Johannesburg council, week of 24 August 2026

Public Safety HOD and Rea Vaya votes

At the 39th Ordinary Council Meeting, Day 1, on 26 August 2026, a DA motion to postpone item 38 drew 82 yes, 110 no and 2 abstentions. 26 Aug 04:20:43 Moving the DA motion, Cllr Maila said the item 38 report records that the preferred candidate was flagged as high risk by the SIU, and that the motion makes no finding of guilt. 26 Aug 04:17:15 The Speaker ruled the yeses had it on item 38, the recruitment of the Head of Department Public Safety, and the DA, FF Plus, ACDP and ActionSA had their dissent recorded. 26 Aug 04:54:46

On item 9, the Rea Vaya Phase 1A Bus Operating Company public participation notice, the Speaker declared the noes louder and Cllr Raphadu demanded a roll call for the ANC. 26 Aug 06:47:24 26 Aug 06:53:41 The roll call on item 9 was 112 yes, 42 no and 3 abstentions, and Cllr Christians objected to the procedure and recorded DA dissent under Rule 84. 26 Aug 06:53:41

Other Day 1 decisions, rulings and delays

On 26 August, council adopted the Code for Ethical Leadership in Local Government and accepted Global Environment Facility grant funding with the DBSA. 26 Aug 02:50:03 26 Aug 06:04:11 26 Aug 06:32:09 Council approved the development sales of Fairland erven in items 11 and 12, with DA opposition recorded under Rule 84. 26 Aug 07:45:48 Cllr Thapelo Radebe, the only nominee, was declared chairperson of the Section 79 Finance Committee. 26 Aug 01:37:32

Cllr Da Rocha, who shouted about the lack of water, power and sewer services, was removed by security on the Speaker's order for disrupting proceedings. 26 Aug 03:15:22 The Speaker fined Cllrs Nkomo, Coutriers and Radebe R1,000 each for taking videos in the chamber, and also fined Cllr Rambani R1,000. 26 Aug 02:36:46 26 Aug 03:19:47 The Speaker ruled under Rule 30A that the blue T-shirts worn by DA members carried no party symbol or insignia. 26 Aug 01:31:04

Day 1 opened with a 20-minute adjournment after 121 had signed the register and 113 were inside, so a quorum was not confirmed. 26 Aug 00:00:35 The Deputy Executive Mayor objected that oral questions had not gone through programming, and said the executive would respond to them the next day. 26 Aug 00:51:32 promise

Alderman ceremony and delayed start

At the 54th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting on 27 August 2026, the Speaker conferred the honorific title of alderman or alderwoman on a group of councillors, including Cllr Mgcina. 27 Aug 00:14:58 The Speaker said an electricity failure delayed the morning of 27 August, and neither the aldermanship ceremony nor the council sitting started on time. 27 Aug 00:03:03 The Speaker said alderman badges would be delivered after a supplier problem, and that Cllr Van Wyk would receive his missing certificate before the end of the day. 27 Aug 00:36:44 promise 27 Aug 00:38:16 promise

Day 2 answers, votes and adjournment

At the 39th Ordinary Council Meeting, Day 2, on 27 August 2026, Executive Mayor's Question Time was held over because the Executive Mayor was not in the house. 27 Aug 00:24:06 The MMC for Development Planning said R29.4 million had been spent on the New Turffontein Clinic and committed to completing it by the end of September, October at the latest. 27 Aug 00:16:45 promise On untarred roads, the Deputy Executive Mayor said just under R40 million was available and that JRA would ask for more money in the December adjustment budget. 27 Aug 00:13:50 promise

Council agreed to item 29, MPAC's motivation to recover R2.2 billion in irregular expenditure and certify R420.1 million as irrecoverable. 27 Aug 02:05:44 27 Aug 02:32:01 Item 46, the Councillor Funeral Support Policy, was declared approved after a count of 139, with Cllr Christians arguing that Rule 58.1 required counting before the bell was rung. 27 Aug 03:03:03 27 Aug 03:14:04 Item 40, the Petitions Policy review, was suspended when EFF and DA councillors left and the meeting lost its quorum, and the Speaker adjourned with the agenda unfinished. 27 Aug 03:15:06 The Speaker said council would reconvene, likely face to face, with the Chief Whip convening the whips to decide the date. promise