Council approves 2025/26 Operating and Capital Adjustment Budgets: 139 yes, 102 no

Adjustment budgets approved and debated

At the 47th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting on 20 March 2026, council approved Item 1, the Operating Adjustment Budget 2025/26, with 139 yes, 102 no and 0 abstentions. 20 Mar 01:26:49 Item 2, the Capital Adjustment Budget 2025/26, was carried with 139 yes, 102 no and 0 abstentions. 20 Mar 02:02:13 On both the Operating and Capital Adjustment Budgets, the DA recorded its opposition and reserved its rights. 20 Mar 01:26:49 20 Mar 02:02:13

Cllr Edward said ActionSA rejected the operating adjustment budget, citing lateness, declining cash reserves and rising payables. 20 Mar 00:57:56 Cllr Santana objected to the politically facilitated agreement (PFA) being introduced without costing or trade-offs, and the DA said it could not support the operating adjustment budget. 20 Mar 01:03:49 Cllr Thapelo Radebe said the ANC supported the operating adjustment budget as honest and pro-poor and accepted that it had weaknesses. 20 Mar 01:14:23

MMC Tshwaku said the EFF would vote for the PFA and that the EFF had contributed close to R100 million to it. 20 Mar 01:10:13 promise In the capital budget debate, Cllr Santana said slowing capital projects pointed to cash flow problems, citing the Woodmead Reservoir in his ward. 20 Mar 01:44:56 An automated check linked Cllr Santana's remark to a 29 May 2025 Budget Speech promise by Cllr Mgcina to complete capital projects under construction, rating that promise late or dropped. earlier promise 20 Mar 01:44:56

MMC Finance responds

MMC Masuku said the capital loan reduction was R270 million from the KfW loan, which he said would be moved to the next financial year as agreed with KfW. 20 Mar 01:57:12 promise MMC Masuku said the 47th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting was permitted in writing by the MEC under MFMA section 27(2). 20 Mar 01:57:12 Responding on the operating budget, MMC Masuku said Section 79 committees cannot approve a budget and that he had raised the assault on Cllr Mogapi with SAMWU leadership. 20 Mar 01:21:26

SDBIP and Service Level Standards reviews noted

Item 3, the 2025/26 mid-year review of the institutional SDBIP and departmental and entity business plans, was noted with no count announced, and the DA's opposition was recorded. 20 Mar 02:33:58 Item 4, the 2025/26 Institutional SDBIP Mid-Year Service Level Standards Review, was noted with no count announced, and the DA's opposition was recorded. 20 Mar 02:48:04

Cllr Cook said the SDBIP contains over 160 proposed changes, including cutting the maintenance target from 8% to 7%, and questioned the removal of the Rea Vaya ridership KPI. 20 Mar 02:09:59 Cllr Kyle Jacobs said the DA rejected the revised SDBIP, citing the cut to the maintenance target, unpaid contractors and the R1.35 billion PFA cost. 20 Mar 02:19:28 MMC Masuku said the SDBIP deviations were reviewed by the Group Audit Performance Committee. 20 Mar 02:33:58

Safety concerns, breaks and the next meeting

Before debate on Item 1, Cllr Seerane raised safety concerns about people blocking and confronting councillors at the entrance, and claims were made that an EFF councillor was assaulted. 20 Mar 00:28:06 The Speaker said VOC, JOC and SAPS had given assurances, asked anyone assaulted to open a case, and said she would report back to Cllr Seerane during the meeting. 20 Mar 00:28:06 promise The Speaker called a 10-minute break to assess the safety situation and later said all the protesters were outside. 20 Mar 00:40:45

Before the Item 1 vote, the Speaker rebuked Cllr Zitha for threatening to beat another member. 20 Mar 01:26:49 The sitting included an EFF caucus break that ran to about 8 minutes, chamber microphone failures, and a burning smell the Speaker attributed to people smoking outside the chamber. 20 Mar 00:04:55 20 Mar 00:40:45 20 Mar 02:44:00 The Speaker announced that the ordinary council meeting had been moved to 30 and 31 March 2026. 20 Mar 02:58:13