Council rejects KfW loan: 129 for, 94 against, short of the 136 votes needed

KfW loan item not carried

At the 50th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting on 21 May 2026, the Executive Mayor tabled Item 1, a request to enter into a loan agreement with KfW for 2025/26 to 2027/28. 21 May 00:31:18 The Speaker announced 5 abstentions, 94 against and 129 in favour, so the KfW loan item was not carried because a finance item needs 136 votes; she first said 137. 21 May 01:27:13 Cllr Nkonyeni said ActionSA rejects the roughly R3.8 billion KfW loan, and Cllr Santana said the DA cannot support it, noting Annexure G was unsigned and no Treasury responses were attached. 21 May 00:44:43 21 May 00:49:23 Cllr Mkhonza said the ACDP would abstain on the KfW loan, while the IFP and PA noted the report. 21 May 00:32:23 21 May 00:36:01 21 May 00:37:15 The Speaker refused Cllr Ndlela's request for a 10-minute ANC caucus break, ruling such breaks are granted at or just after tabling, not once debate has ended. 21 May 01:11:22

Quorum count and committee attendance

Early in the 50th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting, the Speaker adjourned for about 10 minutes to count councillors and confirm a quorum, with Legal staff reporting 186 on the register outside. 21 May 00:16:49 Closing the 50th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting, the Speaker said Section 79 committees were not quorate, told councillors to attend committees and sittings, and announced budget meetings on the 27th and 28th. 21 May 01:30:00

State of the City Address, 20 May

Executive Mayor Cllr Morero delivered the State of the City Address on 20 May 2026 at a Cathedral church the Speaker declared a precinct of Council for the day. 20 May 01:35:28 20 May 01:44:16 Cllr Morero reported a fully funded R89.4 billion 2025/26 budget and said 14 of 17 tasks were achieved, a score of 82.3%. 20 May 02:06:26 20 May 02:37:53

Cllr Morero said the city would sell the vacant land portion of its debtors' book, valued at R23.2 billion. promise 20 May 02:06:26 On Eskom's latest notice, Cllr Morero said the city would work with the Minister and SALGA rather than fight Eskom. promise 20 May 02:09:54 Cllr Morero said KfW would dispense an agreed €200 million loan before the end of June 2026. promise 20 May 02:09:54

During the address, Cllr Dlanjwa (EFF) raised a point of order that councillors on his side could not hear, and the Speaker noted it and moved on. 20 May 01:36:54 Party comments and the Executive Mayor's response to the State of the City Address were deferred to the next day at 10:00. 20 May 02:54:22

State of the City Address Debate, 21 May

The State of the City Address Debate on 21 May 2026 started after a break, cut from 35 to 20 minutes on legal advice, because chamber screens were not working. 21 May 00:02:00 The Speaker announced 167 councillors present at the State of the City Address Debate, so the meeting was quorate. 21 May 00:28:00 The Speaker rejected a DA point of order to stop the debate until the Executive Mayor was in the chamber, ruling the Deputy Executive Mayor had been delegated to respond. 21 May 01:12:05

GOOD's Cllr Cook and ActionSA's Cllr Coutriers both raised water outages and unemployment, and the DA's Cllr Echeozonjoku criticised the self-awarded 82.3% score. 21 May 01:10:45 21 May 01:28:28 21 May 02:01:48 Cllr Mokome said COPE supports the State of the City Address, and Cllr Mhlongo of the AIC welcomed it. 21 May 02:24:17 21 May 02:44:33

In reply, Cllr Morero admitted the city defaulted on Eskom and said council would get a full report on the new Eskom arrangement on Monday. 21 May 03:35:19 promise Cllr Morero said the debtors book had been evaluated at about R3 billion and would be sold. promise 21 May 03:50:42 Cllr Mposula (ActionSA) and Cllr Christians (DA) rose on points of order saying the Mayor was misleading the house; the Speaker ruled the intervention was not a point of order. 21 May 04:02:23

A power failure delayed the Executive Mayor's videos, and a later video played without sound while councillors shouted that it was AI-generated. 21 May 03:28:07 21 May 04:08:16 The house chose a 5-minute break over 10 minutes, and the Speaker adjourned the State of the City Address Debate to resume at 2:30. 21 May 04:11:51