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Said in Council

Friday, 21 February 2025 · 0 h 56 min · 3 videos · 2021–2026 council

35th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting

AI draft.Written by AI from the livestream and not yet checked by a person. Use the timestamps to check anything before you quote it.

The day at a glance · 20 chapters over 56 minutes: services, housing and development 25 min, procedure 16 min, governance and appointments 8 min, other business (no topic tag) 5 min, budget and finances 2 min; 4 decisions. Each block is a chapter, as wide as its time, coloured by its strongest AI topic tag; click one to jump to it.
00:00:00 Opening, notice of meeting and moment of silence00:02:43 Attendance roll call by party00:06:24 Quorum announced00:06:39 Applications for leave of absence00:11:50 Recommendations to Council: CCTV by-law item opened00:13:36 Member in charge presents the CCTV by-law report00:15:15 UDM debate: CCTV by-law and safety of councillors00:19:06 DA request for a caucus break refused00:20:25 ActionSA debate: CCTV by-law00:24:29 EFF debate: CCTV by-law00:28:17 ANC debate: CCTV by-law00:30:04 DA delay and speaking-time query; Maila withdraws00:33:36 MMC for Public Safety responds on the CCTV by-law00:38:17 Call for agreement and member in charge closes debate00:41:50 DA and ACDP dissent recorded00:43:31 Dispute over the 136-vote threshold and online headcount00:46:48 Party-by-party headcount and positions00:50:35 Exchange over DA court remarks00:52:07 Tally and result: CCTV by-law report passes00:53:12 Announcements and adjournment
◯◯‖
  • Governance and appointments
  • Budget and finances
  • Services, housing and development
  • Other business (no topic tag)
  • Procedure: roll call, apologies, breaks
  • Decision (4)
  • ◯Quorum count (2)
  • ‖Adjourned or paused (1)

Chapters, decisions and procedure are AI drafts from the livestream; topic tags are AI judgments (a chapter with several shows its strongest). Services, housing and development covers water, electricity, roads, housing, waste, safety, health, planning and community facilities.

Summary

Council approved the Public Safety Committee's report on public participation for the CCTV by-law, the only item at this extraordinary meeting held virtually on Microsoft Teams. 00:00:00 00:11:50 00:52:07 The Speaker declared it passed with 158 councillors in support, above the 136 required, while 54 DA and ACDP councillors dissented. 00:43:31 00:52:07

The DA asked for its dissent to be noted over a lack of clarity on tariffs, and the ACDP said it would vote against; other parties stated support. 00:41:50 00:46:48 Cllr De Lange argued the quorum figure set at the start could not be increased, but the chair did not accept this and ordered a party-by-party recount. 00:43:31 00:46:48 Earlier, the Speaker refused a DA request for a 10-minute caucus break because debate had already opened, and Cllr Maila later withdrew from the speakers' list. 00:19:06 00:30:04

The MMC for Public Safety, Cllr Tshwaku, promised the IIOC system would be upgraded by the end of April to receive feeds from private cameras, adding the city receives feeds from 6,500 Vumacam cameras. 00:33:36

A quorum of 189 was declared and later corrected to 188, while some councillors reported trouble connecting to Teams. 00:02:43 00:06:24 00:06:39 The meeting opened with a moment of silence for Councillor Zakhele Mathe (ANC), who died, and closed with an announcement of his memorial service before adjournment. 00:00:00 00:53:12

AI draft from the record of this sitting (Claude Opus 5.5), checked against the chapters; every sentence links to the moment. Report an error

This week in council: CCTV by-law report passes: 158 for, 54 DA and ACDP dissenting, 136 needed

In brief

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01

Chapters

20

What was discussed, in order. Click a time to watch.

  1. 00:00:00

    Opening, notice of meeting and moment of silence

    The precincts-of-Council rules are read out, and the 35th Extraordinary Council meeting is notified for 21 February 2025 on Microsoft Teams. Attendees are welcomed and a moment of silence is observed for Councillor Zakhele Mathe (ANC), who died.

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  2. 00:02:43

    Attendance roll call by party

    Smaller parties confirm their attendance in turn. The ANC reports 49 verified members online, with others still struggling to connect. Councillor De Lange explains he is logged in on his daughter's Teams account.

    MhlongoAICMokomeCOPEDe LangeFF+

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  3. 00:06:24

    Quorum announced

    The Secretary announces 189 councillors present and declares a quorum. After the AIC clarification the Speaker corrects the figure to 188, which still forms a quorum.

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  4. 00:06:39

    Applications for leave of absence

    Apologies are read out, including MMC Arnolds, Councillors Smit, Boer and Mokoena. The Speaker asks each caucus whip for further apologies. DA, ActionSA, EFF, IFP, PA and minority parties report their absentees, and the apologies are approved.

    MthembuActionSAMhlongoAICAvant-SmithDADammieANCDurandActionSAMakhubaIFPSimonsePA

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  5. 00:11:50

    Recommendations to Council: CCTV by-law item opened

    Council moves to the only item, the Public Safety Committee report on public participation for the CCTV by-law. The Executive Mayor and MMC Masuku are not immediately available, and the Chair of Chairs formally tables the legislature reports.

    MaremaANC

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  6. 00:13:36

    Member in charge presents the CCTV by-law report

    The member in charge reports that the committee received about 30 submissions on the proposed by-law. Themes included transparency, benefits beyond crime prevention, and legal and privacy concerns such as POPIA compliance.

    WisslerActionSA

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  7. 00:15:15

    UDM debate: CCTV by-law and safety of councillors

    The UDM, on behalf of the minority governing parties, supports the by-law. It links the killing of Councillor Zakhele Mathe to the need for security measures for councillors, such as CCTV at workplaces and a protection framework, and approves the report.

    ZigebeUDM

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  8. 00:19:06

    DA request for a caucus break refused

    The DA asks for a 10-minute caucus break to settle details on the item. The Speaker refuses because the debate has already opened, but offers to place Councillor Maila last among the speakers before the MMC.

    RahnDAMthembuActionSA

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  9. 00:20:25

    ActionSA debate: CCTV by-law

    ActionSA outlines the gazetting for public participation and argues that CCTV deters crime, supports real-time monitoring and provides evidence for prosecutions. It asks that all councillors take part in placing cameras and approves the by-law.

    DurandActionSA

    Also discussed: Item 14: ActionSA and DA on the CCTV by-law (2 September 2025)

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  10. 00:24:29

    EFF debate: CCTV by-law

    The EFF supports the report and by-law. It calls for equal distribution of CCTV infrastructure including townships and informal settlements, strict oversight of CCTV data, and coordination with SAPS and Community Policing Forums.

    ZithaEFF

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  11. 00:28:17

    ANC debate: CCTV by-law

    The ANC calls the by-law long overdue and wants it implemented immediately. It says cameras should be spread equally across the city, including townships and informal settlements, and fully supports the by-law.

    NairANC

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  12. 00:30:04

    DA delay and speaking-time query; Maila withdraws

    The DA is still in caucus when its turn comes, and Councillor Zigebe asks whether the delay counts against its speaking time. The DA returns, and Councillor Maila withdraws from the speakers' list.

    SantanaDAAvant-SmithDAZigebeUDMMailaDA

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  13. 00:33:36

    MMC for Public Safety responds on the CCTV by-law

    The MMC explains the by-law's objectives of regulating the installation, operation and maintenance of CCTV cameras while protecting privacy. He says the IIOC system will be upgraded by the end of April to take feeds from private cameras. The city currently receives a feed from 6,500 Vumacam cameras.

    TshwakuEFF

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  14. 00:38:17

    Call for agreement and member in charge closes debate

    The Speaker asks if the item is agreed and councillors respond with mixed shouts. The member in charge closes the debate, thanking the committee, the late Councillor Ian Nonkumbi and the acting Head of Department, and recommends approval.

    WisslerActionSA

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  15. 00:41:50

    DA and ACDP dissent recorded

    The DA asks that its dissent be noted because of a lack of clarity on tariffs. The ACDP says it will vote against the item, and the Speaker notes both objections.

    RahnDAHarrisACDP

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  16. 00:43:31

    Dispute over the 136-vote threshold and online headcount

    Legal advises that 136 councillors must vote in favour. The PA reports Councillor Kaldine has joined, and MMC Masuku queries the attendance figures. Councillor De Lange argues the quorum figure set at the start of the meeting cannot be increased, which other councillors dispute.

    SimonsePAMasukuANCDe LangeFF+

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  17. 00:46:48

    Party-by-party headcount and positions

    The Secretary runs through each caucus's numbers: DA 51, ANC 59, ActionSA 31, EFF 28, IFP 7, PA 9, ACDP 3 and AHC 1. COPE, UDM, AIC, GOOD, UIM and ATM each confirm attendance. Parties other than the DA and ACDP state support for the item.

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  18. 00:50:35

    Exchange over DA court remarks

    While Legal confirms the quorum, councillors make remarks about the DA going to court. Councillor Smit objects to being spoken about disrespectfully, and the Speaker asks for mutual respect.

    SmitFF+

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  19. 00:52:07

    Tally and result: CCTV by-law report passes

    The Speaker deducts the DA's 51 and ACDP's 3 dissenting councillors from 201 present online, adds the two in the chamber, and arrives at 158 in support. She declares the item passed.

    Also discussed: Item 14: EFF on withdrawal of CCTV by-law (2 September 2025)

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  20. 00:53:12

    Announcements and adjournment

    Council is reminded of the Ordinary Council meeting on Thursday 27 February 2025 at 10:00. A memorial service for Councillor Mathe is announced for 16:00 at Power Park, with the funeral on Sunday, and the meeting is adjourned.

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02

Promises

1

Commitments with a date, an amount or a 'we will'.

On 5 November 2026 (when this page was built): 1 overdue, 0 due in the next 30 days, 0 with no date. Overdue first; dates are AI readings of what was said; tap or hover a label for how. All promises.

03

Decisions

4

What council approved, rejected or put off.

  • 00:11:36

    Applications for leave of absenceapproved

    Council approved the apologies submitted by the caucuses.

  • 00:42:01

    CCTV by-law report: DA dissentobjection recorded

    The DA's dissent over lack of clarity on tariffs was noted, and the ACDP stated it would vote against.

  • 00:52:07

    Report of the Public Safety Committee on public participation for the CCTV by-lawapproved

    The Speaker declared the item passed with 158 councillors in support, above the 136 required, with 54 DA and ACDP councillors dissenting.

  • 00:53:17

    Meeting adjournmentadjourned

    The meeting was adjourned after announcements, with the Ordinary Council meeting set for 27 February 2025.

04

Attendance and conduct

17

Who was away and why, as said in the chamber.

Apologies read out 11

Official duty (1)
M. Arnolds
Private business (4)
P. Smit, C. Boer, Mokoena*, Kaldine
No reason given (3)
Fourie-Shawe, Mnisi*, Dewes
Arriving late (1)
Echeozonjoku
Other reason (1)
Mchunu
Ill health (1)
Liebenberg

* Name as heard; not matched to exactly one councillor.

Sound or equipment problem 2

  • 00:05:31

    De Lange*: Councillor De Lange said he could not load Teams on his new phone and was using his daughter's account.

  • 00:10:10

    Raseruthe*: An EFF member reported that Councillor Raseruthe could not log in and asked for help.

MMC or Mayor not present for their business 1

  • 00:12:01

    Morero: The Executive Mayor did not respond when called for the recommendations item; the chair suggested he was struggling.

Not present when called 1

  • 00:30:28

    Maila: Councillor Maila was not available when called because the DA was still in caucus.

Warned or stopped by the chair 2

  • 00:39:21

    The chair called for order during the noisy vote on the item.

  • 00:50:52

    The chair asked councillors to stop making remarks about the DA going to court.

05

Transcript

295

Every line, linked to the video.