be counted accurately because of clapping and singing. 13 Mar 05:18:48

An ActionSA motion to reclaim the hijacked Goudrand Hall in Matholesville was rejected with 36 for, 134 against and 55 abstentions. 13 Mar 05:41:16 MMC Mabaso, acting for the absent MMC for Economic Development, said the Goudrand Hall motion could not be supported because it flouts property acquisition and budgeting processes. 13 Mar 05:32:56 Cllr Mashala (ActionSA) withdrew a motion for a feasibility study on floods in Meadowlands, Zone 10 and Mesi Park when called to present it. 13 Mar 05:32:00

Caucus break, protesters and other items

The 13 March 2025 sitting paused for a 30-minute caucus break requested by the ANC. 13 Mar 00:12:37 Cllr Lebatlang (ActionSA) asked the Executive Mayor to go out and listen to residents protesting the R200 electricity surcharge. 13 Mar 00:12:37 Cllr Mabelebele (ActionSA) asked the Speaker to go out and address the protesting residents. 13 Mar 01:04:19

Council noted items 1 to 50, the first-quarter performance assessment and oversight reports, as recommended by the Chief Whip. 13 Mar 05:55:11 Council approved item 54, extending fire and rescue vehicle maintenance contract A882, and item 56, a 24-month extension of SAP support and maintenance contract A874. 13 Mar 04:20:00 13 Mar 04:31:26 The Chief Whip said the whippery would prepare to handle second-quarter items on 26 and 27 March 2025. 13 Mar 04:03:40 promise