Transcript: 29th Ordinary Council Meeting, Day 1

Opening of the 29th Ordinary Council meeting and quorum check

00:01:14Good morning, councillors.

00:01:19Ladies and gentlemen in the gallery,

00:01:23may you all please rise

00:01:29to welcome the Speaker of Council,

00:01:33Councillor Nobuhle Mthembu.

00:01:46May we all observe a moment of silence for prayer and meditation, please.

00:02:01Thank you, councillors. You may be seated.

00:02:44Good morning, councillors. It is hereby notified that the 29th Ordinary Council meeting of the City of Johannesburg Municipality will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, the 26th and the 27th of March, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Constance Connie Bapela Council Chamber in Braamfontein. And the first item on the agenda is opening.

00:03:07Thank you, Secretary to Council. Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Sello Morero in his absentia. Whip of Council, Councillor Nkosiphayo Zungu in his absentia. Chair of Chairs, Councillor Vunani Adolph Marema, all political party leaders and whips,

00:03:30members of the mayoral committee, chairpersons of the Section 79 committees, fellow councillors, Acting City Manager, Mr. Tshepo Makola, Secretary to Council, Mr. Andile Gobinca, officials of the City of Johannesburg, residents of the City of Johannesburg, members of the media, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you all to the 29th Ordinary Council meeting

00:04:00of the City of Johannesburg Municipality. At this point, I will allow 10 minutes for legal to verify the number of councillors present so as to confirm quorum. Please, if you have not signed the register outside, this is the right time to go so we can see how many councillors are represented in council today. Councillor Christians, I see your hand is up.

00:04:25Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, can we just compliment you today? My ears do not ring. They have sorted out the drums. Thank you very much for that.

00:04:35It's a pleasure, Councillor Christians. Councillors, we'll resume at 10:10. Please sign the register outside if you have not signed it yet.

00:19:51Councillors, may we kindly take our seats so we can resume business of the day.

00:20:22isiZuluKhansela Xuma, asihlale phansi lapha emuva. Sizoqala.

00:20:43Councillors, especially the ones that walk in, I hope you have signed the attendance register outside. We'll keep on checking it. But please note that there are 152 councillors present. As a result, there is quorum and the meeting will continue.

Applications for leave of absence

00:21:03Councillors, we're now on application for leave of absence.

00:21:10We have received the following apology from Councillor Mokoena due to urgent private business. I'll start taking hands from the different caucuses. I'll start with Councillor Avant-Smith.

00:21:24Speaker, unless we want to go home very late tonight, would you mind if we send you our LOA list to your office? We've got a party business that we're on today, so thank you.

00:21:37Okay, noted. Thank you.

00:21:38Sorry, and Councillor Christians will be leaving at 5:00 because of religious reasons. Thank you.

00:21:51Are you done, Councillor Avant-Smith? No problem. Thank you. Chair of Chair Marema. After, Councillor Makhuba and Councillor Simonse, I've noted your hands.

00:22:07Thank you very much, Speaker. I rise to table the apologies for Councillor Nomoya Mnisi who due to ill health, Councillor Brenda Dammie due to ill health, Councillor Twala due to ill health. I do have other apologies with me. I just need to get my house in order. Can I kindly forward them into your office as in I consolidate the rest of the ones that are not before me? Thank you.

00:22:43Noted, Councillor. Councillor Makhuba.

00:22:49Thank you, Speaker. From the IFP, Councillor Mkhize, private business, Councillor Nyembe, ill health, and Councillor Nkomo and Councillor Khanyile would like to leave at 4:00. Thank you.

00:23:07Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Simonse.

00:23:12Thank you, Madam Speaker, and good morning to you and the house. We have Councillor Juwairiya Kaldine that is off on ill health. Councillor Ponsonby, Councillor Cherry, and Councillor May is running a bit late. Thank you.

00:23:25Thank you, Councillor Simonse. Councillor Zigebe. After that, I've noted your hand, Councillor Amad and Councillor Mogapi.

00:23:35Good morning, Speaker. Leave of absence for Councillor an apology for Councillor Mhlongo, who would like to leave during lunch. And also apology from Councillor Magwentshu. If we're not done by 6:00, he will join us.

00:23:53Noted, Councillor. Councillor Amad.

00:23:59Thank you so much, Speaker. LOA for myself, if we're not done around 4:00, and Councillor Jacobs. Councillor Magwentshu is running late. Thank you.

00:24:15Noted, Councillor. Both you and Councillor Zigebe sent an apology for Councillor Magwentshu. Councillor Mogapi.

00:24:28Thank you, Speaker. From the EFF caucus, it's Councillor Makhafola, ill health, Councillor Zitha, family bereavement, and Councillor Nethamba is running late. Thank you.

00:24:44Noted, Councillor. Councillor Mashala from ActionSA.

00:24:53Thank you, Speaker. From ActionSA, we've got Councillor Liebenberg, ill health, Councillor Jainoodeen, ill health, Councillor Durand, ill health, Councillor Mchunu, maternity leave, Councillor Bini, late arrival, and Councillor Nyaqela would like to leave at 4:00 if we're not done for party duties. Thanks.

00:25:13Noted, Councillor. Councillor Avant-Smith.

00:25:17Thanks, Speaker. Sorry, could you tell us the numbers in council again, please? I missed them, just for my notes. Thank you.

00:25:25Okay, when I was reading out the quorum, I said 152. 152 councillors have signed the attendance register. Okay, councillors, are the apologies noted? Thank you, councillors.

Official notices: birthdays, new Ward 59 councillor, rates help desk

00:25:49We now move to official notices.

00:25:54Please join me in wishing well all the councillors who celebrated their birthday and grew a year older during the month of March. I wish you all the very best. Councillors, also please join me in welcoming our new councillor from the African National Congress, Councillor Sthembiso Fortune Hlatshwayo.

00:26:35Welcome, Councillor Hlatshwayo, the new ward councillor for Ward 59.

00:26:46Councillors in the house, please be informed also that the Finance Department and Revenue Department have set up a help desk in the precinct of the council chambers to engage and assist councillors that may need assistance with their rates and taxes accounts. As you are all aware, councillors should be always up to date with their accounts with the municipality. So during caucus breaks, during lunch, please go and visit the revenue help desk.

Statement by the Executive Mayor

00:27:21I'll move over to the statement by the Executive Mayor, Councillor Sello Dada Morero.

00:27:32Thank you, Speaker of Council, Chief Whip of Council. We're meeting today just after the Human Rights celebration and commemoration of those that were slaughtered in Sharpeville almost 65 years ago. And we want to say to those families that we remain committed to ensuring human rights and protecting those that are underprivileged and those that in the world are constantly being harassed, constantly being oppressed, and South Africa will continuously stand with those that are being oppressed. And in this case, we reaffirm our commitment in support of the Palestinian people so that they can realize self-determination and human rights in their country. With that being said, Madam Speaker, I hope council will go very well. And once again, welcome Councillor Sthe into our midst, and I hope that you'll make contributions towards enhancing the work of this council. Thank you, Speaker.claim

00:28:38Thank you, Executive Mayor.

Confirmation of minutes

00:28:45We now proceed with confirmation of minutes, and these are minutes of the 6th Special Council meeting held on the 27th of February 2025, and minutes of the 28th Ordinary Council meeting held on the 27th of February 2025, and lastly, minutes of the 36th Extraordinary Council meeting held on the 13th of March 2025.

00:29:08I only have one speaker here from the Freedom Front Plus, which is Councillor Smit.

00:29:15Madam Speaker, I don't have any corrections today for the for the minutes.

00:29:21Thank you, Councillor Smit. Any other caucus?

00:29:34isiZuluKhansela Mazibuko, isandla sifishane nje.

00:29:41No, thank you, Speaker. I think I'm taller than you.

00:29:48No, Speaker, from the African National Congress, we only have one amendment, which is on the minutes of the 13th of March.

00:30:00On page 19 if we can just change Councillor Mabelebele's surname, just correct it and spell it correctly. Thank you, Speaker.

00:30:15isiZuluSiyabonga, Khansela Mazibuko.

00:30:19I don't see any other hand. So, Councillors, are the minutes confirmed as amended?

00:30:26Thank you, Councillors.

Questions for written reply and tabling of Executive and Legislature items

00:30:31Councillors, we'll proceed with item 5, and these are questions for written reply of which notice has been given in terms of rule 105 subsection 2 of the standing rules and orders of Council.

00:30:44Executive Mayor Councillor Dada Sello Morero.

00:30:57Speaker, they're loaded on the drive.

00:31:06isiZuluSiyabonga, Executive Mayor.

00:31:13We now proceed to recommendations to Council.

00:31:20Executive Mayor, please table the Executive items.

00:31:27Yes, Speaker, I table the Executive reports for consideration by Council.

00:31:35I would like to call the Chair of Chairs to table the Legislature items, Councillor Marema.

00:31:44Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to rise and table the Legislature report. But suffice to say, Speaker, that if I miss the opportunity to cite what I have picked up in the reports that are now tabled in Council, I'll not get an opportunity to do so. I am standing up to acknowledge Chairpersons of section 79

00:32:14for the sterling work that they've done. And I also want to acknowledge the fact that the Executive has acceded to the pressure that has been put forward by the Chairpersons of section 79. If you look at all the reports that are here, the majority of these reports are second quarter reports. And if you also look down into other reports, you'd realize that there are section 71 reports that Councillor Santana, of course through you, Speaker,

00:32:44has been complaining about that they're not coming on time in Council. And now they are here served in Council on time. That speaks to you know the working of the oversight now. Chairpersons of this Council section 79 needs to be acknowledged for the great work that they have done. And I'm hoping there would not be any Damascus moment in terms of getting this report on time,

00:33:09ehm, Majhora of the City of Johannesburg, and we must acknowledge the fact that if we get these reports on time, at least it gives us an idea and an understanding of where the City is standing from where we are. And I'm not saying, or I'm not

00:33:25Chair of Chairs, please hold on. Councillor Santana, on which point of order are you rising?

00:33:3171. Chair, the Chair of Chairs is misleading the house. Our reports are in fact actually still late for Council. So, please don't lie to our residents. Thank you.

00:33:49Chair of Chairs.

00:33:54Thank you for the opportunity again of acknowledging that if you looked at the Council that we sat last, which was just a recent one, you'd realize that the section 71 report that we dealt with there was of August and September. But I am sitting here as Chair of Chairs commending the great work that the Chairpersons have done, and not only the Chairpersons, but also the Executive

00:34:24in acceding to our request that this must be improved, and I see the improvement, and I want us to acknowledge the fact that that's work done. A journey of a million miles is started by one step, and I am acknowledging this because it has not been happening for quite some time. Now that you see improvement, you must note, cite, accept, acknowledge. It can't always be that we are very negative, and I'm not saying that saying or arguing the depths of the report,

00:34:54because I also don't want to take away the freedom of speech when Councillors that belongs to those committees stands and argue. I'm not referring to that. They are allowed to rise and argue the fact against what I'm raising, but what I am citing here is that there is indeed improvement, if we want to be honest, and I rise, Speaker, to table the Legislature report, and thank you.

00:35:20Thank you, Chair.

00:35:24Thank you, Chair of Chairs, for tabling the report from Legislature. Councillor De Lange.

00:35:35Thank you, Madam Speaker. It's not a Damascus moment from my side. As we has tabled the reports, as we get Thank you for this. This is very welcome. Before we sit, we have the Speakers list. On item 78, if you can please just add me on your notes to the Secretary. I just checked our Speakers list and the names we did send through,

00:36:01and I asked to speak on item 78. Please, if the Secretary can just mention that or dot it down so when the item is read out I have my opportunity. Thank you.

00:36:15Thank you, Councillor De Lange. We have noted it. Item 78, we'll add you to the Speakers list.

Items 1 and 2: 2023-24 Annual Report and MPAC oversight report (opposition and smaller parties)

00:36:24On recommendations to Council, we start off with the first item which is the approval of the 2023-24 City of Johannesburg group annual report for the year ended 30th June 2024 read together with item 2, which is an oversight report on the 2023-24 annual report of the City of Johannesburg by the Municipal Public Accounts Committee.

00:36:51I would like to call the member in charge, Councillor Buthelezi.

00:37:00Thank you, Speaker. Good morning to you. Good morning to the Mayor and the Executive, to the Chief Whip and the Chair of Chairs. I'm happy that you didn't say Councillor Raseruthe because I could see here it's still written Councillor Raseruthe. Councillor Raseruthe is currently ill, hence I'm actually standing in for him. Madam Speaker, I actually rise to table the oversight reports

00:37:31on 2023-2024 annual reports of the City of Johannesburg. Municipal Public Accounts Committee, which is commonly known as MPAC, has actually worked diligently on behalf of Council to produce this report in compliance with section 129(1) of the Municipal Finance Management Act, which is also called MFMA.

00:37:59Despite the disruptions caused by special Council meetings that clashed with our scheduled deliberations, the committee remained resolute. We ensured the submission of this report within the required time, which is 60 days period, following the tabling of the annual report, which is often extending our meetings until late.claim

00:41:08isiZuluSiyabonga, Khansela Buthelezi,

00:41:10member in charge for today. DA, Councillor Wax.

00:41:16Thank you, Madam Speaker. Fellow Councillors and citizens of Johannesburg, all protocols observed. Today, Madam Speaker, the persistent failures of our governance and its catastrophic effect on service delivery are brought into sharp focus yet again. This was consistently highlighted in the Auditor General's reports over the years.claim

00:41:46In 2023-24, we received an unqualified audit opinion with key findings. With water and electricity losses totaling 2.9 billion and 4.9 billion respectively, crumbling infrastructure, large-scale illegal dumping, and numerous other critical service delivery issues, these problems have serious repercussions for Johannesburg residents.claim

00:42:15They are not merely administrative errors. Families suffer, businesses fail, and homes lose power because of this City's failure. The Chief Accounting Officer and former City Manager, Mr. Floyd Brink, has failed in his responsibility to maintain the financial health and the operational efficiency of the City. Mismanagement of the budget, misallocation of resources, and unreported irregular expenditures

00:42:47are key issues highlighted consistently in the report. Unauthorized contracts and wasteful spending are a result of a lack of proper oversight in the implementation of preventative controls and action plans. Consequence management for policy and regulatory non-compliance was also severely lacking, with the AG noting that no investigations were conducted to determine liability on the part of a person as far as UIFW is concerned. This is in

00:43:20violation of section 32(2)(a) and (b) of the Municipal Finance Management Act. Accumulating UIFW amounting to nearly 20 billion demonstrates the severe weaknesses in the City's governance and highlights the impact of service delivery features, failures sorry, on our overburdened, embattled, and destitute ratepayers and residents.emotive

00:43:47Accountability is not a privilege, it's a duty. Despite numerous warnings, systemic issues persist and leadership remains disengaged. Consequently, weak governance continues, service delivery deteriorates, and the poorest among us suffer disproportionately. Talking about human rights in this country. How much longer must we tolerate this culture of impunity where residents pay the price for the City's failures?emotive

00:44:17In a so-called world-class city, Madam Speaker, heads should have rolled long ago. Complacency must end. Increased accountability and transparency in this house of horrors are demanded.emotive

00:46:23All right, Councillors. We'll move over to EFF. I think Councillor Seerane, you thought you were speaking, that's why your mic was on. Councillor Seerane, you may deliver your speech.

00:46:37Thank you very much, Speaker. Greetings to you, Speaker of Council, and to all Mayoral Committee Members present, Chair of Chair of Chairs section 79 committees, and Chair of Chairs, to you Councillor Marema. Most importantly, let me greet our caucus Whip, Councillor Mogapi, our caucus leader, Commissar Mgcini Tshwaku. Let me assure you that indeed we are communicating, defending, rebuilding, and advancing the struggle for the total economic emancipation.

00:47:08Speaker, allow me to greet the residents of Umzondi Informal Settlement in Ward 133, Ivory Park in Region A, in the Kalahari. These residents, Speaker, are some of the community leaders who survived the massacre in that settlement. People were brutally killed for fighting to be recognized within the City of Johannesburg, and a mere electricity that they were paying to their landlords. However, those that have been trusted to govern the ward and to unite our people are at the forefront of dividing our peopleclaim

00:47:39in the ward, and they became demarcation board themselves, as they are even telling our people of Umzondi not to enter Jobseeker's base at Ivory Park North Hall. Parents lost their lives in that settlement. Their kids are growing up as orphans because of personal egos of "yimina isibonda e Ward 133, and if you want it, wena EFF, you must contest elections and win it." This reminds meclaim

00:48:10of the African proverb that goes: a boy goes to hunt an elephant. If the boy kills the elephant, the hunger comes to an end. If the elephant kills the boy, the hunger comes to an end. Speaker, the author is unknown. The 2023-2024 oversight report comment from the EFF caucus, Speaker. We as the EFF, we approach the 2023-2024 oversight report of the City of Johannesburg with a profound sense of responsibility and concern.

00:48:41While we acknowledge the importance of transparency and accountability, we must express our deep reservations regarding the several critical issues highlighted in the report. Firstly, we are gravely concerned about the continued misuse of Regulation 36 in the City procurement processes. While this provision allows deviations under specific circumstances, its overuse, as reported by the Auditor General, directly contribute unauthorized, irregular, fruitless, wasteful expenditure.

00:49:10The report indicates that irregular expenditure reached a staggering of 3.1 billion, while fruitless and wasteful expenditure stood at 33 million.claim

00:49:2010 seconds remaining.

00:49:21This reflects not the just financial mismanagement, but a failure to exercise due diligence and a proper planning. Furthermore, the absence of the consequence management remains alarming. Despite the legislative mandate requiring accountability, the report reveals that senior management has not been held responsible for repeated audit findings. The lack of action against those responsible for financial mismanage...

00:52:15...liabilities ballooned from 20 million to 4.9 billion, opening doors for corruption. Water losses amount to billions, with 1.4 billion in non-revenue losses. Electricity losses are staggering, with 1.4 billion in technical losses and 3.4 billion in non-technical losses. The Johannesburg Roads Agency, among others, shows serious failures in supply chain management and consequence enforcement.

00:52:49JDA, JOSHCO, and MTC are factually insolvent, putting critical services at risk. For the third consecutive year, the City has failed to improve its audit outcome, with some departments regressing, while we also see little improvement in some. Of the 13 municipal entities, only two achieved a clean audit. This is not governance, it's a failure. It cannot be business as usual. ActionSA calls for bold,

00:53:25unconventional strategies to rescue Johannesburg from financial collapse. We propose that all MPAC meetings be streamed live. Johannesburg residents deserve transparency. They must see how their money is spent and who is accountable. We acknowledge the Acting City Manager's commitment to institutional review and other commitments he made during our meetings. We really appreciate him. He also left at around

00:53:58half past nine with us while we were doing our deliberations. So for that we really want to commend his commitment and we hope that some of that commitment can also rub off to his team. The City needs urgent reforms to restore fiscal discipline and ethical leadership. The time for excuses is over. Johannesburg deserves a government that delivers. ActionSA will not allow this continued financial decay

00:54:31to go unchallenged. We demand accountability, transparency, and action, nothing less. Thank you.

00:54:42Thank you, Councillor. ACDP, Councillor Mkhonza.

00:54:50Yes, shalom, shalom, Speaker, thank you very much. Allow me to first acknowledge our Almighty God, eternally existent in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Thank you, Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor in absentia, the Regional Chair of the ACDP, Mr. Bongani Ngema, the residents of our beloved City Johannesburg, I greet you all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen, the Prince of Peace. Allow me to first quote from my guiding manual,

00:55:21the Holy Bible, from Proverbs 12 verse 11, it reads as follows: work hard at your job and you'll have what you need, but those who waste their time on worthless projects are foolish. The ACDP caucus notes the group annual report ended 30 June 2024. While we acknowledge the submission of this report, we wish to highlight a key concern, the significant delay in approving the annual report three months before the financial year end. We hope that the Executive Mayorclaim

00:55:50has written an explanation referred to in section 133 subsection 1 subsection (a) of the MFMA, as we did not see it in the annexures. Honorable Speaker, allow me to first commend the Joburg City Theatres and the Joburg Fresh Produce Market for achieving clean audit outcomes. This is a clear demonstration of sound financial discipline, strong governance, and a focus on delivering projects and services that benefit our residents. These outcomes are not merely administrative achievements, they reflect ethical leadership

00:56:21and commitment to accountability and good stewardship of public funds. However, Speaker, it is also important to note that all other municipal entities, including City Power and Joburg Water, received unqualified audit opinions, but did not achieve clean audits. While the unqualified audits are better than adverse or qualified reports, they still point to deficiencies that must be corrected. We cannot be contented with good enough when the goal must be excellence and clean governance across every single municipality.

00:56:49Every municipal entity, if such performances are to be sustained and replicated, the City must urgently stabilize and improve water and energy infrastructure. Infrastructure decay, aging networks, vandalism, and illegal connections threaten not only service delivery, but also financial health, undermining the efforts of even the best performing entities. Honorable Speaker, while we celebrate the entities that have demonstrated excellence, the ACDP caucus is gravely concerned about the financial mismanagement and poor spending controls highlighted in this report.

00:57:21We cannot ignore the alarming fact that the City's reports reflect an unacceptable overall expenditure of 328% in key areas compared to certain projects and budget adjustments, a sign of serious fiscal indiscipline and poor planning. This pattern of overspending places enormous strain on the City's liquidity, cripples our ability to deliver basic services, and erodes public confidence. In addition to overspending, the City continues to suffer massive technical and non-technical losses.claim

00:57:51City Power is losing 30% of its revenue and Joburg Water is losing 35% due to theft, illegal connections, infrastructure failures, and other inefficiencies. Honorable Speaker, these numbers are staggering and unacceptable. The ACDP caucus therefore calls for a full-scale war on these losses. We must implement robust technology-driven revenue collection systems, introduce aggressive anti-theft interventions with tangible results that are reported back to this Council, strengthen oversight and accountability in City Power and Joburg Water,claim

00:58:20ensure that every rand generated is collected and accounted for. If we do not stop this leakage, no amount of rate increases or tariff hikes will solve the revenue crisis we face. We are simply pouring water into a broken vessel. Coming, one of the most damaging revelations in this report is the issue of arrears accounts belonging to Councillors and City employees. 299 accounts are currently under investigation, with 114 illicit transactions detected. This issue speaks directly to the heart of legitimacy. How can we as Councillors demand payment from residentsclaim

00:58:53when we ourselves are defaulting? The residents see this, and it undermines every effort we make to collect revenue and enforce compliance. We therefore call for immediate publication of report on all Councillor and employee arrears accounts, the suspension of benefits and allowances for any Councillor or employee with unresolved arrears, a public commitment from leadership that these accounts will be rectified with transparency and consequence management. I thank you.

00:59:16Councillor Mkhonza, your time has run out.

00:59:21isiZuluSiyabonga, Khansela Mkhonza.

00:59:24Freedom Front Plus, Councillor Pelzer.

00:59:29Good morning to you, Madam Speaker, and fellow Councillors, all protocols observed. We commend the splendid work that MPAC has done on this financial report for 2023-2024, although it is a frightening report. Can I just show you some highlights on this report? We closed this year off with a loss of 277 million. The implications of that is not only that we lost money, that will also, firstly, we do not have money.claim

01:00:00to fund our own Capex spending of R1.2 billion. We also do not have money to repay our R2.5 billion in loans that we have been incurring for the past couple of years. We also do not have money to provide funds into the sinking fund to redeem our long-term debt. So we are in a serious situation and through you Madam Speaker, I'm sure that when the mayor read his annual report he mustclaim

01:00:29have been thinking about 2 years ago, when he was the then MMC for Finance, and he presented his budget for this current year. He was complaining about the multiparty government that left the GLU with only R3.5 billion in the bank and there were some outstanding debts as well. Through you, Madam Speaker, our cash balances have reduced further, only R2.1 billion in the bank. That is not theclaim

01:00:59end of the story. Our outstanding debt has increased from R17 billion in June 2023 to R23 billion in June last year, an increase of R7 billion. Only the Eskom debt alone increased from R1.8 billion to R6 billion, and the then MMC must really have thought about this by blaming the multiparty government.claim

01:01:28We also need to take into account here as well that the Democratic Alliance give the city on a gold plate to the GLU just to mess it up, because it is really messed up. The MMC must also remember at that time when he brought the adjustment budget last year in March when he adjusted the debt impairment downwards by R770 million, just to achieve anclaim

01:01:59actual result of more of R1.5 billion. He also adjusted bulk purchases downwards by R2.7 billion and the actual figure was R2.2claim

Items 1 and 2: ANC, DA, EFF responses, MMC Finance and close

01:02:12Uh thank you very much, Speaker. And before I even start with my speech, let me applaud the caucus of the African National Congress for making sure that as the ANC, we reclaim Ward 59. And I can assure you, Speaker, and everyone who's here that this is just the beginning. Honourable Speaker, Councillor Mthembu, Executive Mayor, Councillor Dada Morero,

01:02:42members of the Mayoral Committee, Whip of Council, Councillor Zungu, Chair of Chairs, Councillor Marema, councillors and the people of Johannesburg. Speaker, I rise on item one and item two. Speaker, the 2023/2024 Annual Report confirms what many of us already know, that Johannesburg has been improving ever since the government of local unity took over.

01:03:12Speaker, unlike the terrible report we received under the DA-led multi-party coalition, which exposed financial mismanagement and service delivery failures, this report shows that we are steadily turning things around. While challenges remain, things are getting better and the work of restoring our city is well underway, Speaker. Mr Mayor, let's commend our municipal entities for the progress they have made in the past financial year.

01:03:43Their improved KPIs reflect a stronger commitment to delivering services. However, Speaker, we must push even harder to ensure that service delivery is fully implemented and improved in this financial year. Our residents expect and deserve better and this administration will continue working to meet those expectations. Financial stability remains critical. The Auditor-General's report shows encouraging signs

01:04:14proving that accountability and governance have improved under the GLU. However, Speaker, we must not stop here. We must now fully implement the Auditor-General's recommendations to ensure long-term financial sustainability and better service delivery. And we therefore say city the City Manager must deal with senior officials who are not working while earning millions of rands, Speaker. Today we approve the 2023/2024 Annual

01:04:44Report of the City of Johannesburg and the annual reports of municipal [inaudible] 127 of the Municipal Financial Management Act. We are on the right track and the GLU will continue working hard to correct the failures of the past and build the city that works for its people. I thank you, Speaker.

01:05:08isiZuluSiyabonga, Khansela Ngwetsheni.

01:05:10DA, Councillor Suddaby.

01:05:25Thank you, Madam Speaker. All protocol observed. I rise to speak on items one and two, approval of the 2023/24 City of Johannesburg Group Annual Report for the year ended 30th of June 2024 and its MPAC oversight report. Unauthorised expenditure occurs when the budget is exceeded. That isn't always a result of overspending. 23/24 had a re-based budget and this downward adjustment caused some votes to be overspentclaim

01:05:56merely by the budget being reduced. MPAC was told that the entities and the departments decided on their own budget cuts or increases. MPAC was also told that all financial directors across all departments and CFOs across all entities are suitably qualified. And yet, these submitted budget cuts in the in some instances that caused immediate unauthorized expenditure.claim

01:06:27Fruitless and wasteful expenditure is defined as expenditure that was made in vain and would have been avoided had reasonable care been exercised. Not great care, not extraordinary care,claim

01:07:35A 34% increase in unauthorised expenditure to R8.9 billion. And irregular expenditure, even though marginally reduced, still comes in at a whopping R3.7 billion for the year. Rounded, the total UIFW before any recoveries or regularisations that have taken place in the year, tallies to a shocking R13.3 billion of public money that has, in one way or another, been mismanagedclaim

01:08:06in the 23/24 financial year. The most damning statements made by the Auditor-General are the following comments: Reasonable steps were not taken to prevent irregular expenditure. Reasonable steps were not taken to prevent unauthorised expenditure. An official of the municipality did not take all reasonable steps to prevent. Internal controls either did notclaim

01:08:36exist or were ineffective. These indictments cut across the entire city. Even Joburg Market's clean audit is tainted by irregular expenditure. So what exactly has been put in place to prevent any increase in these numbers for this financial year that is nearing its close? Because whatever was put in place as a result of the 22/23 financial year audit obviously has had preciousclaim

01:09:06little effect in the 23/24 financial year. We need to see radical change of thought and procedures in order to receive even a modicum of assurance that public money will be better looked after. Because the city has been managing its finances so wrong for so long without consequences, it is now managing its finances perfectly wrong. Internal controls find only a fraction of a percent of what the AG

01:09:36identifies as UIFW. It's past time that the Auditor-General allows municipalities to be the training school for wannabe professionals. A qualified audit should be the maximum result possible where internal audit and controls do not find at least 85% of the UIFW that the AG finds.

01:10:0030 seconds remaining.

01:10:01It's also time that the full context of the procurement law triggers irregular expenditure where cost-effectiveness has not been achieved. The residents of our beloved city can rest assured that the DA will hold every person, supplier, employee, past or present, or councillor accountable, and will robustly demand recovery wherever it may be required. The DA approves the Annual Report of the 2023/24 financial year with very serious

01:10:31reservations. I thank you.

01:10:39Thank you, Councillor Suddaby. EFF, Councillor Radebe. Councillor Radebe, you've been allocated 2 minutes.

01:10:49isiZuluAngithi u-share-e noKhansela Seerane. Asibhekeni i-speakers list.

01:10:54You shared the time with Councillor Seerane, Councillors.

01:11:04Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Greetings to the EFF Caucus Leader, the Chief Whip, our committed ground forces, fellow councillors, officials of the city and most importantly, the residents of Johannesburg. The EFF rises in this council not merely to note or to observe the contents of the 2023/2024 Integrated Annual Report. We rise to place the lived experience of the people at the centre of this debate. The report, while recommendable in its layout and audit process, once again confirms

01:11:34what our communities have been shouting for years, that the city is not working for the poor and the working class. Behind the tables and statistics lies the painful reality of inequality, poor service delivery and missed opportunities. Speaker, let us start with the infrastructure. The report reveals that only 73% of the Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan targets were met. While this is an improved from the previous year, it is not good enough. The city's capital expenditure performance continues to be undermined by poor performance from service providers,claim

01:12:04many of whom are not properly vetted or lack the capacity to deliver. The EFF has long said tenderpreneurship without accountability is a cancer in our municipality. Furthermore, we deeply remain concerned about the poor waste water quality and erratic supply across the city. The over-reliance on water tankers, especially in informal settlements, is a slap in the face of dignity. Speaker, this is not a wartime refugee camp. This is Johannesburg, the economic heart of Africa. Water must flow from taps,

01:12:35not trucks. The city must prioritize long-term investment in water infrastructure. In water infrastructure, pipelines, pump stations, leak repairs, not short-term outsourcing to politically connected tankers.

01:12:49isiZuluUyakhuluma u-Speaker? Oh, okay.

01:12:52On electricity, while the city reports progress including 3,515 new electricity connections and improved embedded generation capacity, it continues to lag in addressing aging infrastructure and rampant cable theft. We ask, where is the plan to localize the energy economy? Where are the cooperatives and the township-based energy solutions? Speaker, the annual the annual financial statements reflect a city struggling to manage its finances

01:13:23with a net deficit of 277 million for the group and consumer debtors ballooning to 9 billion. The city's fiscal sustainability is under threat. Moreover, UIFWs continue to rise. These are not just accounting terms. They represent resources stolen from the poor. In conclusion, Speaker, the EFF approves the recommendations of the report, but does so with strong reservations and a clear warning. The people are watching. We demand that the city take the following actions immediately: One,

01:13:54improve budget execution, spend the capital budget in ways that directly benefit the communities. Two, accelerate informal settlement upgrades, including electrification, sanitation and water connection. Three, unify law enforcement, end the duplication and restore order.

01:14:14isiZuluNgizamile ukuku-extend-ela,

01:14:16but we've run out of time, unfortunately. ANC, Councillor Mmbengwa. Because you shared your time also, you've got 7 minutes.

01:14:28TshivendaNdi matsheloni Vho Dzomo la Nyingadziro ya Mudi Mulilangoma wa Johannesburg.

01:14:37Madam Speaker, in the past week in the past week we were sitting in a gymnastic where people were calling you names. Uh I also learned

01:14:51isiXhosaIsibhakha, Somqhele, Somlomo,

01:14:57but when we go to Babikana event, we call you

01:15:01TshivendaDzomo la Nyingadziro ya Johannesburg.

01:15:07Madam Speaker, I rise to address the MPAC item, the very item which brings this house into a gymnastic exchange of blamings, the blamings from this political party to this other. Maybe let me take you back to the Tshivenda word, the proverb, which says:

01:15:30Tshivenda"A hu na nnda, a hu na gaila, zwothe ndi zwilumi."

01:15:36As the descendants of Hintsa says,

01:15:39isiXhosaisiXhosa sitolika nesiVenda sidurhu kuyo.

01:15:43But in this whole issue, allow me to visit the historical pages, and history does not have blank pages. Where what happened? Why are we here?

01:15:55isiZuluIqalaphi lento le?

01:15:58It started in the period 2019 to 2021 when the then administration called Multi-Party. In that, the late uh Mayor Makhubo, may his soul rest in peace, had left the city with a serious money, which Councillor Boer acknowledged, the millions that was left. Now, what then happened?

01:16:29It then come to the point whereby when the Multi-Party comes on board, they then became law unto themselves, suspending the functions of the DC board. The DC board was not there, and that's where

01:16:45isiZuluinkathazo yavele yaqala khona.

01:16:52Yes, Madam Speaker,

01:16:54Tshivendavhone Dzomo la Nyingadziro ya Johannesburg,

01:16:58when I started I shared a Tshivenda proverb that

01:17:02Tshivendaa hu na nnda, a hu na gaila, zwothe ndi zwilumi.

01:17:05We are always blaming each other. And if we then do the right things, we will not be where we are. But in that period, should we have implemented the disciplinary board, those that are doing any willy-nilly issues as they do would have not have created this chaos that we have. Because to be honest, Madam Speaker, we are in a serious cacophony of gibberish

01:17:34of blaming each other. And it's a serious gymnastic that we need to put an end to it. As I turn to another page, Madam Speaker,

01:17:55if this uh if this uh DC board were strengthened from when we started, we'll be sitting with the improved, as it has been reflected by the Market, the improvement of the and the JPCZ where we have raised in terms of the report from the from the from the AG.

01:18:26The ANC does not want to play a blaming game. The AG reports will definitely improve like what the Market did. But now what we are calling for as the African National Congress is to say let's have the consequence management be implemented. We don't care who is involved. Yes, we are agreeing and we are we are we are supporting what the the other political party are saying that we must we must we must make sure that

01:18:56the law is enforced so that we don't have all this continuous blaming and blaming and blaming because it's a game that the residents of Johannesburg does not want. As I started with the the the the lesson of uh indulging you into proverbs, allow me to also bring you to another ANC proverb, which is documented in their manifesto to say: "Together we can do more."

01:19:26I am urging the people on the blue and the other people that are sitting there to say as much as we can blame,

01:19:36TshivendaTshivenda tshi tshi amba tshi ri munwe a u dzi sumbi.

01:19:40isiZuluUmunwe awuzikhombi.

01:19:43Because everything that we have here we can trace it to the historical history pages that they've created, and that was spearheaded by Mpho Phalatse, the former Mayor. Even this issue of protection services, it is them that created it. Now, if we all come together, we can improve our finances, we can have a clean audit, we can steer this uh uh

01:20:13uh city, this uh Golden City to a clear direction. I'm appealing to them that as much as we are blaming, we need to stand firm and then work together. Because

01:20:26Tshivendavhona nga vho masiari.

01:20:28We have seen it. We can point it on the on the record. So with that, the ANC approves the improvement that we have received, and we are appealing that let's apply the written proverb of the ANC: "Working together we can do more."

01:20:53Thank you, Councillor Mmbengwa. MMC Arnolds.

01:21:15Councillor Mmbengwa, is your mic off?

01:21:28Hello. I think it was something at the back. It wasn't Mmbengwa. Good morning to you, Madam Speaker, and good morning to the Executive Mayor, all MMCs, all chairpersons of committees, the um Chief Whip of Council and the um Councillor Marema, Chair of Chairs. Madam Speaker, I want to say that despite the challenges

01:22:00faced this year, the city has remained focused on continuously strengthening its financial position whilst serving the residents of the City of Johannesburg with its limited resources. Madam Speaker, we also know that the total water losses is also due to the fact of aging infrastructure, but also to the theft and vandalism

01:22:31of infrastructure. As the Acting Member in charge alluded in his opening remarks, there are strides made into the right direction, and we would we would really ask this council to note that there are strides. We're also making it into a direction that is positive for the residents of the City of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, we must say the achievement of having a

01:23:01disciplinary board now is also going to assist us and it gives us confidence that consequence management will be done, will be applied, and anyone found to be guilty of any, any misconduct will be dealt with in the right way. Madam Speaker, we are also we also recognize that everybody that spoke recognized that there is improvement, even though in

01:23:31the beginning they say there is no improvement, but at the end they also say that they are noting the report. We know that some of the political parties cannot outright say that there is strides made into the right direction, but we know it's just politics. And we ask this house to note the report. I thank you.

01:23:56Thank you, MMC Arnolds. Our member in charge or acting member in charge for today, Councillor Buthelezi.

01:24:05Thank you, Madam Speaker. We must we must agree that all that has been said by the speakers, especially those who sit in the committee, they will acknowledge the fact that these are all things that were acknowledged in the committee. So it simply means that we are indeed doing something towards addressing these issues. We'll actually ask the council to approve the report. Thank you.

01:24:35Thank you, member in charge. Councillors, the recommendations are on page, they're on pages 1.5 and 2.28 to 2.32. Are the items agreed to? Thank you, councillors.

Items 3-6: Community Development performance reports - tabling

01:24:51Councillors, we're on item three, and that is the performance assessment report for the Community Development Department for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, read with item four, which is the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, and also read with item five, which is the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Theatre

01:25:20uh for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, and lastly read with item six, and that's an oversight report uh of the Section 79 Community Development Committee on the 2024/25 second quarter performance assessment report of the Department of Community Development, uh Joburg uh City Theatres and Joburg City Parks and Zoo for the period October to December 2024.

01:25:50Thank you, Secretary to Council. We'll start with the member in charge, Councillor Mokome.

01:26:01Thank you, Speaker, and good morning. May I also uphold the protocol that has been upheld earlier on. Madam Speaker, in this house I rise to present items three, four, five and six on behalf of Section 79 Development Oversight Committee, the second quarter oversight report for the Department of Community Developmentclaim

01:26:32and its entities for the 2024/2025 financial year for the period October to December 2024. The overall assessment by the committee indicates that the mid-term performance of the department remains satisfactory, but the rate at which repairs and maintenance are conductedclaim

01:27:04at our facilities remains a concern as it affects access to full utilization of the facilities. In the period under review, as it was festive as such, it is encouraging to see that the number of visitors were more than three times the expected number.

01:27:37Our entities also had a satisfactory performance with Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo achieving almost all the targets except one, that is the reduction of attendance of visitors in the zoos. Madam Speaker, meanwhile Johannesburg City Theatres

01:28:08achieved all its targets. The overall financial performance of these entities remains an area of focus for the committee in order to ensure reduced UIFW and adherence to SCM practices. In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I recommend that council approves the aforementioned reports, noting

01:28:40the observations and recommendations therein. Thank you. I thank you.

Items 3-6: debate by DA, GOOD, FF Plus, PA, ActionSA and DA

01:28:49Thank you, member in charge. DA, Councillor Mazibuko.

01:29:03Um uh Madam Speaker, let me um um appreciate and thank this opportunity. But on a lighter note, Madam Speaker, please allow me to actually join the pact that wishes Bafana Bafana well, our national team, on that decisive victory last night. And we also wish Bafana Bafana well on the road to qualifying for the FIFA World Cup. Um um

01:29:33perhaps also maybe allow me to extend my greetings to the house at large. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for for this uh opportunity again. Now, one of the fundamental priorities for the City of Johannesburg is to accelerate service delivery, create an enabling environment, stimulate economic growth, create a livable space and strive for administration that is resilient and sustainableclaim

01:30:03for the future residents of the City of Johannesburg. However, the quarter under review raises some concerns. The capital budget recorded 0.5% as committed against the target of 16 million, whilst there was a 91.6% achievement of the KPI indicators. However, there seems to be a disconnect when it comes to the actual service delivery on the ground. It appears that the reported numbers may not accurately reflect the reality of theclaim

01:30:34situation on the ground. For instance, despite the closure of the Joburg City Library, the statistics on paper have not changed, and the number of people accessing our libraries remain unchanged. Similarly, on the lack of maintenance and the closure of the swimming pools have not significantly affected the numbers of the people using and accessing the swimming pool during the swimming pool seasons. There are also discrepancies in how the department reports numbers and statistics,

01:31:05with the growing concerns about accuracy and accountability of the reported data. Furthermore, there seems to be an ambiguity regarding the service level agreement that exists between JMPD and the Department of Community Development. In several meetings, a direct response have been lacking, and the vandalism on our facilities remain um is very much persistent. It is essential to have a to have transparent understanding on the areas and facilities

01:31:36guarded by JMPD and the level of resources allocated to these tasks. Additionally, while some of the programs like e-learning initiatives continues to operate, there are concerns about the accessibility and inclusivity to these programs. The choice of the digital platform may exclude certain segments of population, especially considering the high uh number of unemployment or the high unemployment rate and the data cost in our country. There is a need for more comprehensive assessment

01:32:07for programs and impact

01:32:10and reach to ensure that is effectively benefit the community at large. Furthermore, I would like to draw your attention to the deteriorating state of the Johannesburg Art Gallery which houses a significant collection of modern contemporary art in the Sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of transparency and proper procedures in the repairs and maintenance of JAG is concerning. These challenges included employees at JAG locking gates

01:32:40for to physically keep us out of performing our oversight duties. And also having the MMC Nkonko himself showing up during our the said oversight, which is still yet to answer as to why he was even there from the first place and blocking the endeavor to actually holding the executive into account. The information shared about JAG status is misleading and lack acknowledgement of the critical issues facing the cultural institution.

01:33:10Despite the claims of normalcy and collaborative achievements, it is actually quite evident that there are significant challenges that needs to be addressed urgently. The lack of transparency and consultation regarding the repairs and renovation works at JAG is alarming. It raises questions about the motives behind the secrecy arounding the process. The absence of critical details such as

01:33:3630 seconds remaining.

01:33:38such as contractors and the scope of the repairs is a red flag and cannot be ignored. The Democratic Alliance remains committed in upholding accountability and transparency in government and will remain and will continue to advocate for the preservation of our culture, our cultural institution. And these achievements and this is the pursuit of oversight is more than just a repairing a building. It's about bringing world-class gallery to our people of Johannesburg.

01:34:10The DA will continue to advocate until JAG is fully operational and accessible to everyone. This victory is for the DA, and most importantly, this victory is for the people of Johannesburg. Thank you very much.

01:34:27Thank you, Councillor Mazibuko. GOOD, Councillor Cook.

01:34:34Madam Speaker, while going through the Community Development Mid-Year Performance Report for the 2024/2025 financial year, it must be noted that in this period, the department was under the reins of three MMCs. It is not surprising therefore that the reports are simply unsatisfactory and that the department appears to be grappling with a number of critical issues. Speaker, I do however believe that the current MMC, MMC Nkonko, is a passionate person who is adamant to make progressive advancements in this portfolioclaim

01:35:10and who will fight for those who need it most. I would therefore like to take this opportunity through you, Speaker, to highlight some issues which MMC Nkonko should place focus on in the final months of this financial year. Speaker, the department has only collected 34% of its mid-year revenue target. This massive shortfall is unacceptable and speaks to poor financial discipline, ineffective revenue strategies, and a lack of urgency. A department that cannot meet its basic revenue obligationsclaim

01:35:44puts strain on the entire city's financial sustainability. Speaker, despite having an approved capital budget of over 65 million rand, only 25% of this has been spent at mid-year. The excuse given is the downtime of the SAP system, but this only highlights poor contingency planning and weak project management. The city's residents cannot wait on excuses while projects remain incomplete.claim

01:36:14Speaker, the report itself admits that many city facilities are in disrepair, posing serious health and safety hazards. Years of neglect, poor workmanship, and lack of supplier panels continue to cripple our ability to deliver quality services to the residents of Johannesburg. There is no excuse for allowing city-owned community facilities to deteriorate the way that they have, and to the extent that they are now. Speaker,

01:36:45the persistent non-performance of the JPC, coupled with outstanding accounts, is leading to service disruptions and risks to mid-year funding. The department has failed to take decisive action against this ongoing problem. We are dealing with regular facility closures due to water outages, electricity failures, and protests, with no clear mitigation in place. These repeated disruptions leave communities without access to critical amenities. Speaker,

01:37:16rather than correcting shortcomings, the department continues to request deviations from its SDBIP targets, particularly around cleanliness and service standards. This indicates an attitude of avoidance instead of proactive problem solving. Speaker, the Community Development Department's mid-year report is sadly riddled with excuses, missed targets, and financial mismanagement. While communities wait for improved services and facilities, this report offers little more than inflated statistics

01:37:47and recycled challenges. What residents of Johannesburg deserve is a clear, actionable turnaround plan. I thank you.

01:37:59Thank you, Councillor Cook. Freedom Front Plus, Councillor Smit.

01:38:04Thank you, Madam Speaker. Once again, we face with this repairs and maintenance situation where flagship rec centers and just normal rec centers are falling to pieces, and nothing is being done about it. And we sit in the committee, and every time we raise the question about the so-called panel, we just get excuses from the Department of Community Development. When is this going to be finalized? When there's nothing left to save?

01:38:35I'm hoping that Sorry. I must at this point also raise a serious concern about the state of the cemeteries. Every single cemetery in the city, whether it's active or non-active, is in serious need of maintenance, and I get regular complaints from residents about the states, that they can't even get to the graves because the grass is 6 to 10 feet tall. I'm hoping that the MMC can actually get someone to actually do something aboutclaim

01:39:07the state of the cemeteries and to get this panel on the go so that we can start doing something about the repairs and maintenance. In closing, I think congratulations is in order for Johannesburg Theatre for receiving a clean audit for a second year in a row, and I think well done to them. Thank you.claim

01:39:36Thank you, Councillor Smit. PA, Councillor Simonse.

01:39:42Good morning, Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor, Acting City Manager, our Caucus Leader, MMC Kenny Kunene, the Joburg 9, and the greater Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, today I stand here to

01:40:00Pardon.

01:40:01to raise items 3, 4, 5, and 6, but please allow me to speak from the heart today, and not from the report. Madam Speaker, it is with sadness that we are sitting in a City of Joburg, which needs to be the city of gold. We need We are saying it is the city that never sleeps. But everybody else is sleeping. We are sitting with facilities that we cannot use. We are sitting with sports centers that is vandalized.emotive

01:40:36We are sitting with swimming pools that our kids cannot have access to. And, Madam Speaker, I'm standing here and speaking on behalf of Ward 7 and Ward 121 specifically today. We have two stadiums which is not usable. We cannot even get a JoCo for it approved. What is Where are we going to? Madam Speaker, through you, we would like to see more action. Stop. Can we move away from the theaters?emotive

01:41:09Can we come back to the ground, boots on the ground? Can we fix what needs to be fixed for the residents of Johannesburg? The City of Johannesburg residents deserves better. I'm saying let us serve with military precision, and not just to tick the box once again. And for that, I will salute the department for the work that they have done. Thank you, Madam Speaker.emotive

01:41:37Thank you, Councillor Simonse. ActionSA, Councillor Masoga.

01:41:42Thank you, Speaker. Good morning to you and the colleagues and the guests that we have here today. Speaker, I concur with the points my colleagues have put forward, and, you know, the honesty of it is, you know, this morning, if I if I if I, you know, just deviate a little, I was driving down into council,claim

01:42:13and I passed the Phineas Park in Mayfair, and I noticed that they are putting up the ClearVu fence. And right next to the the the work that was ongoing, I noticed that there's a recycler pushing a ClearVu fence. And I'm asking myself, where's the sustainability in Comm Dev? I think the issue here now with Comm Dev is that there's zero sustainability approach in the workclaim

01:42:45that we're doing, and obviously the repairs and maintenance the repairs and maintenance backlog. In the reports, we also noticed, Speaker, that there's, you know, a lot of incompetent reporting there. In the previous quarter, we saw that apparently we were able to raise or rather, we were able toclaim

01:43:16generate revenue of about 6,000 rand, and that is not reality. In the following quarter, we raised 12 million. And, you know, the incompetent reporting during this, you know, important time in terms of our budgeting discussions is unacceptable from a reporting perspective. You expect that those reports are in order. Another area that I want to highlight in terms of generating revenue is, you know, the Group Comms here in the COJ.claim

01:43:48Comm Dev has a lot of facilities. You're talking about, you know, some 230 recreational centers, and the reality is that our Group Comms is not pushing the mandate to assist us in marketing these facilities. There is no way, I mean, you look at other venues all over, you know, the province, the city, they are generating serious money, theaters included, and Comm Dev is struggling

01:44:20to generate sufficient revenue with 230-plus facilities. I mean, that's unacceptable. You know, I'm coming from a party that, you know, emphasizes professional public service, and it's really, really disheartening to see what we're seeing on the ground in terms of Comm Dev. Well, last but not least, and I'd like to also ask for focus from the MMC Nkonko, is that we are scrutinizing reports through a keyhole. Literally,

01:44:51we are scrutinizing reports through a keyhole, and Comm Dev is a tangible department. We're able to see, experience what is going on in terms of highlights, and our committee gets zero chance for that. We see it on the reports only. And when I asked the MMC, "MMC, when is this committee going to be involved in these highlights?" His response is that, "The executive first." So, with that, Speaker,

01:45:21I note the reports with some concerns. Over and above, we're doing excellent on the report. It's not a true reality on the ground. And if we can focus on sustainability, it would go a long way. Thank you.

01:45:40Thank you, Councillor Masoga. DA, Councillor Sifumba.

01:45:51Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Greetings to fellow councillors, officials, and residents of the City of Johannesburg. Speaker, allow me to wish blessings to our Federal Leader who celebrated his birthday yesterday, Mr. John Steenhuisen, as well as the legendary negotiator, my cousin. Happy birthday and blessings to all of them. Speaker, I stand before you today with urgency regarding the state of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo.claim

01:46:26While the second quarter report highlights some achievements, we cannot ignore the glaring failures that undermine service delivery and public trust. Yes, Speaker, targets were met, trees were planted, public spaces were patrolled, and jobs were created. But numbers alone do not reflect reality. Our cemeteries remain overcrowded and unkempt. Our parks are unsafe, and our zoo is losing visitors at an alarming rate.claim

01:46:57A shortfall of over 130,000 visitors is not just a statistic. It signals declining public confidence in our recreational facilities. Speaker, how do we justify this dismal performance when Johannesburg City Parks has been allocated over 1.2 billion? How do we explain a budget cut of 9.82 million when the entity is already struggling to meet its mandate? This is not just poor planning; it is failure of leadership.claim

01:47:29Meanwhile, 630 jobs were created, but are they sustainable? Or are they temporary numbers to inflate performance reports? Speaker, financial mismanagement and lack of innovation continue to cripple City Parks. How do we justify spending 54% of the operational budget halfway through the financial year without visible improvements? If money is spent, it's being spent, the impact must be evident on the ground. I therefore, Speaker, urge the GLU administration to act decisively.claim

01:48:02We need real plans to increase revenue for the zoo, restore dignity to our cemeteries, and ensure our parks are safe and well maintained. How long will the residents of this city have to wander through overgrown cemeteries, searching for their loved ones' graves? The cemetery digitization project initiated in 2018 by the DA remains a pipe dream. What kind of government allows its people to be stripped of their dignity like this, Speaker? Speaker, if all is well,claim

01:48:33why does Johannesburg feel more broken than ever? This administration finds comfort in statistics, but we, the residents, demand real change. History has proven, and today it remains an undeniable fact that only the Democratic Alliance delivers effective governance. We do not rely on empty statistics; we deliver real service delivery, real economic growth, and real governance that puts people first. Like my fellow colleague, Councillor Radebe, said earlier, the peopleemotive

01:49:05are watching, Speaker. Come 2026, the people of Johannesburg will choose the only party with a proven track record of getting things done, which is the blue machine, the DA. Asibonge, Speaker. Thank you.emotive

01:49:22isiZuluSiyabonga,

Items 3-6: EFF and ANC speakers, point of order on ClearVu remarks

01:49:23Councillor Sifumba. EFF, Councillor Dladla.

01:49:34Greetings, Speaker. I'll be speaking on behalf of Councillor Dladla.

01:49:41SetswanaKe dumedise baeng ba rona ko gallery,

01:49:44our councillors, our mighty 29 battalion. Speaker, I will be making a mistake if I start my speech without acknowledging the good work done by the deployee of the EFF, MMC of Public Safety, Commissar Mgcini Tshwaku, in ensuring and restoration

01:50:07in ensuring the restoration of safety in the streets of Johannesburg. MMC, we know you did not find TRU, you formed it. You found no Chief of JMPD, you appointed Chief Jaca. You arrived to the teka-teking cars of JMPD. Look at them now, those GD6 and BMW series, newest models. They are recently... let me start afresh.

01:50:37You arrived to the teka-teking cars of JMPD. Look at them now, those GD6 and BMW series, newest models. You recently arrested the most feared and most wanted criminal from my area, with many hijacking and murder cases. MMC, we see you. We see your work. Please,

01:50:58isiZuluungakhathali, ungapheli umoya. Siyazi abanye banomoya. Siyazi abanye bebephethe, baze balanda

01:51:05those Fong Kong from China

01:51:08isiZuluebezidlela imali belele nje emsebenzini. Ngiyakubongela, siyakubongela,

01:51:14MMC. Caucus Leader, Mgcini Tshwaku, the hard-working MMC of Public Safety, Chief Whip, Thabiso Mhlari, the entire caucus of the EFF, and councillors, we stand to note item 3, 4, and 5, and 6, with the following observation: that the MMC need to step up politically with everything for the department to work effectively. We seem to be stuck on issues of pools, facility management, and general maintenance of our parks, cemeteries, and soccer fields. Because we are able to place security

01:51:45officers in some of our parks, we should then consider the same with other departments' facilities to deal with the theft and vandalism happening in our facilities, and has claimed too much of our hard-earned revenue. Let's build. Salute.

01:52:05Thank you, Councillor. ANC, Councillor Mashinini. [00:20:00] [no speech]

01:52:28Oh, thank you, Speaker. I'll start by greeting the Honourable Speaker and the Mayor, and Chairpersons of Section 79 Committees, and the researchers, and members of the community. Speaker,

01:52:43isiZului-campaign season seyiqalile.

01:52:45People are campaigning here and misleading the house. So, first, let me extend my deepest appreciation to the Mayor for his unwavering leadership and commitment in particular in driving the Joburg Library Phase 1 project. So, I think your efforts, Chair, must not go unnoticed. There is a challenge in some of these reports that we are seeing. We are seeing a challenge of inconsistencies

01:53:17in the reporting. We do agree with that. Sometimes you can see that maybe someone was cutting and pasting; that's why they don't make total sense. So, but we must acknowledge that we, as the GLU, we [inaudible] victory. There are challenges in the departments, and, but there are also achievements in certain departments. We must also remember that for Comm Dev to function properly, we also have to tell our people to start paying rates and taxes, because this low collection, it's a direct result in us sufferingclaim

01:53:48like this. And most of the challenges in Phase... in Quarter 1 are due to the quarterly expenditure. Oh, sorry. Financial stability remains a challenge in Quarter 1. Capital budget expenditure stood at a shocking 0.4 due to delay in invoice payments, which is a challenge if the invoices are not paid in time, and we do acknowledge that. But in Quarter 2, we saw

01:54:20an improvement of 25%. Backlog which remain... An improvement of 25%. The backlog remains a concern. Moving forward, we must prioritize invoice payments and actively engage key stakeholders such as JOSHCO and JDA to ensure projects and executing them efficiently. Despite these challenges, the department has achieved an overall service delivery performance of 88%, the indication that

01:54:51the indication that the department in service delivery capabilities are being supported by its operational budget. However, the gap between the service delivery and capital expenditure raise concerns about this department's ability to sustain itself over a long time. This can be seen clearly in an unacceptable condition in existing facilities such as the swimming pools and the libraries and multipurpose centers. MMC, we must avoid tragedies.

01:55:22I remember it was in 2023 when we had a challenge in Orange Farm of uNtando Tsotetsi, who drowned in the mud. That must never happen again. We must always protect these spaces, because if we don't protect such things, it becomes a challenge for us. And we must always protect these facilities. We must remind our communities that they must always protect these facilities because they belong to them. This vandalization, it's a challenge. I hope Councillor reported the person who was stealing that ClearVu, because it's a challenge

01:55:52if he did not report it. Because if you don't report, then you were accompanying him to steal that fence. So, while moving on to the City Parks and Zoo, while the report highlights a strong KPI achievement, the budget expenditure, the situation on the ground tells a different story. Many parks, open spaces, and cemetery remain neglected. This raises concerns. MMC, I know you're going to deal with this one.

01:56:24Beyond the KPI metrics, it ensure our green spaces truly reflect a vibrant, well-maintained city and

01:56:30Councillor Mashinini, please hold on. Councillor Masoga, on what point of order?

01:56:38Yeah, no, I just wanted to clarify. And, Councillor Mashinini, I did not say that he was stealing the ClearVu.

01:56:48Councillor Masoga, you can't respond.

01:56:51I just wanted to clarify, Speaker.

01:56:52Thank you. You can't respond. You cannot respond. It's his time to deliver his speech, just like you had your time to deliver your speech.

01:57:02That's fine, Speaker.

01:57:03Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Mashinini, you can continue with your speech.

01:57:08isiZuluUsaba ukuboshwa.

01:57:11So, lastly, we cannot overlook the vital role played by Johannesburg City Theatres. Their work is inclusive. Youth empowerment and edutainment fosters social cohesion, cultural developments. We commend their dedication and urge them to continue, and their work in arts... Oh, sorry, sorry about that. You know when I'm not wearing my spectacles. We condemn their dedication

01:57:42in continuing... Eish. I'm sorry about that. We commend their dedication, and we urge the city to invest in the arts, as it is a vehicle for social transformation. As one of my favorite writers, Maya Angelou, says, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, you do better." Close quote. Our city deserves better. Our people deserve better, and we,

01:58:12as the leaders, must do better. Let us ensure that every report and every budget and every project translate into a reality and a visible change for our communities we serve. Thank you.

Items 3-6: MMC Community Development response

01:58:27isiZuluSiyabonga,

01:58:27Councillor Mashinini. MMC Nkonko.

01:58:34Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Greetings to our Honourable Mayor, Councillor Dada Morero, Chief Whip of the council, Councillor Zungu, Chair of Chairs, Councillor Marema, Mayoral Committee Members, Chairpersons of Section 79 Committees, all the councillors, and the residents of our City of Johannesburg.

01:59:06isiZuluIzwe lethu!

01:59:08Madam Speaker, I have noted all the concerns raised by the councillors in this house. And also, I would like to extend my appreciation for the constructive criticism. As a leader, as a liberator, as an Africanist, we really, really appreciate constructive criticism because it helps us to improve where we lack. Madam Speaker, allow me

01:59:40to touch on... Last week, we were commemorating Sharpeville, Langa Massacre. As I'm sitting here as a leader, sitting here listening to our fellow Africans and how they articulate, I see that, no, liberation is a process. We need to really, as a liberator, we really, really, really, really need to work hard to help them, you know, decolonize their mind, you know, because

02:00:11I cannot understand, you know, some... There was this day where I was in a bank, and the people came and robbed the bank, ne? And I saw a victim, who's supposed to be hidden when the police came, went and protect the robbers. "Please, don't kill them." She even cried. So, when I asked, they say that disease, they call it a Stockholm syndrome. So, I want to address Stockholm syndrome

02:00:43from our people, the oppressed, but I will address it in this way, as a liberator. Every generation has its own purpose. Ours is to reveal the truth and reverse the brainwashing. There are only three types of Africans amongst us in terms of black liberation: those who have insight to see through the veils of white mentality as living lies,

02:01:15therefore, inherit the duty to teach our hidden truth to those of us that don't know; number two, those who have the mental fortitudes and insight to intuitively know the truth when it has been presented, therefore, then inherit the duty to share the truth; and there, there are those that are like fruits that have fallen

02:01:46from a tree and roll so far away from its root that it's no longer a part of the tree. The hard fall and the long journey profoundly changes the fruit, and there's nothing that you can do to return the fruits to the tree. By saying that, Madam Speaker, I therefore ask the council to approve the all the reports.

02:02:10is it a two?

Dispute over Cllr Mazibuko's point of order after MMC closed

02:02:20Thank you, MMC. Member in charge, Councillor Mokome. Before you come in, Councillor Mokome, Councillor Mazibuko.

02:02:32So sorry, Speaker, for being out of order, but my hand was actually up before the MMC concluded on the responses. I think, Speaker, you must actually find a way to protect us from the MMC. The MMC is the political head of I'm rising on a point of order.

02:02:50Councillor Mazibuko, he closed his debate. He is done. We are not going to respond. Thank you, Councillor Mazibuko. He is done. I'm sorry that you raised your hand. Member in charge, Councillor Mokome.

02:02:56My hand was up before he closed. You have given me a platform, Madam Speaker. Why did you give me a platform if you did not want me to speak, Madam Speaker?

02:03:07MMC Mazibuko, you may take your seat. Member in charge, please close the report for us.

02:03:13Madam Speaker, Madam Speaker, why did you give me an opportunity if you did not want me to speak? You saw that I raised my hand. I'm raising a point of order. I'm now raising a point of order. You don't like what I'm

02:03:20Councillor Mazibuko, if you are not happy with my ruling, you can write to my office. If you are not happy with my ruling, you can write to my office. Please take your seat.

02:03:29Why did you recognize me if you did not want me to find expression here?

02:03:31Member in charge, please continue.

Items 3-6: member in charge closes and items agreed

02:03:41Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the concerns that have been raised by our colleagues are keeping us awake at night. We acknowledge the fact that our public facilities are being vandalized during weekends. Madam Speaker, we interact

02:04:12in our social activities, whether in cemeteries, whether in sports fields, all public facilities around our city. We are there, and we hear the complaints that are coming from our people. And indeed, we are awake to these challenges.

02:04:42Councillor Mazibuko, we appreciate the fact that you lamented once again about the Johannesburg City Library. On Saturday, thank you, Executive Mayor, the library was partially opened until the final phase in August. Thank you, Executive Mayor. But also, may I hasten to add the fact thatclaim

02:05:12Johannesburg Art Gallery is also on the radar. Thank you once again, Executive Mayor. Councillor Cook, yes, we have had three MMCs within a very short period of time. But now we are at a situation where we can say under the leadership of Councillor Tebogo Nkokou,

02:05:43the center is holding. It's really holding. We are moving forward. Councillor Smit, yes, we have done oversight over and above what we know concerning our public facilities. And indeed, in some other instances where we've got to give credit, like you mentioned,

02:06:14Johannesburg City Theatres, we are saying JCT, thank you for a job well done. Councillor Simonse, speaking from the heart, yes, that's touching. We have been to Ennerdale, we have been to Eldos, and those other areas where we have seenclaim

02:06:41the need for service delivery. Just the other day, N12 was closed adjacent to Eldorado Park. Once again, issues relating to service delivery. At the back of this, Madam Speaker, the issue of not providing security at our public facilities is a cause of concern.claim

02:07:11And indeed, moving forward, Madam Speaker, we anticipate a situation, budget permitting, we'll be able to meet these challenges. Councillor Masoga, yes, we travel through our cities on a daily basis. We see those fallen robots, we see those illegally occupied open spaces. That's a sore to our eyes.

02:07:41And indeed, as leaders, we've got that courage to say we'll be able to overcome these challenges. Councillor Shumba, yes, we want stability. We've got to have sustainable service delivery as a core pillar of our mayoral priorities: safer city, clean city.

02:08:10And indeed, in that regard, we've got to move forward with speed. We know we want value for money spent on our budget. Indeed, what we see in our reports must correlate with what we see on the ground. We have seen those overgrown grass in our cemeteries. Yes, indeed,

02:08:40people are watching. But they are watching all of us, not a particular segment of the public servants or a particular segment of the councillors. Councillor Mashinini, thank you very much. We appreciate your sincerity in terms of service delivery. Yes, once again, you mentioned the issue of libraries. But we've got that

02:09:11covered. Our city deserves better, as you put it. Madam Speaker, in closing, I move that these reports be approved. Thank you.

02:09:27Thank you, member in charge. Councillors, we've been informed that the aircon is working now. I can feel on our side it's a bit cooler. If it's not the same on your side, please let's close all doors. The recommendations are on pages 3.3, 4.23, 5.26, and 6.10. Are the items agreed to? Thank you, Councillors.

Items 7-9: Development Planning and JDA reports - tabling and first speakers

02:09:57Councillors, we proceed with item 7, which is the performance assessment report for the Development Planning Department for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, read together with item 8, which is the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Development Agency for the 2024/25 financial year for the period July to September 2024, and both items are read together with item 9, which is an oversight report of the Development Planning Section 79 Committee

02:10:27on the 2024/25 first quarter budget and performance assessment report of the Development Planning Department and Johannesburg Development Agency for the period July to September 2024.

02:10:42I'll start with the member in charge, Councillor Kaldine. Chair of Chairs, I did not see Councillor Kaldine today. Who's going to be the acting member in charge?

02:11:03Morning, Speaker. I'll be standing in for Councillor Kaldine this morning. Speaker, I rise to table the performance oversight report of the Development Planning Section 79 Committee on the 2024/2025 second quarter performance reports of the Department of Development Planning and the Johannesburg Development Agency. The department managed to achieve 10 of the applicable 15 KPIs in quarter two.

02:11:36Speaker, service delivery challenges noted during the quarter included the following: the underfunding of the capital implementation program, which consequently affects progress on the ongoing projects; secondly, the insufficient locomotive allowance and security risks that are limiting the work of the building inspectors;

02:12:06and the understaffing at the department because of delays in approving the filling of vacancies. In terms of financial performance, Speaker, by the end of quarter two, the annual CAPEX budget was 67.544 million and the expenditure was 40.20 million. OPEX expenditure incurred was 220.59 million,

02:12:39which is 44% against the targeted 248.6 million, which was supposed to be 50%. The JDA achieved 13 of the 14 due KPIs in quarter two. By the end of the quarter, the entity had spent 418.8 million, which is only 45% of the annual 934.4 million CAPEX budget.

02:13:12The JDA earned a total revenue of 74.7 million and incurred total expenditure of 107.6 million. This resulted in an overall deficit of 32.9 million. An interest charge of 39.7 million on the sweeping account was included as part of the operating costs. Service delivery challenges during quarter two included

02:13:42the following: poor performing contractors; secondly, the city's cash flow issues. Speaker, in terms of recurring committee concerns, we have the poor pre-planning efforts by the project management team to ensure that supply chain processes are concluded on time; the city's financial constraints, which have negatively affected the department and entity performance

02:14:14and related targets; the poor performing contractors due to cash flow issues and inability to resource projects; the ineffective funding model for the JDA, which continues to put substantial financial pressure on the entity and contributes to the majority of overall deficit; the delays in implementing the outdoor advertising audit

02:14:44and the inability to enforce an updated outdoor advertising bylaw. Lastly, Speaker, the committee recommends that Council notes and approves the Section 79 Development Planning Committee oversight report and the second quarter performance reports of the Department of Development Planning and the Johannesburg Development Agency. I thank you.

02:15:13Thank you, acting member in charge. IFP, Councillor Makhuba.

02:15:26Greetings to the Speaker, the Executive Mayor, members of the Mayoral Committee, councillors, and leaders of different political parties. Noting that on the 21st of March 2025, the IFP turned 50 years since it was founded by the late His Excellency Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, marking a milestone of its existence.claim

02:15:57I rise to speak on item 7 and 8. We have noted all the highlights. I'm not going to go through all of them, but we just have a few concerns that we want to raise on the performance of the department and JDA as the entity. Comparing quarter one and quarter two, we have noted some changes that have happened. There is some progress that happened,

02:16:28but we want to raise a concern, MMC, on the fact that—I don't know if it's a matter that you can discuss maybe with the City Manager—the committee is not happy with the non-attendance of relevant officials at the Section 79 meetings. Therefore, sometimes the committee is unable to get answers that they are requiring from the department. Another concern on the JDA

02:16:58is the payment delays that are having a negative impact on service providers. It's a matter that we need to look into, and the staff shortages at Development Planning are having a negative effect also on the department's performance. Then there's a historical problem that we have in JDA of the sisterly departments

02:17:28that JDA is implementing work for that are unable to pay the JDA on time in order for the JDA also to have good financial standing. I think it's something that we need to address as the city because it cuts across from different departments. It's just a matter that we thought we should raise as something that needs to be attended to,

02:17:58and we hope that measures will be put in place to deal with the challenges that we've just raised. Thank you, Speaker.

02:18:10isiZuluNgiyabonga,

02:18:11Councillor Makhuba. ActionSA, Councillor Nefdt.

02:18:18Thank you, Speaker. I hope I'm audible. Greetings to the residents of Johannesburg, members and guests within these chambers, all protocols observed. I rise on item 7, 8, and 9. ActionSA notes these reports with concerns. Not enough is being done by the aforementioned entities to sustain acceptable service delivery standards. A good example of this is that it is still near impossible to get a copy of house plans timeously, which negatively affects residents and industry

02:18:50professionals, as an example. We hope this will improve going forward, and the reports are noted. Thank you, Speaker.

Items 7-9: DA Cllr Schay's speech and 'grasshoppers' withdrawal

02:18:58Thank you, Councillor Nefdt. DA, Councillor Schay.

02:19:14Good afternoon, Speaker, to the councillors who spend every single day fighting to rescue this great city, aka my DA colleagues, and of course to everyone else. I previously stood here and brought a book to Council to educate everyone about the need to listen to those who support us and empower us to govern this once great city. But alas, I believe that speech fell on deaf ears. In fact, I can prove it. During that address, I gifted the then MMC of Finance,claim

02:19:45who is now the Mayor, with a JoJo tank as we warned about the impending water crisis in Johannesburg. Over a year and a half has passed, and what has the Mayor of Johannesburg done? Nothing to avert the crisis we now find ourselves in, well, except for awarding a dodgy water tanker tender. But let me not digress from the matter at hand as I rise to discuss the second quarter performance reports of both the Development Planning Department and the JDA.claim

02:20:14There's a common theme that runs through every JDA quarterly report that we've seen in Council for years, and this report is no exception: project stoppages and delays. Whether it's the standard cash flow excuse or challenges with other government departments moving their services, it seems that it's the norm for JDA projects to sit idle for months or years on end. It probably goes without saying that these delays cause exponential increases in project costs, and yet this ANC, EFF, PA, and ActionSA coalition

02:20:47continues to operate as if our couches are stuffed with cash. This reckless mismanagement is driving the city into financial ruin. So for this reason, I brought along this book, some prescribed reading for those who fail to manage our cash and project flows: The Ant and the Grasshopper. Now, while there are surely many on that side of the aisle that behave like grasshoppers who've turned into a swarm of locusts and have stripped everything in their path bare before moving on to decimate their next target,

02:21:17I think we should learn the same lesson that the grasshopper in this book has learned, that is the importance of securing resources necessary such that you can complete your project without unnecessary stoppages. Don't worry, there is a great Cocomelon video on YouTube for those of you that don't read. As someone who's worked in the private construction sector for over a decade, I can tell you that in the vast majority of cases, developers ensure that they have planned their cash and resource flow for the project long before

02:21:47Councillor Schay, please hold on. Councillor Ngwenya.

02:21:58Thank you, Speaker. I'm not sure if Councillor Schay is including himself in calling public representatives, councillors of the City of Johannesburg, grasshoppers and Cocomelons. He must really include himself in that statement and withdraw that statement.

02:22:31Councillor Schay, as much as I want to listen to your speech, please withdraw the term "grasshoppers." There's no grasshoppers on the other side of the aisle.

02:22:41Speaker, with all due

02:22:42The Cocomelon, you didn't say anyone,

02:22:44Speaker, with all due respect, I didn't call people grasshoppers. I said behaving like grasshoppers. That's a very different

02:22:45but the grasshopper part. Hold on. Hold on.

02:22:59Okay, so should he

02:23:04Councillor Schay, I've been advised by legal that it means the same. They are making an example that you wouldn't also like it when people would say or use such a term as you are acting like a dog, for example. That would offend you, so it's the same. So please withdraw.

02:23:21In the interest of continuing, I withdraw.

02:23:23Thank you, Councillor.

02:23:30Yet, in Johannesburg, we sit with a growing list of incomplete projects and skyrocketing costs. It's time we re-evaluate our business model and look at the private sector for some inspiration. Another area where the department needs some inspiration is how they're going to regain control of building law enforcement. Joburg's infrastructure is crumbling under unplanned development and illegal construction, leading to water shedding and load rotation. The solution to go to the municipal courts is simply wrong, though.

02:24:00Municipal courts at most can fine transgressors for illegal construction, and while that may enable the city to tick one more case off their to-do list, it doesn't undo the damage done and perpetuates the issues already mentioned above, except now the problematic structure is legal because the property owner paid a fine. Another common complaint regarding the city and litigation is the lack of transparency into what's happening with complaints and the perpetuity of unresponsive officials at the regional level. A prime example of this

Cllr Raphadu questions Cllr Schay's insignia

02:24:31Councillor Schay, please hold on. Councillor Raphadu.

02:24:36Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm rising to ask a question and to get clarity because this insignia that this person continually does, it's bothering me. Can you listen to my point, Madam Speaker? Yes, can you listen to my point? Can we get a determination if this is allowed in Council so that I stop? Because it just bothers me.

02:24:49Councillor Raphadu. What question?

02:25:00SesothoCouncillor Raphadu, akere le Councillor Mashinini ona le a apere ya hae?

02:25:05Please, can we get a ruling around that thing? He must remove the South African Israeli thing that he's wearing there. Madam Speaker, I'm asking for clarity. Clarity.

02:25:06SesothoAkere le Councillor Mashinini o na apere ya hae? Councillor Raphadu, re a le kopa.

02:25:18My councillor on the other side is also wearing his own, so Councillor Schay, please continue with your speech. Councillor Raphadu, tolerance, tolerance.

02:25:24Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you. No, yes, but I need a clarity if it's allowed,

02:25:30Sesothofela. Ao.

02:25:32Speaker, this is the third time Councillor Raphadu has questioned your order on this. He is disrupting Council. You are empowered to remove councillors who insist on disrupting Council. If he wants to carry on with this, use your prerogative. Thank you. Another common

02:25:52Councillors, please hold on, Councillor Schay. Councillors, we're not going to touch on this because he officially wrote an email to complain about this, and we did respond that we are handling it with legal, so let's leave it at that because he officially did write to complain. So Councillor Schay, please continue with your speech. Councillor Mosehla.

02:26:22Thank you, Speaker. I'm worried about the precedent that you are setting, that after a point of order has been raised, the one that is accused, before continuing with his presentation or the speech, responds to what you have ruled on, and you are listening to it quietly, you're not saying anything to caution the councillor. Please don't set that precedent. Thank you.

02:26:53Councillor Mosehla, I'm a bit confused because I did say, Councillor Raphadu, when you stood up, that the same tolerance we had with Councillor Mashinini and his scarf is the same that we should have with Councillor Schay, and I also addressed Councillor Schay that this matter, he has officially laid a formal complaint that we did respond that we are looking into it. We have not concluded on that, hence we are not going to table it here in Council. So we did respond to those two. Councillor Schay, please continue with your speech.

02:27:25You still have a bit of time. You're left with five minutes.

02:27:31Just to remind you, we're talking about unresponsive officials. A prime example of this has happened in Councillor Stewart's ward, where a property owner developed an entire extra floor without any approved plans. And yet, Councillor Stewart, despite asking the regional ops manager for building contraventions, the acting assistant director, and the executive director of the department, he's been given the runaround for months on the results of the court actions. What is the department hiding? The DA did submit a motion to try and enable some transparency in this department,

02:28:04but it seems that the ANC, EFF, PA, and ActionSA administration would rather keep load rotation and water shedding as a fixture in the lives of Johannesburg's residents than allow a DA motion to see the light of day in Council. Petty much? Ladies and gentlemen, Joburg is breaking more and more every day under this administration, and this department is so key in turning the city around. If only it was more transparent, more responsive, and more effective, we'd be so much better off.

02:28:35What Joburg needs is DA leadership, which is like the diligent ant who works until the job is complete. But for the moment, it seems like Joburg has to survive a swarm of creatures I won't mention. Thank you.

'Creatures' remark, rulings, alleged threat and ethics referral request

02:28:52Speaker, Speaker, Speaker, please, please. But Speaker, I think thank you very much. I thank you very much. Thank you very much, Speaker. I think we accept free speech in this house. But we can't allow a person to provoke us, intentionally so. Who's the creatures that he won't mention? It's laughable what he's saying. We'll call him Takalani Sesame and it won't be correct.

02:29:24But we are reserving our rights and we are holding back because we want him to finish. Please caution that because next time, the gloves will be off. Thank you.

02:29:24SesothoCouncillor Raphadu, a re etse so.

02:29:34Yes, because I've picked up that whenever he stands up,

02:29:37Sesothoakere

02:29:37the house becomes a bit, yes, we start arguing among each other. What he does from his side is to write formal complaints. So let's also start writing formal complaints from this side. That's what I'm going to ask. Councillor Raphadu, I was responding to you because even in the first email, your name is mentioned. Even in the second one. MMC Masuku.

02:30:09Madam Speaker, Councillor Raphadu has raised a point relating to a matter that has occurred here, of a councillor who has called and insinuated that we are creatures. Now, you can't say people must write. So you must rule whether that is fine or not, so that when we do it, it doesn't create havoc in the house. And we will do more, and we will use vernacular language. So you must be ready for what you are allowing.

02:30:44MMC, thank you for that. MMC Tshwaku, before I make a ruling.

02:30:49No, thank you very much, Speaker. I think that also your advisors there, they must advise you properly. Please, because the councillor has been trying to provoke us every single time. Right.

02:31:04isiZuluSingayisusa nathi anytime uma sithi siyafuna. Uyabo? Singayisusa,

02:31:09the very hard way. Because I mean we can tell him that

02:31:12isiZuluukuthi thina

02:31:13we like Hamas, what it's doing, and we don't appreciate this thing of his of Israel apartheid, that apartheid Israel of his.

02:31:15isiZuluSiyabonga. Siyabonga,

02:31:22MMC. Councillors, that's the last hand. Councillor Mazibuko, before we make a ruling.

02:31:29Thanks, Madam Speaker. I'm just worried about the inconsistency of the ruling in this house. The MMC concluded on responses to the debate. I raised my hand on Rule 72. You shut me down. The same happened here. Councillor Schay concluded on his debates and arguments, yet you allowed hands to actually be taken after the debate was actually closed by the councillor. Can we be consistent in our ruling,

02:32:00Madam Speaker? I just wanted it to be properly recorded for the purpose of this

02:32:08Councillor Mazibuko, it's

02:32:10two different situations, but it's fine.

02:32:13Councillor Schay, we are trying to determine if you did say that to the house.

02:32:19Did you refer to other councillors as creatures? Because remember, the first time we asked you to withdraw the term locust.

02:32:28So did you refer to the councillors in this house or anyone sitting in this house as a creature?

02:32:40Did you ask me to withdraw that statement and reword it for you?

02:32:44Did you say

02:32:45I said they have to survive a swarm of creatures. That is what I said.

02:32:50Please repeat that.

02:32:52And I've not said Have I identified anyone?

02:32:55Okay, councillors, we can't hear him.

02:32:56Did you read the context? Did you read the context? I've not identified people. I've used metaphors. If you guys want to

02:33:03But what did you say?

02:33:05I said that Joburg has to survive the swarm of creatures I will not mention.

02:33:15This is the same thing that the Israelis are saying about the people of Palestine, undermining them.

02:33:15Councillors, okay. Councillor Schay, it's fine. Let's make a ruling.

02:33:22This guy is really undermining us.

02:33:32Councillor Schay, MMC Kunene, let me make a ruling. Councillors, let me make a ruling. I'm deliberating with legal,

02:33:43He must leave the chamber, this man. This is not Israel.

02:33:45I'm deliberating with legal. And what they're also picking up, Councillor Schay, is that every time you stand, it's like you intentionally want to provoke. That's the advice I'm getting. Number two, please withdraw, because we asked you the first time not to say locust. I even gave you an example. So please stay away from using such terms, because they provoke the house.

02:34:19Uh

02:34:20Councillor Schay, we are all waiting on you.

02:34:23I will withdraw I will withdraw the term creatures. Joburg has to survive a destructive administration. Thank you.

02:34:31SesothoMohlomphehi Speaker

02:34:33Councillor Schay, please withdraw. We didn't hear you withdrawing. Just withdraw. Just withdraw. Councillors, please switch off your mic. We want to hear him. We can't hear him this side.

02:34:50I withdrew the term creatures. I fully withdraw the term creatures.

02:34:52Thank you.

02:35:06Councillors, I've made a ruling on this one. I'm not going to take any hands regarding this. The hands I'm going to take, it's something else, not this one.

02:35:15Avant-Smith or Rahn? Councillor Rahn.

02:35:21SesothoCouncillor, after Mosehla, ke mang o ko morago?

02:35:25Yeah.

02:35:26Madam, Madam, Madam Speaker, okay, please could I request that we get some decorum in the house? We cannot have MMCs threatening our councillors to see them outside. Okay?

02:35:38Councillor Rahn,

02:35:41Okay. It's a threat.

02:35:43MMC Masuku

02:35:51Councillors!

02:35:53isiZuluHhayibo!

02:36:00Chief Whip of Council, I think this is where you come in.

02:36:08Caucus leader from the Democratic Alliance.

02:36:13Oh, is a different matter.

02:36:16SesothoMara they recognise me.

02:36:30Councillor Mosehla, I can't see the councillor at the back there. He raised his hand.

02:36:36SesothoKo morago ga gago, there's a councillor, he raised his hand.

02:36:39It's Councillor Moepi.

02:36:40Councillor Moepi, Moepi.

02:36:43Thanks very much, Speaker. Can Councillor Schay withdraw the kiss as well? We don't appreciate his kisses here.

02:36:50What kiss?

02:36:53SesothoAowa, Councillor Moepi, ke go tshepile so.

02:36:56It's Councillor Raphadu.

02:37:01It's not about my ruling, akere? We are done.

02:37:03No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no. Um, I'm It's not about

02:37:08Councillor Raphadu, I've already made a ruling.

02:37:10Yeah, I'm not I'm I'm not standing on the

02:37:13Yes, I've already made a ruling. That one is closed. If it's on other item, it's okay,

02:37:17Thank you.

02:37:18but not the ruling I made just now.

02:37:20No, I'm not. Speaker, I I I respect you and I won't challenge your ruling. But I'm imploring you as the Speaker. Please, can this type of behaviour be cited? Because it can't continue to happen. It's not the first, the third or the fourth time. And I'm suggest I'm I'm I'm putting to you, Speaker, that please can Councillor Schay be taken to ethics because this type of behaviour is the one that is degenerating this council sitting. And I'm I'm I'm I'm begging, please, can he be referred to ethics because of that. Thank you very much.

02:37:54Thank you, Councillor Raphadu, and you know the formal way of doing it. I've been advising you personally. Please formalise the process. Councillors, Councillor Echeozonjoku.

02:38:09Madam Speaker, thank you very much, and thanks for making a ruling on that. Madam Speaker, can I request protection for all DA councillors? Since the MMC said she will meet us outside, I'm requesting protection for all DA councillors because if anything happens to any of our DA councillors, we want it on record that the MMC said she will see us out.

02:38:32Councillors, I want to hear what Councillor Echeozonjoku is saying.

02:38:40Madam Oh, do you want me to repeat? Sorry.

02:38:42Yes, I didn't hear what you were saying.

02:38:47Can go ahead.

02:38:48Madam Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity. I know you've closed the debate. But I want to put on record, Madam Speaker, Councillor Masuku has just said MMC Masuku has just said she will meet us outside.

02:38:57Oh, Councillor MMC, I thought I thought you were going to speak about security issues. But that item has been closed.

02:39:03Can we get protection Can we get protection for all DA councillors? If anything happens to them, it is on record that the MMC said she will meet us outside. Can we put it on record? If anything happens to any DA councillor, it will be on the head of this house.

02:39:22So she's saying that the MMC threatened.

02:39:28Councillors, I'm not going to take any more hands. We are moving along. We've got two full days of council business, and I think this item, we have covered it thoroughly.

02:39:41Something different, Madam Speaker.

Items 7-9: EFF and ANC contributions

02:39:43EFF, Councillor Mosehla, are you the member acting member in charge and also representing your party? Is it correct?

02:39:52You are correct, Speaker.

02:39:53No problem.

02:39:58Honourable Speaker, EFF party leader Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, Chief Whip of the EFF Councillor Thabiso Mogapi, the EFF's 29 Red Battalions, the GLU partners, and the residents of Johannesburg. According to this report, the Development Planning Department boasts a 67% achievement rate of its key performance indicators. Yet, when we scrutinise the details, this performance is nothing more than a manipulation of statistics. The reality is that the department has failed dismally in fulfilling its developmental mandate. The JDA, responsible for implementing key infrastructural projects, also presents a misleading narrative. The report highlights a capital expenditure of 59%, which is a clear sign of budget underutilisation. Underspending in a city riddled with potholes, crumbling infrastructure and informal settlements without basic services is a betrayal to our people. What excuse do the department have for failing to spend the money allocated to improve the lives of our people? The financial patterns reflected in this report paints a worrying picture of either incompetence or intentional neglect. Funds meant for development projects are either misdirected, underspent or not utilised at all. Meanwhile, irregular expenditure remains unaccounted for, and budget allocations don't reflect the economic transformation agenda that the EFF has always championed. This is in direct contradiction to the EFF's founding manifesto, which calls for the complete overhaul of the spatial and economic patterns of apartheid. One of the most serious issues in this report, Speaker, is the failure to pay our SMMEs on time. Black businesses, particularly those in the townships, are being systematically destroyed by the city that refuses to honour its financial obligations. The MFMA's 65(2)(e) is clear: service providers must be paid within 30 days. Yet this administration continuously fails to comply. This is because we have an incompetent CM in the name of Mr Tshepo Makola, who since his appointment has been sleeping on duty. What message is being sent to emerging businesses when they are forced to shut down because of non-payment? The EFF will not allow the deliberate economic sabotage of black businesses to continue unchallenged. The report highlights several projects that remain incomplete, yet no concrete action plan is provided to address these failures. Community halls remain unfinished, road projects are abandoned, and housing developments are moving at a snail's pace. Development to create jobs and improve economic productivity as well. As the EFF, we demand the following immediate interventions: The immediate settlement of all outstanding invoices owed to the SMMEs. No black-owned business should collapse because of the city's inefficiency. A full report on incomplete projects, timelines and accountability measures must be put in place to ensure completion. Reallocation of unused budgets to priority areas. The underspent funds must be directed towards informal settlements, road maintenance, and housing. A radical shift in planning priorities. Development must prioritise townships and informal settlement and historically neglected areas. The people of Johannesburg, Speaker, deserves a government that works for them, not against them. We thank you.

02:44:30Thank you, Councillor Mosehla. ANC, Councillor Maswazi.

02:44:44Thank you, Speaker. Greetings to yourself, and greetings to the leader of caucus, Comrade Dada Morero. Greetings to the Whip of Council, Councillor Sthembiso Zungu. Greetings to fellow councillors, and let me make a special greetings to the newly elected councillor of Ward 59, Councillor Sthembiso Hlatshwayo. Also officially welcoming to council. Speaker, let me say that I do acknowledge the comment that was made by some of the colleagues in this department or in this Section 79 committee. Indeed, what they've said is a true reflection of what is happening, and we do appreciate that this entity of JDA, which is led by the vibrant and the young CEO that have just been appointed, not even a year in the position, but we are seeing a turnaround that is very impressive. Except the fact that there are concerns that have been raised by, amongst others, Councillor Nefdt have raised, and we do acknowledge that there are issues that needs to be resolved. However, where there is progress, we should be able to acknowledge that there is progress. Because a few years ago, I will say two years ago, there was this entity was in shambles because most of the projects that were happening in the black townships were stopped for no apparent reasons. And we are seeing that now, the likes of Diepsloot, JB Marks, we are seeing projects that have been resuscitated are now in motion. Through the oversight that is done by the MMC of Development Planning, Councillor Eunice Mgcina, we are seeing a good work that she's doing. With her oversight, she's been in Cosmo City for the previous weeks, and we have seen that there is a lot of work that is happening in South Africa Drive in Cosmo City. And we do acknowledge that yes, there are issues in terms of the non-payment of invoices. It is something that needs to be corrected because we cannot allow our emerging companies to be collapsing because they're not being paid. With that said, Speaker, I would like to say that with all these concerns, we request that this report be noted. Thank you very much.claim

02:47:19isiZuluNgiyabonga, Councillor Maswazi. MMC Mgcina.

Item 8 (JDA Q2): MMC response, member in charge and adoption

02:47:34isiZuluCouncillor Maswazi, ngicela ungicheckele i-mic.

02:47:38Okay. No, thank you very much, Madam Speaker. As I greet yourself, Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor, the acting City Manager, fellow MMCs and councillors, and most importantly, the residents of our city, you're all greeted. Madam Speaker, I also want to correct in the agenda, I might be late for this, but I think there is an issue on the Speaker's list. If you look at Item 7, we were expecting to consider the planning report for the second quarter. Okay, no, that's not the one. It's actually Item 8, where we are supposed to be considering JDA's Quarter 2, but there it's reflecting as Quarter 1. So if that can be corrected so that it is clear going forward, in case these documents might be needed in the future. So if we can correct that. Let me take this opportunity to appreciate the comments from all councillors who have submitted their inputs. I think Councillor Makhuba, thank you very much, ma'am, for appreciating the work that has been done. I'm also noting your concern around the non-attendance of some officials, which we will correct in the future meetings that we will have. The issues around payments, I think many councillors raised it. We are noting that as well, and we'll continue to raise it with the relevant structures within the city. Councillor Nefdt, I think your issue is also noted, and I hope that the issue of office space will be expedited there through the Executive Mayor and MMC Mnisi. We hope that will be addressed, and they actually heard what you also raised as a concern in this meeting. Councillor Schay, you know, you confuse me sometimes, but I think the laptop that you use, you must stop using that laptop. It's really confusing you, my friend. But I'm noting the issue that you have raised around the stoppages of projects, which is as a result of a number of challenges that we faced in different projects that we are doing in different areas. It is noted, and we hope through our engagements with different stakeholders, that matter will be addressed. We are doing all we can to try and address the issue of stoppages of projects throughout the city, all the projects that we are doing. We will continue to do that, engaging people. We believe that when you engage people in the importance of having the projects being done and completed, it always works in our favour as the city, and we'll continue to do that. The issue of the municipal courts, we believe that this is a process that will allow us to prosecute those that are doing wrong things, those that are doing illegal things in the city. But if you still feel strong that the municipal courts process is not working in our favour, it's a discussion that we can continue to have. I don't think it's a train smash. Let's continue to have that discussion so that we can all be in agreement of what needs to be done going forward. I think Councillor Mosehla, I was confused because you were member in charge and again you were representing the EFF.

02:51:37SepediMokone, go na le confusion gona mo. A re e lokiše.

02:51:43But I'm noting all your points, the issues that you have raised. Let's agree that

02:51:47Sepedio re tshwere ka two. O re tshwere ka mo re le bannyane gona, Speaker.

02:51:53But we note what you have raised, Councillor, and you continue to raise those points in at Section 79 as well. We really appreciate. And once more, Councillor Schay, contrary to what you were saying, thina we'll continue to build and build the city. You'll see us everywhere in the city, making sure that we deliver services to our people, contrary to what you were saying earlier on. With that, Madam Speaker, I want to thank everyone who have submitted their inputs and really appreciate the inputs, and promise to work better and improve in what we are doing. Thank you very much.

02:52:36Thank you, MMC Mgcina. Member in charge, Councillor Mosehla.

02:52:53SepediNtshwarele, kgaetšedi ya ka, MMC Mgcina. Re tseba mebereko ya gago le batho ba o berekang le bona. Re tseba mebereko ya gago le CEO wa JDA, the young Themba Mathibe, le ka mokgwa wo le lekang gore dilo di lokišwe ka gona. Re nyaka gore, Speaker,

02:53:31and I'm going to lobby Councillor Marema.

02:53:36SepediGo na le quote ye o felang o e berekiša ya the naked emperor.

02:53:43And I think one day, when you get the chance, you must give it to Councillor Schay, or Councillor Schay.

02:53:52SepediO ka re ga a e tsebe goba ga a e lemoge gabotse.

02:53:58So, Speaker,

02:54:00Sepedire tlo leboga komiti ka moka ga yona

02:54:04for depoliticising it or the committee.

02:54:10SepediTirišano ye ba nang le yona in the committee,

02:54:13and the way they are taking issues in the committee, are attending in their numbers every time, and not sparing anyone. Speaker, you know, if you don't have anything to say,

02:54:32Sepedike tlo kgopela gore

02:54:34let's not play to the gallery, through you, Speaker, and I'm directing this to Councillor Schay, because if you didn't have anything to say in the committee, don't come and say it here, and show disunity of the committee which is not there. Don't blame the GNU. Your blame for GLU is not service delivery to our people. It's not going to assist in anything in resolving the issues that are there in the communities. In that said, Speaker, we lobby this house to note and approve the report. I thank you.

02:55:22Thank you, acting member in charge. MMC Mgcina, we've noted Item number 8 and the change from Quarter 1 to Quarter 2. We've noted that. Councillors, the recommendations are on pages 7.7, 8.4, and 9.12 to 9.13. Are the items agreed to? Thank you, councillors.

Items 10-14 introduced: Economic Development performance reports and oversight report

02:55:53Councillors, we proceed with Item 10, that's your performance assessment report for the Economic Development Department for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, read together with Item 11, which is your performance assessment report for Johannesburg Tourism Company for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, also read with Item 12, and that's the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Property Company for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, also read with Item 13, and that's the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Market for 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, and lastly read with Item 14, which is the oversight report of the Economic Development Section 79 Committee on the 2024/25 second quarter performance report of the Department of Economic Development, Johannesburg Property Company, Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market and Johannesburg Tourism Company for the period October to December 2024.

02:57:01Thank you, Secretary to Council. We'll start with the member in charge, Councillor Mhlongo.

02:57:10Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

02:57:13isiZuluBathi sishaywa ngesilungu, Madam Speaker, ngiyakusabela.

02:57:17Good morning to you. Good morning to the Executive Mayor, Councillor Dada Morero. Good morning to Chief Whip of Council, uNyamakayishi Zungu, Chair of Chairs, uCouncillor Marema, all the members of the Mayoral Committee, my caucus leader, Councillor Arnolds, who is also an MMC for Finance, chairpersons of all Section 79 committees, all councillors that are represented in the house. Good afternoon to all of you. Madam Speaker, before I start my speech, let me congratulate Bafana Bafana for their back-to-back wins over Lesotho and Benin in their road to qualify for the World Cup.claim

02:58:09isiZuluSoka kabisi!claim

02:58:11Madam Speaker, we know that in their road to these wins, Lesotho has protested against the ineligible player that was not supposed to play. But nonetheless, we don't want our teams, or our team, to defocus, or our players to defocus from playing to their potential. Having said that, Madam Speaker, allow me to table Item 10, Item 11, Item 12, Item 13. Those are all performance assessment reports, read together with Item 14, oversight report by the committee, Madam Speaker, to be considered in this chamber. Thank you so much.

DA on Economic Development: SMME training, Alexandra Automotive Hub, spaza shops

02:58:55Thank you, member in charge. DA, Councillor Nkomo.

02:59:03Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, fellow councillors, good afternoon. In the brief time allocated, I would like to address the glaring discrepancies between the Quarter 2 performance assessment report of the Department of Economic Development and the stark realities faced by our residents. While the report boasts supporting close to 4,000 SMMEs through nine opportunity centres, a closer look reveals a troubling disconnect. Firstly, the opportunity centres' training programs are woefully misaligned with Joburg's dominant economic sectors. According to the DED report, finance, trade, and community services drive our GDP. Yet our skills development focuses on sectors relegated to the history books by the COVID pandemic. This strategic blunder aggravates our unemployment crisis, as evidenced by the city's rising unemployment rate, which now sits at 32.2%, a figure that doesn't even account for the expanded definition of unemployment. Secondly, Speaker, it's one thing to implement programs for the sake of satisfying a box-ticking exercise, but it's completely irresponsible to hang young people out to dry by sending them to learnerships that don't pay on time, sometimes don't pay at all, and when you're lucky, get paid on time, but less than what you have worked for. One such learnership is the one offered by the Gauteng Community Education and Training College in partnership with the National Skills Fund. This example highlights the fact that we have no mechanisms to fully understand if we are truly assisting anyone once they have walked out the door. Speaker, when looking at the stalled 34 million rand Alexandra Automotive Hub, which was touted as a flagship township revitalisation initiative, and when one also looks at the reasons associated with the delays, the current state of this project is an insult to entrepreneurs who sit idle with constructive business ideas and a vision for their communities. While the report leads us to believe that the DED are cooking, as young people would say, Speaker, the following reasons have been cited as some of the reasons were given for the delay by our world-class African city, our so-called world-class African city. The lack of anchor tenant to operate the facility is the first reason. The second reason is structural defects, such as staircases that do not meet the safety compliance standards. And then three, insufficient space to accommodate workshops. The Alexandra Automotive Hub is fast becoming a white elephant, launched with great fanfare, devoid of a plan or vision of what comes next once the ribbon has been cut. In truth, Speaker, with such a huge responsibility placed on their shoulders, which includes the hopes and dreams of our residents, the DED should be cooking. They should be cooking a hearty stew of opportunities, sustainable skills, and tangible jobs. Instead, we are served a pot of uninspiring plans and a blatant lack of execution. This is not the meal that Joburg deserves.claim

03:02:10terms. Finally, Speaker, as much as I would like to dive into the issue of spaza shops and the ongoing efforts to regularize this industry, the absence of any kind of reports or status update leads me to believe that the long-neglected spaza shop sector remains unregulated, unsupported, despite evidence highlighting the urgent need to do so. Madam Speaker, Johannesburg deserves better. We need transparency, efficiency, and real delivery. The Democratic Alliance stands ready to partner

03:02:40in solutions and will continue to hold the executive accountable in the spirit of serving the true needs of our residents. I thank you.

UDM and FF Plus on Economic Development and JPC

03:02:51Thank you, Councillor Nkomo. UDM Councillor Zigebe, you have 4 minutes.

03:02:59Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor, Chief Whip, Chair of Chairs, the Executive, the Executive, Chairpersons, fellow councillors, guests in the gallery, amongst them abantwana beKhalomoya, uBanoyolo and uSteve Biko SA. Speaker, I'll start by saying the revival and restoration of African indigenous spirituality demonstrates the resilience and enduring power of ancestral wisdom, crucial in today's rapidly changing world. Congratulations to the Revelation Spiritual Homeclaim

03:03:30on 16 impactful years. TRSH's dedication has profoundly restored spiritual identity, fostered healing, and deepened connections between the seen and unseen, affirming spirituality as a core way of life. Central to this achievement is iMboni Dr uZwi-Lezwe Radebe, whose visionary leadership has rejuvenated African indigenous spirituality. His commitment has transformed countless lives, restoring pride in our sacred traditionsclaim

03:03:59and guiding communities towards spiritual and cultural awakening. Beyond spiritual leadership, Dr Radebe's work in community upliftment, social justice, and economic empowerment through the Dr S.B. Radebe Foundation and Trillion Cart Initiative addresses the critical socio-economic issues, education, youth empowerment, job creation, and sustainable development, fostering both spiritual and material prosperity right in the heart of the City of Johannesburg, and now that has expandedclaim

03:04:28to the whole country, the African continent, and globally. The revival of African indigenous spirituality corrects historical injustices caused by colonialism, oppression, and forced religious conversions. It reconnects us with our identity, promotes harmony with nature, and restores balance in society. TRSH work ensures future generations inherit a legacy of empowerment and spiritual truth. Madam Speaker, reflecting on the Department of Economic

03:04:57Development second quarter performance, we acknowledge successes like Joburg Market's impressive 5.9 billion turnover and Johannesburg Tourism Company's 100% KPI achievement, while urgently addressing shortfalls such as Joburg Property Company's low performance and the Economic Development Department's inadequate informal trading permit distribution. To overcome these challenges and issues, we propose simplifying supply chain processes to accelerate project delivery

03:05:27and capital expenditure, we must lessen the bureaucracy. Swiftly implementing an improved informal trading permit system, enhance governance and oversight to address budget and underspending and internal inefficiencies. The GLU is united to transform these challenges into milestones of inclusive growth and prosperity for the residents of Johannesburg. I thank you. I did better this time, neh?

03:05:54Indeed, you left with a minute. Congratulations. Thank you, Councillor Zigebe. Freedom Front Plus, Councillor De Lange.

03:06:06Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good morning, colleagues. All protocol observed. Madam Speaker, I would like to focus on the Department of Economic Development first. Let's start with a positive note. At least in this department, the CAPEX and the OPEX spend is on target and we don't have to worry about that. But, Madam Speaker, what is concerning, we were at 1.6 billion Rand attracted for investments in the city with a target,claim

03:06:35that was year-to-date in the second quarter, of 19.6 billion. Remember, we had to adjust that target downwards in the previous financial year because we couldn't reach the target. It is concerning. That means the city is going backwards. Then, Madam Speaker, the informal trading policy within the city that falls under ED. We read in the report that the informal traders are refusing to register on the systemclaim

03:07:04to get those special cards. The question stands, Madam Speaker, and they couldn't answer me in the committee, how many of these traders are foreigners or illegal aliens in the City of Johannesburg? That's why they're having problems. Then, Madam Speaker, further to that, unfortunately, the resolution on internal audit tracking is at 10%, Madam Speaker, and that is very concerning. That means we're going to get problematic AG findingsclaim

03:07:33again for the department at the end of the year if we don't sort that out. Then everybody's favourite stepchild, JPC. Madam Speaker, JPC achieved 10 out of 20 KPIs, which is problematic. Then the target of 150 for new social and economic leases, only 47 of those were signed in the second quarter, so we're not making money because the leases are not getting renewed with their increases of 4 to 8%. Then, Madam Speaker,claim

03:08:04oh my God, all help us. The Metro Centre, there was a target in the second quarter of 25%. Guess what? Zero. Further to that, the CAPEX spent, zero. UIFWs, there was a target of 25% at looking at that, zero. Madam Speaker, then the internal audit findings on JPC, the target was 95%. It's at 43%.claim

03:08:33Then again, JPC still got an outstanding debtors' book of just over 1 billion Rand. Madam Speaker, through you to the MMC, we spoke to other departments. The departments are telling us over the years, they were not happy with the craftsmanship that JPC used when they do their refurbishing. That is a problem, Madam Speaker. The departments are saying that's why they're not paying. But then about 600 million of that is for cleaning services.claim

03:09:03The departments are not spending their budget, and that's why JPC has got this deficit on their account. Madam Speaker, further to that, JPC, 13 million CAPEX spent on a budget of 81.1, that is a problem. Negative cash flow of 119 million against the previous financial year of 54 million. And then, of course, I see there's a vacancy at JPC. They don't have a CEO because Mrs. Helen Botes was redeployed as the City Manager of the Cityclaim

03:09:32of Johannesburg. No paperwork, nothing to back it up. Through you, Madam Speaker, MMC Masuku promised us in February there will be a report on the acting appointment of Helen Botes. There is nothing. I don't see it on this report, so what is going on? Why aren't we following due process? It is a concern. You always know I don't play the man, I play the ball. But there's rules and regulations. Where is the report on the appointment of a personclaim

03:10:02that came out of JPC, Madam Speaker? Look at the second quarter, and you appoint this kind of quality individual to run the City of Johannesburg? It is shameful. Thank you, Madam Speaker.claim

UIM on Eldorado Park exclusion; dispute over recording in the gallery

03:10:18Thank you, Councillor De Lange. UIM, Councillor Abdool.

03:10:39Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon, Madam Speaker, all our guests. I would like to speak on item 12, which also flows into other departments, and I'm going to focus on one specific thing. In 1996, during the Group Areas Act, Black, Coloured, Indian, AKA Africans, experienced land expropriation without compensation. Since 1994, the community of Eldorado Park had been in needclaim

03:11:09of housing, but developments happened around them, including Devland and Freedom Park. Places like Lehae, Bram Fischer, Orange Farm, et cetera, were developed. We applaud it, but it was only for a certain portion. In 2018, under the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura, and the community, the community Southern Farms project was introduced. There was hope for the residents of Eldorado Park withoutclaim

03:11:39including the people of the Khoi and the San people. On the 11th of December 2023, the community of Eldorado Park witnessed the launch of Southern Farms on the grounds of a primary school in Freedom Park without the MMC of Human Settlement, who happens to be from Eldorado Park. On the 12th of November 2024, emotions ran high at the Don Mateman Hall because of the exclusion

03:12:08of economic development and the exclusion of the process at Southern Farms development. On the 30th of January 2025, the community of Eldorado Park protested for the inclusion economically, as well as the Southern Farms project, and the equality discriminatory allocations at the mega housing project in the City of Johannesburg. The handover of the memorandum to the MMC of Human Settlement and the Mayor up until

03:12:38now has brought no fruit. That community is not about land grabbing because it's not part of their makeup.

03:12:46Councillor Abdool, please hold on. Councillor Pitso.

03:12:54Madam Speaker, there's someone recording in the gallery there.

03:12:59Which side?

03:13:01On my right.

03:13:05Oh. Protocol team?

03:13:11isiZuluuNonhlanhla? Umbonile? Uphume naye ke.

03:13:18Thank you for that, Councillor Pitso. Councillor Abdool, you may continue.

03:13:25In ending, I would just like to say the following: The community of Eldorado Park has become an inclusive community. It is no longer just one race there. So when people stand up and speak for themselves, one should not look at this is Coloured people, this is Black people, because we are mos now all Black. We are mos now all South Africans.

03:13:44Councillor Abdool, please hold on. Councillor Echeozonjoku.

03:13:53Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just need a bit of clarity, Madam Speaker, because we are on a live feed and media is at the top. We're in an open sitting. I'm a bit concerned that we are talking about people recording when we're in an open sitting when it's already streamed live. I'm just asking.

03:14:10Remember, when people come to the gallery as guests, protocol informs them about the use of cell phones. So I think everyone here sitting as a councillor knows that, that protocol informs all our guests about the use of cell phones. Councillor Abdool, you can continue.

03:14:30JPC, please remember, the community of Eldorado Park does not want special treatment. However, they are entitled to the inclusion and not the blatant exclusion, which has become the order of the day. This needs to stop. Thank you.

GOOD, ACDP and PA on Economic Development

03:14:49Thank you, Councillor Abdool. We'll move over to GOOD, Councillor Cook.

03:14:57Thank you, Speaker. The reports presented to council from the Economic Development Department not only highlight its gross underperformance, but also reveal the deeper structural and leadership failures that should no longer be tolerated by this house. Speaker, the lack of a centralized database containing key economic indicators is an indictment of this administration's capacity to make evidence-based decisions. In a city of Johannesburg's size

03:15:27and complexity, operating without integrated, reliable data to guide economic policy is reckless. We are essentially trying to drive development blindfolded, and this incompetence undermines every initiative we claim to pursue. Speaker, the report highlights a lack of funding for primary data collection to fill key economic gaps. How can we build credible, actionable economic policies without

03:15:56localized, up-to-date data? Instead, we rely on outdated or borrowed reports, leaving our economic interventions detached from reality. This is a failure of strategic planning and resource prioritization, and it stalls both investor confidence and development progress. Speaker, the department's acknowledgment of an inadequate staff complement with vacancies in critical areas

03:16:26such as statisticians, econometricians, data analysts, and two vacant deputy director posts reflects a leadership crisis. For a directorate charged with driving Johannesburg's economic development, these vacancies are not minor oversights. They are fatal weaknesses. The prolonged failure to fill these key positions tells us that this administration is not serious about building the technical

03:16:56muscle needed to drive the city's economic recovery and growth. It is both alarming and unacceptable that this department still operates without an integrated, inclusive economic growth strategy. This lack of vision leaves each initiative isolated, fragmented, and ultimately ineffective. We cannot claim to be building a sustainable, inclusive economy when there is no comprehensive blueprint

03:17:26guiding our efforts, aligning departments, and ensuring measurable impact across all sectors. Speaker, these challenges are not just obstacles. They are symptoms of deeper neglect, poor leadership, and lack of urgency. Johannesburg's residents deserve better than patchwork solutions and reactive governance. Without decisive action to address these gaps, we are merely posturing with no real prospect of delivering growth

03:17:56or job creation.

03:18:03Thank you, Councillor Cook. ACDP Councillor Mkhonza, you have 4 minutes.

03:18:10Yes, thank you very much, Speaker. Shalom, shalom once again, and greetings in the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me start by quoting from my guiding manual, the Holy Bible: A prudent person with insight foresees danger coming and prepares himself for it, but the senseless rush blindly forward and suffer the consequences, according to Proverbs 22 verse 3. The ACDP Johannesburg Caucus has taken note of the Quarter 2 report of the Department of Economic

03:18:40Development, and we raise the following concerns and questions for urgent attention and response. Firstly, Honourable Speaker, we must address a growing concern regarding the practice of copy-and-paste reporting in the city. It is disappointing and disheartening to see critical reports presented without genuine analysis, adaptation, or relevance to Johannesburg's unique challenges and socio-economic realities. Secondly, while the report highlights the unemploymentclaim

03:19:10rate at 33.7%, and it goes further to state that Johannesburg has the lowest expanded unemployment rate in Gauteng at 37.1, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly comfortable boasting about these figures? How do we realistically motivate ourselves to achieve the 6% unemployment target by 2030 when we are celebrating mediocrity today? This is not acceptable.claim

03:19:40We should not take comfort in being the lowest in failure. Rather, we must push for excellence and bold action to bring real economic growth and job creation to the city. On literature and policy review on the economic growth strategy, the ACDP Caucus would like to thoroughly assess the literature and policy review that has informed the city's economic growth strategy. We trust that this document is not a mere cut-and-paste exercise from global or nationalclaim

03:20:10models that do not reflect our local realities. Imported solutions without local context will only hamper implementation. We therefore request that the department provides council with a summary of sources consulted, the methodology used, and how these findings have been tailored to Johannesburg's unique environment. On key interventions on infrastructure services, Honourable Speaker, we note with interest the key reform interventions planned for the completionclaim

03:20:40by 30 June 2025, and we are about 3 months away from that. We wish to place the department on notice that the ACDP Caucus will be monitoring these interventions closely. With Quarter 3 drawing closer and Quarter 4 fast approaching, we expect tangible, measurable progress. Therefore, there can be no more delays or excuses when it comes to the infrastructure that underpins economic growth.claim

03:21:10The percentage implementation on informal trading permit system. To the Honourable MMC, we pose this direct question: What is hindering the implementation of the informal trading permit system? The target for this period was 1,250 permits, yet the actual performance sits at a shocking 45 permits. This is not just missed target. It is a failure that directly impacts small business growth, livelihoods, and regulation in our informal economy. We demand

03:21:40a detailed explanation and corrective measures going into Quarter 4. On expenditure on repairs and maintenance, finally, we note with alarm that

03:21:4930 seconds remaining.

03:21:50We note with alarm that the department set a 4% target for repairs and maintenance expenditure, yet the actual spend is 0%. Our question is simple and urgent: Why are we not spending on repairs and maintenance? This lack of expenditure not only leads to deterioration of infrastructure, but also undermines the efforts to attract investment and create jobs. It reflects poorly on our planning and execution capacity. The longer we neglect maintenance, the higher future costs, both financially and economically. I thank you, Speaker.

03:22:23Thank you, Councillor Mkhonza. PA Councillor Wilskut.

03:22:33Greetings, Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor, Chief Whip of Council, PA Joburg 9 councillors, 10 is loading, under the capable leadership of MMC Kenny Kunene, all councillors, and everyone in the gallery. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on the performance assessment report for the Economic Development Department for the period 2024/2025 financial year, the period of October toclaim

03:23:02December 2024. Madam Speaker, Economic Development plays a major role in society. We are challenged and deeply saddened that buildings that is in a state. Madam Speaker, we are in trouble with undocumented foreign nationals. We are tenants in our own land, a land that belongs to South Africans. Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Alliance note this report,emotive

03:23:31but we need to ensure that as the Government of Local Unity, we put South Africans first and ensure that the safety of all our councillors in the representative wards and deployed regions when it comes to foreign nationals, more so undocumented foreign nationals. We are in danger. We remain a disciplined coalition partner. Ons baiza nie. Salute.emotive

DA and ActionSA on JPC and Metro Centre; point about animal references

03:24:01Thank you, Councillor. DA Councillor Reddy.

03:24:18Councillor Wilskut, is your mic off?

03:24:24I rise to speak on the second quarter performance assessment report for JPC for the 24/25 financial year. As was the case in the previous quarter, JPC has underperformed again, showing a massive deterioration in performance. We have over 50% of KPIs not met, a 3% decrease from the first quarter, a reduction in SMMEs supported to only 44, no repairs and maintenance conducted for the period, no income generated,claim

03:24:54nor any CAPEX spent. This is because JPC relies on the windfall at the end of the financial year to make up for all these KPIs not met. Metro Centre is listed as a KPI, but this target is yet again not achieved. But in reference to this, we know this isn't really true, as item 78 proves so. There's also lots happening behind the scenes that we are not being told about at Metro Centre.claim

03:25:24Metro Centre in the interim has been left to deteriorate, allowed to be vandalized and stripped bare. Why, one may ask? Is it because the administration wishes to pursue an agenda, one of redevelopment? The only performing department within JPC is outdoor advertising, which we are given a percentage of targets of 25%, not a hell of a lot. But this should be revised upwards and value targets set.claim

03:25:53Outdoor advertising is a cash cow that should be tapped into aggressively, given the proliferation of illegal advertising that we currently see in this city of ours. The one question that I've got is: What type of computer training did JPC offer its staff that cost 50 million Rand, at a cost of about 1.6 million Rand a person? I mean, it has to be phenomenal. JPC is still leasing office space,claim

03:26:23despite decanting Metro House, and is also missing revenue targets by 50%. It had a target of 30 million, but only earned 15. Again, spend has increased and UIF targets have failed to be achieved. Whilst there is no new UIF charges, there's a massive increase in irregular expenses by 70 million Rand. This is ascribed to fleet contracts,claim

03:26:53Regulation 36, expired contracts, and we are told that these costs are unavoidable. But are they really unavoidable, or are they just convenient cost centres? JPC should be focusing on consistent performance, working to meet targets, and staying ahead of the curve. Their constant underperformance leads to KPIs not being adjusted upwards year on year, and this results in mediocre performance.claim

03:27:23The question is: Can the city afford to have its property company underperforming? I yet again need to reiterate my call to JPC for a business restructuring plan and a turnaround strategy. I thank you.

03:27:44Thank you, Councillor Reddy. ActionSA Councillor Mohlala.

03:27:56Thank you so much, Speaker. Greetings to you, greetings to the fabulous 44, greetings to the guests in the gallery, most importantly, greetings to the residents of the City of Johannesburg. Speaker, I rise to speak on item 10 to item 14, which are performance assessment reports for Economic Development and its entities. Speaker, we are well pleased with the overall performanceclaim

03:28:25of the department and Joburg Market for meeting its KPIs by more than 80% to 96%. Speaker, Joburg Market is the epitome of the department. We applaud the entity with its clean audit outcome from the Auditor-General and a 1 billion turnaround. Speaker, as I continue,claim

03:28:55we cannot sit, Speaker, without addressing the elephant in the room, which is JPC. JPC needs a serious intervention, Speaker. They always lag on their KPI metrics, with over 50% not met for the second quarter. Speaker, since the closure of the Metro Centre on September 2023, till to this day, there's no implementation to refurbishingclaim

03:29:25of the Metro Centre. 0%, but however, there was a planclaim

03:29:29Councillor Mohlala, please hold on. Councillor Rahn.claim

03:29:34Madam Speaker, your ruling earlier was that we do not make any references of people to animals. Could we please keep to the sticking of consistency?

03:29:43What did he say, Councillor Rahn?claim

03:29:46He referred to the elephant in the room.claim

03:29:50JPC. Councillor Rahn, I can see you want us to stay here the whole day. You want us to stay here the whole day. JPC is not a human being, it's not in council. Councillor Mohlala, you can continue.claim

03:30:04No, thank you so much, Speaker. Speaker, since the closure of the Metro Centre on September 2023, till to this day, there's no implementation to refurbish of the Metro Centre. Can we kindly have a way forward on the issue of Metro Centre? However, we had a target of 25%, but we are now still sitting on zero. Speaker, as I close, I would like

03:30:34to encourage JPC and JTC to benchmark on the Joburg Market and pull up your socks. I thank you, Speaker.

03:30:45Thank you, Councillor Mohlala. DA Councillor Louw.

DA Cllr Louw on the Metro Centre and fragmentation of the administration

03:30:55Thank you, Madam Speaker, and good afternoon to everybody. Madam Speaker, I don't think my time is correct. It's 9 minutes, but we'll argue about that after I've spoken.

03:31:06Yes, it's not 9 minutes. I spoke to Councillor Avant-Smith. You had four speakers, it dropped down to three. It's no longer 9 minutes, it's going to be 6. It was shared with the other two speakers.claim

03:31:17That's fine. I won't even take the 6, so thank you very much. I'm going to be speaking specifically on JPC, and in particular on what is happening behind us with the Metro Centre. And I want to start off by saying that what is happening with the Metro Centre is a manifestation of what is happening in the City of Johannesburg at the moment, and vice versa. Mismanagement,

03:31:47poor administration, ineffective leadership, inadequate management, maladministration, inter alia, are all adjectives which are applicable to what we are having to go through in the City of Johannesburg, both as residents and as councillors, because we're residents before we're councillors.

03:32:11The decanting of employees of the building and in an instance where the departments and entities were already fragmented and divided and we're already working in silos has exacerbated this in the instance that we've now had people who've been moved out of a centralized unit across the city in various buildings and in some instance are working from home. That is not good management.

03:32:44Amongst other things, we need to recognize what a negative impact this has had on the employees of the city, and if that is the case, equally as applicable perhaps even more so, is how it has negatively affected the residents of Johannesburg who no longer know where to go in the city to sort out an account, to pass a building plan, to query a building plan not having been passed,

03:33:11to get a history of a particular instance be it in whatever ways. They don't know where to go. We don't know where to go. We prevented, Madam Speaker, our employees from easily accessing each other by getting together, by going up or down the floor to various department or entity to query something, to get proof, to get documentation, to even meet over lunch or coffee in a centralized unit. We've taken that ability away from them.

03:33:43We've fragmented our employees. The city is fragmented. The administration is not working. The city, dare I say it, is not being run optimally or efficiently and neither is the operation of the Metro Centre behind us. It's an abomination is what it is. Terrible word to use, but that's the truth.emotive

03:34:14And I wish we could do something about it. Let me end by saying that I think we can do something about it, and I would suggest that those have been involved in the lack of progress in the building behind it, and my colleague, Councillor Reddy, will be speaking more on this when it comes to item 78. But those responsible for what has happened behind us or what is not happening behind us in terms of what should have happened should be held liable. They should be indictedemotive

03:34:44and held accountable and charged accordingly. I thank you.emotive

EFF and ANC on Economic Development entities

03:34:55Thank you, Councillor. EFF, Councillor Telekoa.

03:35:04Yeah. Thank you, Speaker. Greeting all. I rise. March is not a massacre month. It's not a human rights month. It's a massacre month. Let's not water down the blood of black people that was spilled by white people. We are still traumatized even today. Even black every black person need to see a psychologist.emotive

03:35:37Anyway, let me move. I will start with Economic Development Department. DED is supposed to be leading drastic economic changes in the city. It should be funding small businesses. It must change the strategy. Our business as black majorities are struggling in the current system. The system has not changed. It's still the apartheid system which intentionally exclude blacks in the supply chain.

03:36:07So as the city, we must find a way of localizing funding and uplifting our people that we claim to represent. Why we say localize? National does nothing in terms of funding to our people. Tell me one business person in your street or section who was funded by NEF, SEFA, IDC, etc. None. Can we engage National Treasury to find a way forward to localize funding?

03:36:39On Joburg Market, Joburg Market I want to agree with fellow councillors an epitome of excellence when it comes to diligent work. They have really done their best under the circumstances. They work as a team. Many are supposed to learn from them. Joburg Market must support disadvantaged farmers. As we all know, there's those who are advantaged and are busy flirting with Elon Musk.

03:37:10They should go and our people be ready. Food security should be in the hands of the indigenous because they are not settlers. Therefore, they got nowhere to go. Expropriation of land is imminent. On Joburg Tourism, current strategy of JTC needs to be reviewed. Currently, we are unable to measure the impact of JTC in our day-to-day running of the city.

03:37:41To have a way forward, we must come with a tourism offering that tap into the niche market. We should have something like Joburg Tourism Forum where members that have tourism related businesses subscribe to our forum. They can pay membership or when they get business from us, they pay a certain percentage. This is superior logic from the EFF. We provide upper echelon advice.

03:38:10We need to grow interest in cultural tourism. Most travellers seek authentic cultural experience. We should identify also a municipal land that can be used for hiking, develop hiking trails. It will bring city money and bring more local tourists. We should open Joburg Athletic Club that run almost every week and athlete pay for partaking in the marathon. We have resources, e.g., Metro Police, nurses, roads.

03:38:43SesothoMara le a e bona superior logic, akere?

03:38:45Yeah. Maybe we have council. Maybe when we have council we should have a senior officials so that they take leaf out of EFF councillors because this is more like a strategic session. Just imagine sitting there listening to me or to the EFF giving them advices like this. We'll be moving, you see. So, Speaker, we should note my request for officials to come to the gallery, or maybe should I put down a motion, Speaker?

03:39:18Let's promote township tourism by identifying music icons, political icons who used to live in the City of Joburg. In the instance, we should work closely with the Department of Community Development. There's international artists who book stadium, but after performing you find them at Tempo club there. City should take them to bo Trompies' house, Alaska's house and studios so they can learn about our music heritage music heritage and foster collaboration and grow our status

03:39:4130 seconds remaining.

03:39:50of our music icons to international standards. MMC of ComDev, please go find bo Bra Picket kwa bo Alaska. Work with them to teach our people about our music, preserving it and attracting viewers. Now I'm talking about Joburg Properties. I'm glad Joburg Property Company is taking shape, but much still need to be done. JPC is not doing enough to maintain our buildings. Maybe we should have a different department so to focus only on maintenance. This is not This is superior logic where we are where a senior official to use as a strategic session.

03:40:28Councillor Telekoa, your time is up. Ngiyabonga.

03:40:29All right. Speaker, we note the report. Thank you very much.

03:40:37Thank you, Councillor Telekoa. ANC, Councillor Bolani.

03:40:51Greetings, Madam Speaker. Greetings to the Executive Mayor, Comrade Dada Morero. Greetings to Chief Whip, Somahashe. Greetings to the MMCs and greetings to progressive councillors. And greetings to the residents of Johannesburg. We commend and celebrate the people of Western Cape for their loving welcoming ceremony that they dish out to their last people's oriented Premier, Comrade Ebrahim Rasool.claim

03:41:22Madam Speaker, I rise on performance assessment report for the Economic Development Department for the 2024/2025 financial year for the period October to December 2024, including the performance assessment reports of Johannesburg Property Company, Johannesburg Tourism Company and Joburg Market. As it is procedural to outline high-level progress on the Department of Economic Development performance for the financial year in compliance with the Section 41 of the Municipal Systems Act number 32 of 2000.claim

03:41:54Allow me, Madam Speaker, to borrow a quote from a revolutionary economist, Peter Drucker, open quote, "The ultimate resource in the development is people. It is people, not capital or raw materials that develop an economy," close quote. The Department of Economic Development should prioritize and invest its energy in promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, enterprise growth and competitiveness to growth and job creation.

03:42:26Our fight and focus should be on the high level of poverty and inequality that is at 51.1% of population living below the upper poverty income. Any applied modality or strategy should be around township enterprise revitalization, inner city revitalization and the resuscitation of the industrial parks. We can't leave out the resourcing and supporting of all our opportunity centres as they play an important role in improvement and empowermentclaim

03:43:01and economic and social transformation of our communities. On JTC, this entity is the face and lifeblood of marketing the City of Johannesburg. They should correct their recorded financial expenditure with a surplus of 10.4 million. They should fill the occupation vacancies as they promised because it hampers and affects the performance of this entity. The entity should speedily resolve its issues with Google Analyticsclaim

03:43:30and the entity must fast-track its collaboration with GICT, Microsoft and National Tourism to provide reliable website analytics for future capturing and reporting. Social media plays an important role and give insight into followers and engagement dynamics, especially the troika of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. On JPC, Madam Speaker, outdoor advertisement plays a very critical role in the revenue generation.claim

03:44:01The management of JPC should fast-track the approval process management fees. JPC should make available a list of service providers from the previously disadvantaged communities and give us a transformation strategy on how they are going to fast-track the empowerment of the disadvantaged communities on outdoor advertisement. There should be a concerted effort from the DED, JPC concerning handling of traders occupying stalls not registered in their names,

03:44:36particularly where the original owner leaves an outstanding debt, and should be a comprehensive verification process of informal traders. Southern Farms, Soweto Gateway, inner city revitalization in conjunction with the Metro Centre as its catalyst because these projects are integral in growing the economy of the City of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, allow me to say all these entities, Joburg Market, Joburg Tourism Company, Joburg Property Company

03:45:09and the Department of Economic Development have showed a drastic improvements after the taking over of GNU. I think even councillors from ActionSA and DA could attest to that after the destructions of these entities and the department by a former MMC known as Nkululeko, a.k.a Whisky Mbundu, who make it sure that he destroys anything. And it was for the first time after the inclusion of MMC Mnisi in theemotive

03:45:43Economic Development that the department started to shaking up and moving forward.

03:45:50isiXhosaAsinamona, asinanzondo, siyadumisa i-ANC.emotive

03:46:21isiZuluNgiyabonga, Councillor Bolani.

MMC Masuku responds on behalf of Economic Development

03:46:24MMC Mnisi is not here. Which MMC will be the one that will be representing her today? MMC Masuku, okay.

03:46:39Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon once again. Madam Speaker, we have noted all the comments from the respective councillors. As you would know, the Executive Mayor and the MMC did deliberate publicly and deal with the issue of the Metro Centre, and there is also a report relating to that later in the agenda. And then on Councillor Cook's point, I think you make valid points, Councillor Cook,

03:47:10in your input, particularly as it relates to the need in driving economic development and also bringing the specialists. Filling the vacancies that you mentioned is of great concern, particularly that deal with the drive of actually economic development. So I think that's a point I've noted to make sure that the MMC has got that because it's actually saying let's expedite the filling of vacancies.

03:47:45Councillor Mkhonza, your point on the sources that were consulted in terms of the report that was attached, I think that's a fair request and I'm sure it's something that can be taken to the Section 79 committee. So I've also made a note of that to pass through to the MMC.

03:48:10The proposal, you're right, Councillor Thabiso Telekoa, there are numerous points you made and how we should look at the proposal and push for localizing proposals for funding to make sure that the issue of economic development is not only left for the city to fund for itself. And I think we will also look into the tourism

03:48:41proposals that you made, and I think Councillor De Lange also touched a bit on that. And I think probably because all of you are committee members, these are also inputs that you would make in the Section 79 because the intention here is to improve the performance. And where indeed the report on its own acknowledges that there are challenges, it didn't shy away from those particular challenges. And I think the executive takes note

03:49:12and our commitment is reiterated in this meeting to ensure that we drive economic growth in the City of Johannesburg. And you have seen with the draft you will see that in the draft IDP and business plans, we've also actually taken a bold step in even amending some of our KPIs as it relates to the Department of Economic Development, particularly because of some of the inputs that have come up from the different caucuses that have been making suggestions on how we need to reposition and reimagine the Department of Economic Development.

03:49:53I take the point when you say there are challenges and JPC, the major concern, and I think what I've done is I've indicated that these matters will be dealt with. There is a political head responsible for JPC. There's also a board that is responsible. The shareholder on its own doesn't actually have that much power. There's a board at JPC,

03:50:25and we must respect the fact that the board has got their mandate and they've got a fiduciary duty to do their work. And for us, it is to make sure that we also have that oversight role that we play, and I would encourage the Section 79 committee through the chairperson to continuously engage and ensure that you bring officials to the committee to account because that's why we are there as a Section 79.

03:50:56And if officials are refusing to account, you know there are methods we can follow in the city through writing to the relevant officials so that you at least have that as your backup because our role of oversight remains critical. We do ask council to note, and Councillor Bolani, thank you for your comments and your recommendations as well. We ask council to note the quarterly performance report of Economic Development and its entities, and thank you for the acknowledgement on the good work that the Market is doing. Thank you.

Member in charge wrap-up, point of order, adjournment for lunch

03:51:34Thank you, MMC Masuku. Member in charge, Councillor Mhlongo.

03:51:40Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I think the MMC has just made my job very, very easy because she has already asked the council to note and recommend. But for me, before I land, I would like to thank all the members of the committee for their splendid work that they are doing in the committee, and they play their role as the oversight committee to the executive. And also, I will make sure that the executive notes the concerns about JPC because that is a problematic child.

03:52:10I don't want to use the word that says JPC is an elephant in the room because, I mean, a certain councillor there just said you must rule over that. But JPC, we all know that as JPC cuts across all these committees, it is one that is a problematic child. I think the executive must look at JPC, how should we turn around JPC so that JPC could do what actually is supposed to do. And before I land, Madam Speaker, let me just take you back a little bit and through you and address Councillor Schay and say he must thank his ancestors to be in the country that is...

03:52:49isiZuluNgivumeleni.

03:52:51He must thank his lucky Yes. That he must just thank his lucky stars that he is in the country that knows what is ubuntu. I don't know that what he is saying here in this council he could say in Israel.

03:53:02Member in charge, please hold on. Councillor Christians.

03:53:07Oh, he's rising on a point of order.

03:53:13Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, two rules have been broken as I rise on a point of order here. Firstly, the member in charge is not addressing a councillor through you. That's the first one. The second thing is he is now doing exactly what you said Councillor Schay was doing, yet he has not been reprimanded. Councillor Schay was not even speaking, yet he's been spoken about by a member in charge, which is unethical and undue in this process. Thank you.

03:54:01Okay. Thank you, Legal. Councillor Christians, you didn't even give the member in charge an opportunity to finish because we wanted him to finish the statement. We heard him speaking about ancestors, but we don't know what about the ancestors.emotive

03:54:22Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Maybe he was not listening when I started to say through you, Madam Speaker, I wanted to raise. Yeah, he was not listening. I know him. He always rise up on Rule number 72. I don't know what is that. I said when I said let me address Councillor Schay through Madam Speaker. That is why I said he must thank his ancestors. I know that there's a certain race that has been offered a refugee status somewhere in the world. They must leave. They must leave and go there.

03:54:32Member in charge, I think just... Member in charge, no.

03:54:49Hhayi, Councillor. Member in charge, no. Uh-uh. Member in charge, no. Councillors, the direction we are taking now, it's out of order. We are going I think we do need to go and eat because the direction we are taking now, it's not the right one. Councillors, the recommendations are on pages 10.4, 11.14, 12.21, 13.5 and 14.10 to 14.11. Are the items agreed to?

03:55:29Thank you, councillors. It's 13:55. Can we all come back at 3:00? Let's just go for our lunch break and come back with better attitude, please.

State of the City-style address (speaker not identified in transcript)

04:02:10that to improve the lives of residents through a strategic service deployment program. And we said this can be implemented throughout the region starting here at home where we will lead the city from.

04:02:23A visible service delivery program seeks to accelerate the repair, replacement and improvement of strategic infrastructure at regional level, ensuring that streetlights work, traffic signals work, roads are fixed and grass is cut.

04:02:41A safe and secure city seeks to capacitate law enforcement to do more to protect infrastructure, enforce by-laws and reduce crime by working with provincial, national and private security role players.

04:02:56Active and engaged citizenry is about bringing communities together to co-produce solution for the city, protect the infrastructure and build a city in which we can all be proud of and live in.

04:03:12Today, I stand before you to present an assessment of the progress made over the last financial year, a reflection on the journey we have embarked upon, the milestones we have achieved, the challenges we have encountered and the lessons we have learned.

04:03:31Fellow councillors, this address is not merely a ceremonial obligation, it is a vital opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to the values and goals that binds us as a city.

04:03:46This is a moment to celebrate our successes, to acknowledge the areas where we must strive harder, and to set the stage for future endeavours that will continue to propel Johannesburg forward.

04:04:01As we reflect on the past year, we are reminded of the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of our city. Johannesburg is a beacon of diversity, innovation and resilience.

04:04:15It is a city that thrives on the energy and aspirations of its people, a city that constantly reinvents itself to meet the demands of a changing world.

04:04:28In the face of economic uncertainties, social complexities and environmental pressures, our administration has remained steadfast in its mission to create a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous Johannesburg for all its residents.

04:04:49The priorities we outlined a year ago were not chosen lightly. They were born out of extensive consultations with communities, businesses, civil society and other stakeholders.

04:05:03They reflect the urgent needs and aspirations of our citizens and are aligned with our long-term vision of the city.

04:05:13Over the past year, these priorities have guided our policies, our investments and our daily operations. They have been the cornerstone of our efforts to build a city that works for everyone, a city where no one is left behind.

04:05:30In the course of this address, I will provide a detailed account of our achievements in each of the priority areas. I will highlight the key initiatives we have undertaken, the tangible outcomes we have delivered and the positive impact we have made on the lives of our residents.

04:05:52At the same time, I will not shy away from discussing the challenges we have faced and the areas where our performance has fallen short of expectations. Transparency and accountability are the hallmarks of good governance, and it is in this spirit that I present this State of the City Address.

04:06:17Madam Speaker, the challenges we face are not unique to Johannesburg. We are part of a global community grappling with the effects of climate change, rapid urbanisation and economic volatility.

04:06:32Locally, we contend with the legacy of spatial inequality, unemployment and the strain on our infrastructure and services. However, it is our response to these challenges that defines us.

04:06:49It is our ability to innovate, to collaborate and to persevere that sets us apart. Throughout the past year, I have been inspired by the dedication and hard work of our city officials, the creativity and entrepreneurship of our business community, and the resilience and solidarity of our residents.

04:07:16Together, we have demonstrated that when we unite around a common purpose, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome, no goal we cannot achieve.

04:07:28As we look to the future, let us draw strength from our achievements and learn from our experiences. Let us renew our commitment to the priorities that will shape the next chapter of Johannesburg's story.

04:07:45Let us continue to work hand in hand, with courage and determination, to build a city that is not only a powerhouse of economic activity, but also a home of opportunity, dignity and hope for all who live in it.

04:08:04Allow me to take you through the journey of the past year, to share with you the state of our city, and to chart the course for the road ahead.

04:08:16As the Government of Local Unity, our commitment to the residents of Johannesburg is unwavering. We have embarked on a transformative journey guided by the Growth and Development Strategy 2040, which envisions a city that is inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

04:08:40Our strategic priorities are designed to address the pressing challenges faced by our communities, while laying a solid foundation for future growth and prosperity.

04:08:53One of our foremost priorities is to ensure financial sustainability. We recognise that a financially stable city is essential for delivering quality services and infrastructure.

04:09:08Through prudent financial management, enhanced revenue collection and strategic investments, we aim to strengthen our financial position and build a resilient economy that can withstand external shocks.

04:09:26Service delivery remains at the heart of our mandate. We are committed to providing reliable and efficient services to all residents, regardless of their socio-economic status.

04:09:40Our focus is on improving basic services such as water, electricity, waste management and road infrastructure. By leveraging technology and innovation, we aim to enhance service delivery and create a smart city that meets the needs of the 21st century.

04:10:03Safety and security are paramount to the well-being of our residents. We are intensifying our efforts to combat crime and lawlessness through increased visible policing, community partnerships and the deployment of advanced security technologies.

04:10:23Our goal is to create a safe and secure environment where residents can live, work and play without fear. Economic development and job creation are critical for addressing the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.

04:10:43We are implementing targeted interventions to support small, medium and micro enterprises, attract investment and promote inclusive economic growth. By fostering a conducive business environment and investing in skills development, we aim to unlock the economic potential of our city and create sustainable job opportunities, especially for our youth.

04:11:14Good governance and accountability are the cornerstones of our administration. We are committed to promoting transparency, ethical leadership and citizen participation in decision-making processes.

04:11:32By strengthening our institutional capacity and combating corruption, we aim to build a responsive and accountable government that earns the trust and confidence of its citizens.

04:11:48Social cohesion and human development are essential for building a caring and inclusive society. We are investing in social programmes that support vulnerable groups, promote health and well-being, and enhance access to quality education and recreational facilities.

04:12:10Our goal is to create a city where every resident has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. Finally, environmental sustainability and climate resilience are integral to our long-term vision.

04:12:29We are implementing measures to reduce our carbon footprint, promote renewable energy and protect our natural resources. By building a green and resilient city, we aim to mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

04:12:52Fellow councillors, the journey ahead is challenging, but our resolve is strong. Together, as the Government of Local Unity and in partnership with our residents, businesses and civil society, we will continue to work tirelessly to realise the vision of a better Johannesburg for all.

04:13:18Madam Speaker, the city of Johannesburg is a vibrant economic hub, contributing significantly to the national GDP and serving as a magnet for investment and talent.

04:13:32However, like many global cities, we are navigating a complex economic landscape characterised by slow growth, high unemployment and fiscal constraints.

04:13:47In this context, our administration has prioritised financial sustainability and economic revitalisation as key pillars of our governance agenda.

04:14:01Over the past year, we have implemented a comprehensive Financial Sustainability Plan aimed atstabilising the city's finances, enhancing revenue collection and optimising expenditure.

04:14:18This plan is not just about balancing the books; it is about ensuring that we have the necessary resources to fund critical infrastructure projects and deliver quality services to our residents.

04:14:34A key achievement in this regard has been the successful tabling and approval of a funded budget for the 2023/2024 financial year, and similarly for the upcoming 2024/2025 financial year.

04:14:54We have instituted strict cost-containment measures across all departments and entities, eliminating non-essential spending and redirecting funds towards core service delivery priorities.

04:15:11Our revenue enhancement strategies have begun to yield positive results. We have intensified our credit control measures, resulting in improved collection rates from both residential and commercial customers.

04:15:29At the same time, we remain sensitive to the plight of our indigent residents, ensuring that our social package provides a safety net for those who cannot afford to pay for basic services.

04:15:44We have also made significant strides in addressing billing inaccuracies and resolving customer queries, which has helped to restore confidence in our revenue management systems.

04:15:59Furthermore, we have engaged proactively with our lenders and credit rating agencies to maintain investor confidence and secure favourable terms for our capital financing needs.

04:16:14Despite the challenging economic environment, we have managed to honour our debt obligations and maintain a stable liquidity position. On the economic development front, we have focused on creating an enabling environment for business growth and job creation.

04:16:35We have streamlined regulatory processes, reduced red tape and enhanced our investment facilitation services through the Trade and Investment Directorate.

04:16:48These efforts have contributed to attracting new investments in key sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, green economy and the digital economy.

04:17:02Recognising the vital role of the informal sector and SMMEs in our economy, we have expanded our support programmes through our opportunity centres across the city.

04:17:15These centres provide entrepreneurs with access to business development services, training, mentorship and market opportunities. Over the past year, thousands of SMMEs have benefited from these initiatives, enabling them to grow their businesses and create jobs in their communities.

04:17:40We have also leveraged the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and other public employment initiatives to provide short-term work opportunities and skills training to unemployed residents, particularly youth and women.

04:17:58While we acknowledge that these are temporary interventions, they play a crucial role in alleviating poverty and equipping participants with valuable work experience.

04:18:13Looking ahead, we will continue to implement our financial turnaround strategy with vigour and discipline. We will explore innovative financing mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships and green bonds, to fund our infrastructure backlog without overburdening our balance sheet.

04:18:38We will also deepen our collaboration with the private sector, academia and other spheres of government to drive inclusive economic growth and position Johannesburg as a premier destination for investment and innovation.

04:18:56Madam Speaker, the provision of reliable and sustainable basic services is the cornerstone of a functional and dignified city. Our residents rightly expect that when they turn on the tap, there will be clean water; when they flick the switch, there will be electricity; that their refuse will be collected regularly; and that the roads they travel on will be safe and well-maintained.

04:19:29Over the past year, our utilities and agencies—City Power, Joburg Water, Pikitup and the Johannesburg Roads Agency—have worked under immense pressure to meet these expectations amidst aging infrastructure, vandalism and the impacts of load shedding and water supply constraints.

04:19:54In the energy sector, City Power has been at the forefront of our efforts to mitigate the impact of national load shedding and transition towards a more sustainable energy mix.

04:20:08We have rolled out aggressive programmes to install solar high-mast lights in informal settlements and crime hotspots, enhancing safety and visibility even during power outages.

04:20:23We have also made significant progress in our rooftop solar installations on municipal buildings and are finalising power purchase agreements with independent power producers to add megawatts to our local grid.

04:20:40Furthermore, City Power has intensified its maintenance and refurbishment of substations and networks to reduce unplanned outages, while deploying advanced technologies to combat cable theft and illegal connections.

04:20:58Water security has been one of our most pressing challenges this past year. The city experienced several severe water supply disruptions due to a combination of high demand, infrastructure failures and bulk supply challenges from Rand Water.

04:21:18In response, Joburg Water has accelerated its infrastructure renewal programme, replacing kilometres of old and leaking pipes and upgrading critical reservoirs and pump stations, such as those in Brixton, Crosby and Commando system.

04:21:39We have also improved our emergency response capabilities, deploying water tankers and stationary tanks to affected communities, while working closely with Rand Water and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation to find long-term solutions to our water supply challenges.

04:22:00Our roads and transport infrastructure are the arteries of our city's economy. The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has ramped up its road maintenance and rehabilitation programmes across all seven regions.

04:22:16Through our accelerated pothole repair campaigns and resurfacing projects, we have improved the condition of thousands of kilometres of roads.

04:22:28A major milestone has been the resuscitation of the Asphalt Plant, which has significantly boosted JRA's capacity to produce hot mix asphalt internally, reducing reliance on external suppliers and speeding up road repairs.

04:22:46Additionally, JRA has been working tirelessly to repair bridges and stormwater infrastructure damaged by heavy rains, and to secure and modernise our traffic signals through partnerships with the private sector and the installation of backup power systems.

04:23:08Waste management and urban cleanliness are critical for public health and the aesthetic appeal of our city. Pikitup has intensified its operations to ensure regular refuse collection, clear illegal dumping sites and promote recycling and waste separation at source.

04:23:30Through the Kleena Joburg campaign, we have mobilised communities, businesses and city departments in regular clean-up operations, particularly in the inner city and other high-density areas.

04:23:45We are also investing in the upgrading of our landfill sites and garden sites, and exploring waste-to-energy initiatives to reduce the volume of waste going to landfills and promote a circular economy.

04:24:01While we have made notable progress in these areas, we are acutely aware that much more needs to be done. The backlog in infrastructure maintenance and renewal is substantial, and service delivery protests are a stark reminder of the frustration felt by many communities.

04:24:23We are committed to improving our responsiveness, enhancing communication with residents during service disruptions, and ensuring that every rand spent on infrastructure delivers maximum value and impact.

04:24:41Madam Speaker, a city cannot prosper if its residents live in fear. Crime, grime and lawlessness undermine our social fabric, deter investment and erode the quality of life in our neighbourhoods.

04:25:00That is why safety and security, alongside by-law enforcement, have been elevated as top priorities of the Government of Local Unity.

04:25:12Over the past year, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the Public Safety Department have adopted a more proactive, intelligence-driven and collaborative approach to crime prevention and law enforcement.

04:25:30We have strengthened our partnerships with the South African Police Service (SAPS), provincial traffic authorities, Community Policing Forums (CPFs) and private security companies through the Eyes and Ears initiative.

04:25:47We have intensified high-visibility policing operations, such as Operation Shanela and Operation Buya Mthetho, targeting crime hotspots, illegal firearms, drug trafficking, hijacked buildings and by-law infringements across the city.

04:26:07These operations have resulted in thousands of arrests, the recovery of stolen vehicles and firearms, and the confiscation of counterfeit and illicit goods.

04:26:20A critical focus area has been the protection of our municipal infrastructure. Vandalism and theft of cables, streetlights, traffic signals and water meters cost the city millions of rands and cause untold inconvenience to residents.

04:26:41We have established specialised infrastructure protection units within JMPD and our utilities, supported by surveillance technology, drones and community patrollers, which has led to a significant increase in arrests and successful prosecutions of infrastructure syndicates.

04:27:03We are also leveraging technology to build a smart and safe city. The expansion and modernisation of our Integrated Intelligence Operations Centre (IIOC) has enhanced our ability to monitor the city in real time using CCTV cameras, automatic number plate recognition and predictive analytics.

04:27:27This technological capability is a force multiplier for our law enforcement officers on the ground, enabling faster response times to incidents and emergencies.

04:27:40In the inner city and other commercial nodes, we have stepped up by-law enforcement to address issues of illegal trading, littering, noise pollution and traffic congestion.

04:27:54While we support the right of informal traders to earn a living, this must be done in an orderly manner within designated areas and in compliance with city by-laws.

04:28:08Emergency Management Services (EMS) has also played a vital role in safeguarding our communities, responding to fires, floods and medical emergencies, while conducting extensive public education and awareness campaigns on disaster risk reduction, especially in vulnerable informal settlements.

04:28:31We have invested in procuring new fire engines and ambulances to bolster our fleet and improve response times. Fellow councillors, the fight against crime and lawlessness requires a whole-of-society approach.

04:28:48We call upon all residents to work with law enforcement, report criminal activities, reject the purchase of stolen goods and respect the rule of law. Together, we can reclaim our streets and public spaces and make Johannesburg a safe haven for all.

04:29:10Madam Speaker, the true measure of a city's greatness lies in how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. Johannesburg is a city of stark contrasts, where extreme wealth coexists with deep poverty.

04:29:27As a caring and progressive government, our human and social development agenda is focused on bridging this divide, restoring dignity and creating pathways out of poverty.

04:29:43Housing and human settlements remain one of the most critical needs in our city. Over the past year, the Housing Department and the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO) have worked to accelerate the delivery of housing opportunities, upgrade informal settlements and provide affordable rental accommodation.

04:30:07We have handed over hundreds of title deeds to rightful beneficiaries, giving families security of tenure and a valuable asset that can be passed down through generations.

04:30:21We have also made progress in the formalisation and upgrading of informal settlements, providing basic services such as water, sanitation, rudimentary roads and electricity to improve living conditions while long-term housing solutions are being developed.

04:30:41Through JOSHCO, we have continued to develop and manage social housing projects in well-located areas, particularly in the inner city and along transport corridors, promoting spatial integration and bringing people closer to economic opportunities.

04:31:00The tragic fire at the Usindiso building in Marshalltown last year was a painful wake-up call that highlighted the dire living conditions in hijacked and dilapidated buildings in our inner city.

04:31:16Following this tragedy, we have worked closely with the Commission of Inquiry, provincial and national government, and civil society to provide relief and alternative accommodation to the victims, and to develop a comprehensive inner-city rejuvenation and building reclamation strategy to prevent such disasters from happening again.

04:31:41In the realm of health and social development, our clinics and social workers have been on the frontlines of caring for our communities. We have expanded access to primary healthcare services, including extended operating hours at selected clinics, mobile health units for underserved areas, and targeted programmes for maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, TB and non-communicable diseases.

04:32:09Our Social Development Department...

City Manager appointment report: IFP, DA amendment proposal and ANC MMC

04:32:10that has done to him since he was appointed. I know you can answer this one better through the experience that you have and the relationship you had with him. Let it be shared with us as well. It can never be about him doing that work for the mayor alone. He was doing it on behalf of the residents of the city of Johannesburg as well. And therefore, for us as council, it will be our interest to also know if everything is going well with him. And, of course, I have no doubt that, working together with yourself, Executive Mayor, as the new appointed city manager,

04:32:40Tshepo Makola will be able to take over from the good foundation that was led by Floyd Brink. We just want to thank you also, Executive Mayor, for trusting on the capability of our newly appointed city manager by appointing him to act up until a new appointment is done. I pause, Speaker.

04:33:02Thank you, Councillor Manganyi. Councillor Da Rocha.

04:33:12Thank you, Speaker. Good morning, councillors. Let us get one thing straight here. We should not be celebrating irregular appointments in this council or in this city. Not now, not ever. This was an... This appointment was not made properly, hence it went to court. It was irregular, illegal and invalid. This is an absolute travesty and this should be a warning sign to the executive and this council going forward, we cannot

04:33:40irregular appointments that are made purely for deployments, whatever the case may be. We need appointments that are regular, legal and valid. Now, what is clear here is the fact that we need stability in the city of Johannesburg and the Democratic Alliance supports the recommendations before us to steady the ship and to make sure that services are delivered to our residents by a city manager who is properly and legally appointed.

04:34:08Now, in looking at the panel, I would have thought that the Executive Mayor would have maybe proposed an independent panel to make sure that we actually appoint a proper city manager who is fit for purpose, qualified and the best person for the job and to make sure that this process is legal, valid and regular. We cannot afford another embarrassment like the one that we have faced in the High Court very recently. So, looking at the panel,

04:34:39The Democratic Alliance would like to propose that the existing panel be amended to include CouncillorBelinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku so that proper oversight can be done on the appointment of the new city manager and that it is not just a cabal of deployees that will make sure that their preferred candidate gets in. We cannot afford it, Johannesburg cannot afford it, our residents cannot afford it. This is a proposal from the Democratic Alliance to amend recommendation five to include Councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku in the recruitment panel. Thank you.

04:35:12Is there a seconder to the proposal? Oh, okay. Thank you. All right, we're moving to the next speaker, Councillor... Thank you, Speaker. Look, first and foremost, I want to say that what we are experiencing or what we are deliberating on today, it's really unfortunate. Unfortunate in a sense that

04:35:42When an instability is intentionally created simply because you may not like tracks of a certain individual, it borders on ethical leadership in the municipality. In a sense that what the Democratic Alliance is doing is to diagnostic destabilisation of this municipality so that it's failing projections materialised. And that cannot be correct. Why do we say so?

04:36:11Even when the former city manager appealed the outcomes of the court, we had the opportunity within the prescribed space and time to correct whatever the courts raised as deficits for us to regularize the appointment, which was duly done by this council of the city of Johannesburg. Look, Mr. Brink is one of the longest serving employees of the city of Johannesburg who understands the city from its own inception horizontally and vertically.

04:36:41and the diagnostics of where the blockages are in terms of service delivery. For the time that he was appointed as a city manager, he diligently served the city, stabilized the finances of the city of Johannesburg, collected the revenue diligently so, and made sure that the city of Johannesburg services its own debts and liabilities diligently. Now, what we need to say is that we cannot run the city out of malice. And this malice can be traced back to the days of the late mayor Geoff Makhubo.

04:37:10Who at the time was haunted by the Democratic Alliance and subsequently the same trend was then meted against the former city manager Floyd Brink. Now that we have an opportunity and we accept the court rulings, one of the issues that we want to caution is that as the process unfolds of the recruitment of the new city manager, Dr. Brink is illegible to apply and must apply because he has proven to be a capable...

04:37:37individual to can run the city of Johannesburg. We must never be narrative and colonized by the fear of the unknown and hallucinations of those who don't have vision of taking the city forward, except creating instability in the city of Johannesburg. Secondly, out of the panic room of the Democratic Alliance, there are no longer a majority party or part of the executive. The regulations guide how the panel should be established in terms of the process of unfolding the appointment of a city manager.

04:38:06It is no longer in the ambient of council, the mayor is given the powers. He has brought the names here in the council of people who must serve on the panel as part of noting. Even then, if it must be amended, the mayor is the one who has the prerogative to change the composition of the panel. Not any validation from anyone else except the mayor who has been given such powers to do so. Thank you so much, Speaker. We support the report fully. Thank you.

Point of clarity on who appoints the selection panel

04:38:34Thank you, Councillor... Can I get the speakers list? Okay, it's coming. That was the last... All right, I see there is a hand from the floor. Councillor... Why are you rising?

04:39:01Thank you, Speaker. I rise on Rule 73C, the point of clarity. From what MMC Mgcina has just spoken now, saying the mayor has got the prerogative to choose the panel. According to Local Government Regulation on Appointment and Condition of Employment of Senior Managers, Item 12.3 say the municipal council must appoint the selection panel, the municipal council, not the mayor.

04:39:30Thank you, Councillor. The point of clarification is raised with the speaker, not with the... Oh, through you, Speaker. Through you, Speaker. You can't cross-question another councillor on the floor. So if you are asking me that question, I'll respond to it. I don't think the... What you are raising is contradictory to what Councillor Mgcina has said, because the mayor has brought the names to the council.

04:39:58If the mayor was appointing, the mayor wouldn't have brought the names to the council. The mayor would have just appointed the panel and the panel sits and do the work. Look at the recommendation number five. It says council approves the appointment of the following panel members to short list and interview candidates for the position of city manager, and that is what is before the council today. So there is nothing...

04:40:27untoward with what is written here. Maybe the expression might have been received differently from yourself, but what is before the council is that the council is appointing the panel that has been proposed by the mayor. And then, during the debate, Councillor Da Rocha also proposed an amendment to recommendation number five. So I'm waiting for the Executive Mayor to come and wrap up the debate, then we will deal with the amendment.

Executive Mayor's wrap-up on the City Manager report

04:40:57Over to you, Executive Mayor. Let me take this opportunity and thank all political parties that have contributed to the debate on the item we have tabled.

04:41:21Look, it is within the spirit of stability in the city of Johannesburg that has guided us to act in the manner that we have acted now. Effectively, we could have appealed the matter, go to Constitutional Court and many other processes, but acting in the best interest of the citizens of Johannesburg and stability in terms of governance and administrative leadership, we have decided to table this report to resolve an impasse moving forward so that the city can move forward and render critical services to the residents of Johannesburg.

04:41:52Without any doubt in my mind, during the period I was still the MMC for Finance and now as the mayor, I've known Dr. Brink as a capable administrator. He may have had his own weaknesses like all of us do have weaknesses, yet strengths, very strong in administration, understood local government, has been in local government now for 26 years. It means he has gathered vast experience in terms of local government functionality.

04:42:22Governance system in local government financial management in terms of local government. We truly appreciate the service that is rendered to the people of Johannesburg. Nobody is going to take away the history, his own history and the service he has rendered. Whatever we may think of him, he has contributed to the development and growth of the city of Johannesburg. For that, we can't take it away from him. History is bold enough to record him as one of those who have made a contribution to the city of Johannesburg.

Vote on DA amendment to recommendation 5 and approval of the report

04:42:52Thank you very much, Speaker. We hope council will then process the recommendations, including the proposed amendments by the Democratic Alliance. Thank you. Thank you, Executive Mayor. Indeed, recommendation number one is for noting, two is for approval, three is for approval, four is for approval, five is for approval, six is for approval. Now, with regard to number five, the DA has proposed an amendment.

04:43:22To add Councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku on the panel, may I check if the house agrees with that amendment or we put it to the vote? Do you agree with the amendment? No. Okay, there is a dissenting voice, which means we must put the amendment to the vote. Now, there's going to be those who are in favor of the amendment and those who are against the amendment and those who abstain, if there are any.

04:43:55All right, let me allow the secretariat to prepare themselves to count as we are going to vote by show of hands. Can we start with those that are online? If you are online and you are in support of the amendment by the DA to add Councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku on the panel, please raise your virtual hand.

04:44:24Can you verify the people who are raising their hands today? Okay, those are the hands of those who are in support of the amendment on the virtual platform.

04:44:58And the secretariat is counting. Please keep your hand up until they are done counting. Are we winning?

04:45:30Thank you, Speaker. On the virtual platform, we have four hands up. All right, there are four hands up on the virtual. Then let's come to the chamber. Those who are in favor of the amendment here in the chamber, please raise your hands so that you can be counted.

04:46:36On this block we've got 55. On my far right we've got seven. Seven. All right, it means here in the chamber we've got 62. Plus four, which is 66. All right, thank you. Are there any abstentions on the virtual platform? Please lower your hands if you have already voted. Can we see if there are any abstentions on the virtual platform?

04:47:21Thank you, Speaker. None from the virtual platform. Okay, thank you. None on the virtual. Are there any abstentions in the chamber? Please raise your hands.

04:47:34Let's count the abstentions. Look behind you as well. There is one there at the back. Okay, it looks like there are nine abstentions here in the chamber. Now let's go to those who are against the amendment on the virtual platform. Please raise your virtual hand.

04:48:38Can you count there on the virtual? Thank you, Speaker. I see four hands on the virtual platform. There are four hands against on the virtual platform. Now, those who are in the chamber against the amendment, please raise your hands.

04:49:09Thank you.

04:49:54Can you give me the numbers as you finish your block? On my far left we have 28. Thank you. On the middle left we have 46. Thank you. On the middle right we have 39.

04:50:23All right, on my far right we have 19. All right, thank you very much. Let me tally the numbers just now.

04:51:04Okay, those who are in favor of the amendment all together with the virtual platform are 66. The abstentions is nine. Those who are against the amendment together with the virtual is 136. So the amendment falls off. Thank you. Now let's go to the original recommendations as they stand on the report from number one to six. Are there any objections to those recommendations?

Item 2: Red Fleet contract amendment (MFMA s116(3)) tabled

04:51:34Objection from the DA. Can we note the objection of the DA and approve the recommendations as they stand on the report? Agreed? Thank you. Now, the recommendations are carried and the report is approved. Now the next item is item number two on the agenda, which is titled section 116 bracket three of the MFMA, report on the intention to amend the fleet contract entered into between Red Fleet

04:52:03Operational Services Proprietary Limited and the City of Johannesburg for the leasing and fleet contract. This report sits on page 9 to page 17 of the agenda. The recommendations sit on page 16 to 17. May I invite the MMC to table the report? Which MMC is dealing with this? Group Corporate and Shared Services. Over to you, MMC.

04:52:42Can you press the mic? It looks like your mic is dead. Maybe use the other one behind you or next to you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, fellow councilors, the house at large. May I table this report on behalf of the city for the Red Fleet? As you remember that previous years we had a Red Fleet contract, which had expired last year.

04:53:10In the process we also advertised this new contract to be inline cleanly and fairly. In that process we ask the council to give us section 116 subsection 3 in terms of amendment and extension so that the city does not compromise the safety of the citizens of this city. This contract is expiring month end of December 2024. The reason of asking the extension is currently we are busy with BEC.

04:53:40And the BAC will be taking process in January ending February in terms of compliance and appointment properly. Therefore we ask the council to note these recommendations from the GCSS. That council notes the content of section 116 bracket three of the MFMA report in relation to the contract entered into with the Red Fleet Operational Services Limited. Number two, council notes the status of the public participation process which closed on the 6th of November 2024 that there were no objections received from the public on the intention to amend the service level agreement.

04:54:17Three, that council approves the contract amendment for Red Fleet Operational Services Limited from the 1st of January 2025 when necessary or on the month-to-month basis for a period not exceeding six months or until the tender for fire engines and specialized emergency vehicles is awarded, whichever comes first. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, MMC. I was checking my list to see if there are any speakers who wanted to speak on this item. And the first speaker is Councillor Berman from the DA.

Red Fleet debate: DA opposes, ANC supports

04:54:57And as he makes his way to the podium, can I call Councillor Lubisi from the ANC to come closer? Thank you, Speaker. Councillors, visitors, media, and residents of the city, the history of the specialized fleet contract for emergency services, the red fleet, is sorted and full of intrigue, drama, corruption, and maladministration. Now we are expected to approve a deviation to the deviation through a public participation report when an open tender process should have commenced in good time to prevent this scenario. Look at why we are in this position now. During the term of Herman Mashaba in 2018, the EFF had massive leverage over the coalition.claim

04:55:51They demanded that the Red Fleet tender goes to global fleet solutions under the infamous diamond dealer, Louis Liebenberg. When this ran into difficulty, including irregular advanced payments for vehicles that had not been delivered, it went to the close associate of the EFF, massive tender preneur, diagnostic, Mr. Moti, in terms of diagnostic, Red Fleet operational services. When the three-year tender was nearing its end, another tender was issued early in 2022 under Dr. Mpho Phalatse.claim

04:56:21This tender is surrounded by a cloud of suspicion after two whistleblowers made sworn affidavits explaining how diagnostic was favored to win the tender again when diagnostic was irregularly disqualified. On the 27th of September, the day before the motion of no confidence in Dr. Mpho Phalatse, diagnostic was again awarded the R956 million tender to supply the Red Fleet, even though the bid validity period had expired.claim

04:56:51Before that, an irregular extension of a lease agreement was made to the value of R227 million. So, even though this tender was irregularly awarded to diagnostic, not a single fire engine has been delivered under the 2022 tender that was supposed to be a Lease-to-Own deal. Today, we still only have about seven to 16 aging fire engines in operation across the whole city, supplied by diagnostic from its original contract on a month-to-month basis.claim

04:57:22For this, we pay diagnostic R10 million a month, totaling R204 million for the 24 months diagnostic deviation. Now they've run out of time to get another tender awarded before the end of December 2024, when this deviation expires. So diagnostic gets to milk the city for another six months on a R10 million per month basis, a further R60 million to diagnostic.claim

04:57:48Overall, since 2018, diagnostic would have benefited to the tune of about R1 billion for providing a handful of fire engines. Remember, the EFF was the MMC for Public Safety from December 2022 right up until recently. Why did it not sort out the tender, and why is Group Corporate and Shared Services dragging its feet with awarding the tender before December 2024?claim

04:58:15We cannot support this report. We abstained from this report in May 2023 when the deviation was brought to council. Why should we support extending a deviation that was irregular in the first place? Why has the tender not been awarded before the expiry date of the deviation? Remember that paragraph four on page 10 of this report notes that the accounting officer may only...claim

04:58:39deviate from the official procurement processes in an emergency and other exceptional cases where it is impractical or impossible to follow the official procurement processes. Paragraph six confirms that the extension was granted until December 2024 in order to finalize the procurement process of a new contract. Well, surprise, surprise, the new tender has not been finalized due to poor planning by the department.

04:59:07Now GCSS has run out of time and expects council to bail them out from their self-created emergency. Because of the sorted history around the Red Fleet tender, we cannot in good conscience approve the extension of the contract for another six months. We must send a clear message around poor planning and poor contract management so that we force officials to do their jobs timeously. We cannot be complicit in condoning diagnostic incompetence. I thank you, Speaker.

04:59:40Thank you, Councillor... Councillor Lubisi, after Councillor Lubisi, it will be Councillor Mgcina.

04:59:57Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Executive Mayor, fellow councillors, members of the media, city officials, ladies and gentlemen. Good morning once again. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, we are confronted with realities in our metro, which need decisive action and progressive resolution that will see our municipality continuing to provide service to our people at all times without failure.claim

05:00:23We must at the same time appreciate all the efforts by the government of Local Unity to stabilise the metros' administration and its functionality, which included its ability to respond to emergencies at all times. Mr. Speaker, the report before council today is to request council to note and approve the extension of the Red Fleet contract in line with the MFMA section 116, subsection 3, which guides council on how to deal with matters of contracts, management and amendments.claim

05:00:54Mr. Speaker, it is important to welcome the report and support its recommendations based on the following factors: the report complied with all legislative requirements, including public participation, which was advertised in newspapers on the 16th of October 2024, where members of the public were invited to submit their inputs and comments on the intention to amend the Red Fleet contract for a period not exceeding six months.claim

05:01:22It is also reported that until the closing date of the 6th of November 2024, there was no objection received from the public on the city's intention to amend the SLA. It is only logical, Mr. Speaker, that we support the recommendation on the report, as the current contract is ending on the 31st of December 2024, whereas the procurement process of the new contract has already started, which is currently at the bid evaluation stage.claim

05:01:52And this gives confidence to council that the process will not even reach the anticipated six months before the new contract is finalised. The extension is solely to make sure that the city will not find itself without emergency vehicles like fire engines and ambulances while finalising the procurement of the new contract. The report further states that the amendment will be on a month-to-month basis, which might even take less than six months, as the bid evaluation is currently underway.claim

05:02:10Mr. Speaker, we have seen a number of fire emergencies in the inner city and informal settlements, and the city must at all times have the capacity to respond to such emergencies in order to save lives. The ANC supports the report and its recommendations without any fear. Thank you very much. Let me take this opportunity and allow the MMC to wrap up the debate. MMC Chابالala. Let me take this opportunity and thank all the political parties that have contributed to the debate on the item we have tabled.}]

Items 15-19 introduced: Environment and Infrastructure Services and utilities performance reports

05:07:17isiZuluBasibekele lapho.

05:07:20Now you guys want to stress me out.

05:07:26Councillors, let's settle down.

05:07:37Councillors, welcome back. We resume with item 15, which is a performance assessment report for Environment, Infrastructure and Services Department for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to July 2024, read together with item 16, and that's the performance assessment report for the City Power Johannesburg Limited for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024.

05:08:05Also read with item 17, which is a performance assessment report for Johannesburg Water Limited for 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, and also read with item 18, and that's the performance assessment report for Pikitup Johannesburg Limited for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024.

05:08:28And the above items are read together with item 19, which is an oversight report of the Section 79 Environment and Infrastructure Services Committee on the 2023/24 second quarter performance assessment report of the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, Pikitup, Johannesburg Water and Johannesburg City Power for the period October to December 2024.

05:08:50Thank you, Secretary to Council. Member in charge, Councillor Munyayi.

05:09:01Greeting to you, Madam Speaker, and also greetings to the resident of the City of Johannesburg, and also greetings to my own political party, ActionSA, who have deployed me as a chairperson. I would like also, Madam Speaker, to extend the invite and greet also the representatives from Ward 50 who they are here today, Madam Speaker. They have joined us. They are requesting the following from the city that please, since they are South Africans, they say

05:09:32can the City of Johannesburg please formalize their informal settlement where they can able to get water, electricity and also refusal collection. Madam Speaker, I'll rise to table performance assessment for quarter two, item 15, Environment, item 16, City Power, item 17, Johannesburg Water, item 18, Pikitup, read together with item 19, oversight report for Section 79. Thanks.

DA and PA on environment, vacancies, City Power and illegal dumping

05:10:03Thank you, member in charge. DA, Councillor Koekemoer.

05:10:13Thank you, Madam Speaker. Honourable Speaker, councillors, residents, I rise to speak on item 15, the performance assessment report for EISD for 2024/2025 financial year October to July 2024. I stand before you today not just as a councillor, a ward councillor from the leafy green suburbs, so-called, but as a representative of every resident of Johannesburg who has ever been let down by the environmental mismanagement of the city.claim

05:10:41Our rivers are polluted, our air is toxic, and our waste services are failing. As we speak, the Alex Water Warriors remove more waste from rivers in a single project than COJ does citywide in a month. Raw sewage polluting the Krom River Wetlands in Bryanston and waste pollution has gotten so bad that many common Joburg urban species, like the Cape Robin and Karoo Thrush, are on the decline.claim

05:11:09And if birds tell us anything, fellow councillors, it's where we don't want to be. The truth is behind the glossy reporting statistics and the selective reporting, we find a city in environmental crisis. 15 million allocated for waste sorting facilities remain unspent. Invoice payments to suppliers are severely delayed, leading to grounding of fleets and services that directly impact on our residents.claim

05:11:36The Environmental Department has a concerningly high vacancy rate. The city received a Section 28 directive due to the environmental issues at the Zandspruit pump station. Several sewer lines projects are causing water pollution. Out of 22 monitored projects, only six were six of them were found non-compliant, whereas only two of them are fully completed. Several unauthorized developments within wetlands and improper waste disposal activities were identified.claim

05:12:04And most astonishingly, the department recorded a 100% underperformance in key CAPEX projects due to procurement delays. And now for the residents watching from home, that means projects were not completed not because of a lack of funding, but rather due to red tape and inefficient supply chain management. This is not just negligence, it is governance failure. As a city, we must invest in sewage infrastructure upgrades to stop pollution of the Jukskei Riverclaim

05:12:33and enforce strict penalties on Joburg Water and other entities that fail to comply with environmental regulations. We must put an end to environmental non-compliance by speeding up procurement processes for climate and environmental projects to ensure budgets are spent effectively and fill vacant environmental management positions to ensure proper oversight and accountability. Additionally, we must ensure all infrastructure projects undergo rigorous environmental impact assessments that aims to safeguard natural resources instead of developers' wallets.

05:13:0630 seconds remaining.

05:13:07Thank you. The city deserves an administration that values clean water, fresh air, and a sustainable future. And the Democratic Alliance stands ready to bring this competence, transparency, and accountability that Johannesburg so desperately needs and deserves. The residents of the city should not have to endure filthy streets, toxic rivers, and mismanaged public services. The people of Johannesburg deserve better. We note the report with grave concern. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

05:13:37Thank you, Councillor. PA, Councillor Pitso.

05:13:45Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor, Acting City Manager, the Joburg nine councillors under the effective stewardship of caucus leader MMC Kenny Kunene, fellow councillors and residents, I greet you all. Madam Speaker, as the Patriotic Alliance, we appreciate these reports from item 15 to 19 for the landslide KPIs that are met, though there are still challenges. Speaker, the EIC department faces an overall vacancy rate of 56% for both funded and unfunded positions.claim

05:14:15This vacancy problem is an opportunity in disguise, which this city needs to grab with both hands and change the personal economies of our city's residents and hire them in great numbers and fill this alarming departmental vacancy rate. These vacancies need to be filled in order to align with the department's strategic thrust of job opportunity and creation. This vacancy is one of the challenges which constitutes to poor performance at the end of quarters. Speaker, let our city show the rest of other South African cities of what we do when we have power.

05:14:46I am standing on behalf of young of hundreds of thousands of young people like myself from areas like Soweto, Alexandra, Westbury, and Kathrada Park and more. But unfortunately, these young people are sitting home and jobless. Some are even graduates. Meanwhile, this city has power to change their career and financial aspects. Speaker, let the city begin to circulate vacancy adverts and fill these positions speedily so that our residents' life can change.

05:15:12Speaker, City Power has recorded a net profit that's more than the prior year's quarter. But these improvements in their finances have to also reflect on the ground. We still have City Power officials who are refusing to work and communicate timeously with councillors. What they are indirectly doing is to endanger the lives of councillors unnecessarily. The city's residents know where we live as councillors, but they do not know where City Power officials live. And when residents are having unscheduled power off,claim

05:15:39City Power officials and not City Power officials not communicating with us, residents come to our houses to relieve their frustrations, not to the houses of City Power officials. Speaker, we are still having live electricity cables running on the ground, electricity cables running on tree stems instead of poles in places like Tshepisong West. Speaker, this city calling itself a smart city is not merely a title, but it must be a weight of responsibility carried out into the lives of our residents.claim

05:16:08Speaker, as a point of constructive criticism, I am also a concerned resident with the amount of illegal dumping sites in our city. Pikitup removed close to 100,000 tons of illegal dumped waste. I understand that some residents justify illegal dumping because of waste collection disruptions, but the distinction between someone who illegally dumps and one who chooses not to illegally dump is just a mindset issue. The report says that clean-up education and awareness campaigns have been conducted in different regions.claim

05:16:37But the question is that, are these clean-up campaigns effective? In this context, it's not about being busy, but it's about being effective. The responsibility of cleanliness in our city is not only the responsibility of Pikitup, but the city needs to also strategically bring residents on board. Speaker, Pikitup needs to invest in patriotism campaigns as well in order to further help our people to be patriots and avoid unnecessary and illegal dumping. I thank you, Madam Speaker.

FF Plus and ACDP on City Power, Joburg Water and water supply

05:17:11Thank you, Councillor. Freedom Front Plus, Councillor Boer.

05:17:16Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good afternoon. I'm rising on item 16, City Power, and item 17, Johannesburg Water. City Power had a pretty good quarter in quarter two. They had a good performance regarding revenue, up 15%. They even managed to generate a surplus of a small 5 million, at least there was a surplus. Their overdraft reduced from 15.87 billion in the first quarterclaim

05:17:46to 14.5 billion in the second quarter, so there was an increase as well. The biggest encouraging sign is, however, the drop in the electricity losses, and that is down from 37.49% in quarter one to 29% in quarter two. In fact, they claim that in December 2024, the electricity losses was down to 24.16%, and that is a very encouraging sign because electricity losses are costing usclaim

05:18:18dearly in money. On the stats on the crime, it also shows that the crime on illegal connections and bypassing and tampering was down, and the arrests and the convictions were up. So there are positive signs. We are still a very, very long way from where we should be. On the negative side, however, the meter readings was down from 87% in Julyclaim

05:18:48to only 54% in December 2024, and this is for domestic meter readings. One cannot bill residents and expect the residents to pay for services if you don't do actual meter readings. So that is a very big point of concern. And then what we did miss in the report, we will all remember by the end of last year, the 29th of November last year, there was that dispute with Eskom where the city said Eskom owed them 3.6 billion and Eskom said no, the city owes them 3.6 billion.claim

05:19:21There was a panel, an independent panel appointed to sort out this problem, which had to give feedback on the 6th of December last year. Nothing is mentioned in this report. Is this dispute sorted or is it still ongoing? I'm moving over to Johannesburg Water. City Power gets a collection rate of 93%. Johannesburg Water's collection rate is 75%. Although the budget is only 72%, well, this is way too low. We cannot giveclaim

05:19:50essential services if we only collect 75% of our revenue. Actual meter readings in Johannesburg Water, they're doing very well on that topic. They're doing 89.6%. There is no statistics in the Johannesburg Water report about water losses, so I can't comment on that. And I think it is something that Johannesburg Water needs to put into their reports to see where are we doing with our physical water losses.claim

05:20:18Attention is given to the leaking reservoirs. There's budgets available to start doing them, although there's much funds needed to implement it. I want to close off on the employment equity, and this is really concerning. We in South Africa, we got all those racial laws of affirmative actions and BEE and all those type of things. According to the City of Johannesburg Water'sclaim

05:20:49own employment equity, the white employees should be 11% of the total workforce. In fact, it is only 0.02% for the male white people. For white females, it is even worse. We are supposed to have 11% target as well. We got in the whole department six white females, representing 0.005%.

05:21:20And if the city still wants to affect affirmative action, then they must do it properly. The white employees, especially in Johannesburg Water, are very, very much underrepresented, and the Freedom Front really suggest that we do away with all those affirmative action and BEE laws. So to close down, City Power is doing very bad on meter readings. Joburg Water is doing well. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

05:21:49On the collection rate, City Power is doing well, Johannesburg Water is doing weak. Reduction in losses, City Power is doing very well, Johannesburg Water is not getting anywhere with preventing the losses. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

05:22:07Thank you, Councillor Boer. ACDP, Councillor Harris.

05:22:13Good afternoon, Madam Speaker, EM, MMCs, colleagues, residents. I rise to speak on items 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. In keeping with the regulatory requirements of the Municipal Systems Act, these reports must be commended for being technically well-structured. The devil is in the detail, though.

05:22:35Councillor Harris, hold on. Councillors, we can hear some chatting going on. Can we please respect the councillor on the floor?

05:22:45Thank you, Madam Speaker. The supply of water consistently through taps is not through taps and not through water tankers must be Joburg Water's priority. Water leaks are an ongoing problem. Despite the length of pipes replaced, the collapse of the sewer system especially is an ever-present danger. Repair and maintenance of pressure-reducing valves in the reticulation system could be a contributing factor towards the residents of wardsclaim

05:23:1568, 69, and 82 not receiving a consistent supply of water. Supply pressure is reduced, diminishing the frequency of burst water pipes, but residents are bearing the brunt of the strategy because they have to fight to obtain every liter of water. This is a violation of their human rights, and it has to be curtailed.

05:23:47The stakeholder dissatisfaction is underplayed in the second quarter report. The report does not mention any civic unrest, and there was plenty where people were protesting against the non-supply of water. The residents are up in arms with the city, and from my vantage point, we are standing on the precipice of an intense civil disobedience if we do not, at the very least, provide an honest explanation to residents explaining why they have to wake up at 2:00 a.m.

05:24:19if they want to wash their clothes or fill containers with water. Sending out tankers with water is inhumane and a sign that Joburg Water is not interested in providing water at the right pressure and consistently to the aforementioned wards. The ACDP calls on Joburg Water to reconsider their inhumane water conservation and water demand management systems. If there are daily water supply restrictions, report on this. If there is a permanent reduction in the bulk water supply and Rand Water is choking the city,claim

05:24:49report on this. If there are permanent restrictions of water supply to deemed high-consumption areas, report on it. No mention is made of the progress and the status of the Brixton and Hursthill reservoir where repairs and upgrades are supposed to be taking place. Financially, expenditure certified as irrecoverable and approved by the board for write-offs is 2.151 billion rand. There is no mention of a single person being held accountable,claim

05:25:21or any steps being taken in a consequent management process. The hard-pressed ratepayers will ask why this is permitted while rates for water are skyrocketing. As reported, the major contributors towards the irregular expenditure incurred arising from incidents identified are the panel of engineering contract, the panel of contractors for sewer projects, and transportation of potable water. This delivery system strips citizens of their dignity,claim

05:25:53and we trust the following reports will stipulate how this tanker system is being phased out. President Ramaphosa was shocked by the state of our city. This should not be a shock to us because we see this failure daily, but we are impotent to deal with the root cause of this pandemic. With plus-minus 2,176 illegal dumping spots, have we given up on stopping this anti-social behavior, or are we going to increase by-law enforcement?claim

05:26:22On a positive note, we applaud the establishment of a buy-back center in Eldorado Park. We trust this initiative will be rolled out to other wards at risk of being overrun by ad hoc recycling initiatives. The ACDP notes these reports. Thanks.claim

DA and ActionSA on City Power outages, water outages and Pikitup

05:26:41Thank you, Councillor Harris. DA, Councillor Steenkamp.

05:26:51Speaker, let's be honest. The lights might be on in this chamber, but across parts of Johannesburg, they're off. Between October and December 2024, residents of Lenasia, Midrand, Kensington, the CBD, and dozens of other communities were left in the dark for hours, and in some cases, for days. Substations failed, mini-subs exploded, and cables burned.claim

05:27:20And yet, what did residents get in response? Silence, delay, or if they're lucky, a vague SMS saying the team is on site. Speaker, the quarter two performance report tabled by City Power might show a minor surplus on paper, but it's a financial illusion. Because while spreadsheets claim success, Johannesburg's people live in darkness. Let's speak plainly about what the numbers actually show.claim

05:27:51A 14.5 billion overdraft that continues to bleed. Electricity losses at nearly 30% that's stolen or wasted, electricity worth billions of rand. Over 350 million in unbudgeted interest paid due to fiscal mismanagement, not to mention the 446 million to extra finance costs. And let's not forget, City Power still overspent its budget by over 1.6 billion just this quarter alone.claim

05:28:24Speaker, just months ago, Eskom threatened to disconnect Johannesburg over unpaid debt of nearly 5 billion rand. The city was ordered by a court to pay 1 billion, yet by December, only 1.3 billion had been paid, not even enough to cover what was due. Eskom suspended the disconnection, but not because the debt was settled, because of political scrambling and last-minute promise to pay. That's not leadership, that's crisis management by press release.claim

05:28:55And Johannesburg deserves better. City Power cannot continue to hide behind improvements when the basics are broken. Residents don't care about glossy reports, they want real results, not excuses. But it's not the infrastructure that's crumbling, it's the system itself. Contractors. Contractors are being paid while qualified City Power shift workers sit idle. This report notes this explicitly: internal labor is being ignored in favor of outsourced deals.

05:29:29Who's awarding these contracts? Speaker, the Democratic Alliance warned this coalition again and again that without credible turnaround strategy and decisive leadership, Johannesburg would fail. And today, failure is exactly what we are living through. This house must ask itself, how long can the city continue to ignore 14 billion rand overdraft? Speaker, Johannesburg is a city built by its people, and it's broken by political arrogance and greed.

05:29:59City Power is not failing in isolation. It is failing because the political leadership behind it is failing. I thank you.

05:30:11Thank you, Councillor Steenkamp. ActionSA, Councillor Modukanene.

05:30:41Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, I rise in terms of on items 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. Speaker, ActionSA notes these performance reports, but I must mention that true performance is measured by the daily lived experiences of the residents of the city. The city has been facing significant water challenges, which are mainly caused by infrastructure backlogs,

05:31:10non-revenue water losses, and at times power outages at pumping stations were also attributing to those water outages. Residents of Robertsham in Ward 55, South Hills, Ward 57, Linmeyer, 56, and Bram Fischerville, Ward 49, Pimville, Ward 22 and 25, Orange Farm, Ward 1, Berea, Highland Roads,claim

05:31:41Ward 64, Snake Park, Block 1, and the old age home in Ward 55 are areas best known to be troubled by this water outages. Some of the solutions to consider is to drill boreholes in non-dolomitic areas to supplement water supply during water outages, and not only drill those boreholes in informal settlements. Repair theclaim

05:32:10commissioned Meyer's Hill tower to load uh to uh lessen the low the burden from South Hills water towers. Ring-fence the revenue from the sale of water to fund water-related infrastructure projects. Uh City Park uh City Power has also been you know uh had having its own challenges when it comes to electricity supply.claim

05:32:35These challenges are due to infrastructure backlogs as well, unlawful disconnections resulting from billing disputes, which in turn resulted in punitive cost orders against the city. Metering problems, illegal connections and and cable theftclaim

05:33:17Illegal and cable theft are also contributors to these challenges. Some areas in Marshalltown had only had power for six days in December. They spent Christmas and New Year in the dark without water as well, as they need power to pump water to the top floors of their apartments. The same goes to areas such as Horizon, Discovery, Ontdekkers Park as they also experience water outages as they need electricity to pump water at their pumping stations.claim

05:33:47Not forgetting Ward 97, which experiences weekly power outages, especially in Weltevreden and Honeydew. Outages continue for 12 hours to six days. The utility needs to implement bold and unconventional solutions to resolve these to resolve these challenges. For instance, uh we can resurrect or reform the Infrastructure Protection Unit,

05:34:17so that they are equipped to guard the city's infrastructure when it comes to cable theft. We also need to streamline our processes within the entity to optimize and improve the efficiency of City Power's processes, and develop new techniques, modify and coordinate process improvement projects. Pikitup uh also had its own challenges. It is faced by reoccurring illegal dumping,

05:34:48insufficient bylaw enforcements and cash flow challenges. They also uh have compliance and criminality challenges, especially at their landfill sites. A typical example would be Kya Sands landfill site. But at least we're getting something right there because our ever hardworking chairperson uh Councillor Munyayi has been working very hard uh with the support of the MMC and Chair of Chairs, of course.

05:35:20They've been there and after that we've seen great changes at Kya Sands. Pikitup uh underperformance is mainly due to budgetary constraints and fleet issues, and if those issues are not attended to, we can forget about the vision of a clean inner city. Thank you.

Procedural dispute over a remark about the Mayor and calls to withdraw

05:35:45Thank you, Councillor. DA, Councillor Bittkau.

05:35:55Hearing that, okay. Madam Speaker, I feel more like an archaeologist than a councillor, not only because I find myself sifting through a quarterly report that is so ancient.

05:36:08Councillor Bittkau, please move the mic closer to you.

05:36:11Okay, we can do that. And not only because I feel like I'm inspecting the ruins of Pompeii or more like Rome after Nero sat and fiddled. Similar to our Mayor Councillor JoJo Morero. Sorry, my apologies, I withdraw that. I didn't mean JoJo, Dada Morero.

05:36:34Councillor Bittkau, please hold on. Councillor [inaudible]. Ah-ah, Councillor, not you uh Chairperson. I have noted Councillor behind you first. I can't see your surname, Councillor.

05:36:49Can I carry on?

05:36:50Councillor Mokoena. Mofokeng. I can't see the name tag from here.

05:36:58Can I carry on?

05:36:59Councillor Bittkau, please switch off your mic.

05:37:04Uh thank you, Speaker. Uh the councillor over there must withdraw that this is the um No, wait.

05:37:11Councillor Bittkau, please hold on. We can't hear also what is happening. We need to understand.

05:37:16Let him sit down.

05:37:18Councillor Bittkau. Thank you.

05:37:21Thank you.

05:37:22Councillor Mokoena.

05:37:23Mofokeng.

05:37:24Mofokeng.

05:37:25Thank you, Speaker. Let the councillor withdraw. This is not uh JoJo Councillor Mokoena. Uh Morero.

05:37:33He said

05:37:34He said uh Mayor JoJo Morero. That's what he said. No, honestly, he must withdraw.

05:37:45Hawu, Councillor Bittkau.

05:37:48Madam Speaker, I have already withdrawn it.

05:37:50Please just withdraw that so you can continue with your speech.

05:37:52You know, if they would

05:37:53Councillors, let's give him an opportunity.

05:37:56If they wouldn't shout so much and listen, they would have heard me withdraw it already. So uh maybe uh thank you.

05:38:05Councillor Bittkau, please withdraw.

05:38:07I have withdrawn it.

05:38:08Have you withdrawn? We haven't heard you.

05:38:10Yes, I did say it earlier on. Go to your recordings, please. I've withdrawn.

05:38:18He has withdrawn, colleagues. Please give him an opportunity. He has withdrawn. Councillor Bittkau.

05:38:24Yes.

05:38:24Please hold on. Councillor Meyers.

05:38:32Speaker, one of the councillors that side referred to Councillor Bittkau as an old man. That is extremely disrespectful. They must withdraw it.

05:38:44Hey, no. If we want to stay here until midnight, we'll stay here until midnight. But we did not hear it. Councillor Raphadu, you're the last hand before we hand over back to Councillor Bittkau.

05:39:08Madam Speaker, I think this uh unbecoming conduct is becoming a norm in this council. And we need to put an end to it. It can't continue that uh people continually provoke. We understand free speech is there, but free speech has responsibilities to it. Let me quote a rule as I'm standing here, Madam Speaker. In terms of Rule 71(c), ne?

05:39:39Okay. Rule 70, let's start. Councillors may not discredit uh the council by using disrespectful or offensive language. That's number one. And these councillors, or these, oh sorry, these honorable councillors are continually wanting to collapse this council. Deliberately so. It is subtle,

05:40:05but we are noting this conduct. And if you don't caution it, Madam Speaker, well then we're going to have a circus here. Please. Please, can we caution this type of behavior because it's now becoming worrisome.

05:40:19Thank you, Councillor Raphadu. And Councillor Bittkau did withdraw, isn't it? He did withdraw. So, Councillor, you did withdraw. No, we've noted we've noted what you said. Yes, we've noted what you said. But for now, we are focusing on his speech and what he said. Right? We are focusing on his speech and what he said, not in general the council.

05:40:46Councillor Bittkau, you did withdraw. Please continue with your speech. You are left with 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Councillor Raphadu, your mic.

05:41:08No, it's not. Councillor Raphadu's mic is off. I can see his mic is off. Councillors, please switch off your mics.

05:41:20Try again, Councillor Bittkau.

05:41:30Councillor Bittkau, the one next to you is red.

05:41:44Councillors, can we stop with the name-calling? Can we start to respect each other? We were doing so well. Councillor Bittkau.

DA Cllr Bittkau on Joburg Water

05:41:54Aha. Finally. Uh Madam Speaker, just a point, on a point of order, you're not supposed to be taking points of order on top of a point of order. Okay, thank you. Um

05:42:16Right, as we were. My eyes must have slipped to my next line, which refers to the mayor saying that people should invest in JoJo tanks to alleviate the water situation, and that in a world-class African city? Regarding the fiddling, do not worry, help is on the way. After all, we have a director on the high-powered board of directors with a perfect education. According to Google, he's a musician. I wonder whether somebody was thinking of Handel's Water Music when they recommended him for the position.

05:42:49Madam Speaker, this man is the perfect example why we've been calling for the immediate dissolving of this totally inept board of directors with not a single person from a technical background. Proven also by the by the flawed contract for tankers for 263 million awarded by this board of directors. Even the senior management needs to be given notice. The workmanship and overall attitude of the workers shows a total lack of pride and dedication in their work and workmanship.

05:43:23This, however, is a reflection of a failure by senior management to instill the pride in them. The main function of any manager is to motivate the employees and instill a pride for their work in them. Unfortunately, this is a total failure in Joburg Water. The result of this is shown clearly in the percentage of non-revenue water and technical losses. The amount of water lost at bursts due to the lack of urgency is frightening. At the other end of the water cycle,

05:43:54the pollution caused by our failing sewer system is absolutely shocking to observe. The test results in our rivers showing E. coli levels between 400,000 and 2.2 million are a disgrace, especially when the accepted level is 200. This is a recipe for a possible cholera epidemic, especially as we are on a watershed and are polluting the rivers going southwest and those going northeast.

05:44:23I sincerely hope that we wake up on time and are not remembered as the ones that destroyed the entire ecosystem way beyond Joburg and Gauteng.

05:44:3030 seconds remaining.

05:44:32Another shortfall that is always in our quarterlies is the lack of reinstatements. Again, something that's not showing any improvement, even though it has been moved to JRA. For JRA is being owed 54 million by Joburg Water, according to the latest information received. And thus they are not doing any reinstatements for Joburg Water. How many failures must I cite before this executive wakes up and rectifies the situation? Start by removing the board of directors and top management, and see to it that there are no more dry taps in this city. Thank you.

EFF and ANC on City Power, Joburg Water, Pikitup; MMC Sekwaila called

05:45:10Thank you, Councillor Bittkau. EFF, Councillor Mkasi.

05:45:17Thank you very much uh Speaker. Revolutionary greetings to our Caucus Leader, Commissar Dr. Mthembu, our courageous Chief Whip, Councillor Thabiso Mogapi, the 29 formidable ground forces deployed by the Economic Freedom Fighters, an organization that exists beyond South African borders, fellow councillors, residents of the City of Johannesburg, receive our revolutionary greetings.

05:45:48Speaker, the EFF maintains a strong stance on building internal capacity within municipalities, which would ultimately lead to the abolishment of tenders. We firmly believe that this policy position is the most sound and has the potential to create thousands of sustainable jobs, while eliminating the corrupt elements that continue to destroy our entities. It is a well-established fact that the tender system is inherently inconsistent and is often at the center

05:46:21of corruption, poor service delivery and exploitation of workers. Speaker, City Power is a vital entity within the City of Johannesburg, mandated to provide safe and reliable electricity to households, businesses and public spaces. To ensure the continuous supply of electricity, it is important that this entity sustains itself. As the EFF, we welcome the steps taken by

05:46:50City Power regarding the forensic investigation that uncovered employees colluding with some contractors to steal from the city. Those employees must be fired and arrested for their fraudulent activities, while City Power is struggling. Criminals must be isolated and be punished harshly. We are pleased with the improvements made by City Power in the in net surplus increase during the reviewed quarter.

05:47:20The rise in revenue collection is a sign of our residents' commitment uh to paying for the services provided by the city. We thank our residents for ensuring they pay City Power. Additionally, we note that one mechanism that contributed to improved financial stability is the collection of service charges, which amount to 701 million. Speaker, the political electioneering against the surchargeclaim

05:47:52must go hand in hand with educating our community about uh the residents who are exempted from this charge. It should be a public knowledge that all our elderly residents are excluded from this charge. Our capable MMC of Health and Social Development, Councillor Ennie Makhafola, you need to take ESP programs to our communities, so that our people can benefit, which includes being excluded from

05:48:22paying surcharge and receiving free basic electricity units. You are our last hope. Speaker, we welcome the establishment of a communication war room within Joburg Water. We strongly believe that this war room will address the communication breakdown between residents and Joburg Water regarding complaints about water shortages and pipe bursts. We hope it will also tackle the issue of unnecessary questions asked when responsible residents

05:48:53report pipe bursts or water leaks on public spaces, such as questioning a meter number when complaints are logged. To our residents, we say:

05:49:03isiZuluvikela amanzi,

05:49:04protect our tomorrow. Speaker, Pikitup remains an entity that is doing its best to serve our people. Our concern, however, lies in the reliance on outsourced services, which cost us a significant amount of money, with more than 3,000 temporary jobs created through EPWP. It is clear that if Pikitup can build internal capacity, it can create more than 4,000 permanent jobs for our residents.

05:49:38One issue that frustrates us about Pikitup is the favoritism, nepotism, and tribalism practiced in hiring processes for general workers. It puzzles us that Pikitup declares general workers' vacancies as external rather than internal, especially when they have more than 3,000 outsourced workers. All of these contract employees are human beings and deserve better working conditions and better salaries.

05:50:0930 seconds remaining.

05:50:11Lastly, Speaker, we call on Pikitup to insource all contract employees, including those working for cooperatives. We will not rest until our people receive better treatment than the dogs of the rich. Speaker, as the EFF, we acknowledge the report. Thank you very much.

05:50:32Thank you, Councillor Mkasi. ANC, Councillor Madiba.

05:50:43Uh thank you, Madam Speaker. Uh greetings to you, greetings to the Executive Mayor, greetings to the Chief Whip, greetings to the Chair of Chairs. Madam Speaker, let me also greet and welcome the newly elected councillor of Ward 53, uCouncillor Hlatshwayo.

05:51:13Councillor, the mic next to you is also switched on. Maybe that's why.

05:51:22Thank you. Let me also greet and welcome the newly elected councillor of Ward 59, Councillor Hlatshwayo. We thank all residents of Ward 59 for honoring the late Councillor uh Nonkumbi by voting the African National Congress. Surely where he is, he is smiling. Speaker, I rise to speak on Item 15, 16, 17, 18 and

05:51:54IT, can we check the mic? Because I've noticed that the mic next to him also keeps on turning red.

05:52:04Speaker, I rise to speak on Item 15, 16, 17, 18 and Item 19. Let me first start by commending the departments on the uh consistent improvement that we are seeing when it comes to key performance indicators. We also commend the departments on revenue collection. This improvement, we are requesting for departments to intensify on collecting where private

05:52:38and government departments are owing the city. This will assist in dealing with backlog that the departments have when it comes to service delivery. Speaker, City Power must be able to deal with issues of streetlights without having excuses of material and manpower. It must also be able to deal with replacement of mini-subs uh timeously. The more time it takes for a mini-sub to be replaced,

05:53:09it's a loss to the city. Joburg Water must also be able to deal with issues of burst sewer pipes and many leakages without excuses of budget and manpower. We request for the Department of Human Settlements to work with these departments in servicing informal settlements and hostels. While we are dealing with illegal connections, we need a permanent plan on how these residents will benefit on these services and be able to contribute

05:53:40to revenue collection. The illegal connections of electricity and water in informal settlements are one of the reasons we have unaccounted electricity and water losses. Pikitup is one of the entities that are doing very well, but however, it needs support in cleaning illegal dumping sites. We are requesting that City Parks and Zoo, JCPZ, must work with these

05:54:13departments financially. Illegal dumping mostly takes place in open spaces where it is the responsibility of the said entities. Working relationship between these three entities will assist the Working relationships

05:54:30Sepedia re ke go hlophele yona wa bona.

05:54:33Working relationships between these three entities will assist in coming up with financial assistance for waste pickers and sorting out the waste. That on its own will create more job opportunities and make sure that the open spaces that we have are now cleaner than they are right now. We request that the Public Safety must also strengthen bylaw enforcement, especially when it comes to illegal dumping.

05:55:05We call on workers' unions to intervene and engage with municipal workers on what is service delivery and their role as employees of the city. It does not paint a good picture to the residents when they see workers boldly and proudly wearing the logo of the city sleeping under trees while grass cutting is a challenge. It doesn't look good for workers to be seen with municipal resources in places where they do not have

05:55:40business, yet residents walk in dark streets where their safety is compromised. The rights of workers should be protected at all times, but the responsibility to give services to the residents must also be protected. With the challenges that we have identified, let us also commend all the departments and thank the MMC together with the Mayor in committing that come the G20, the city will be in a better state.

05:56:10With the assistance of the province and national, we believe that the next reports will be way better when it comes to service delivery. As the ANC, we note the reports. Thank you.

05:56:28Thank you, Councillor Madiba. MMC Sekwaila.

05:56:41Councillor Madiba, is your mic off that side?

MMC reply and member in charge close on items 15 to 19

05:56:56MMC, is it on? I can't see with your

05:57:04Oh, thanks, Speaker. Uh good afternoon to you, good afternoon to the Executive Mayor in absentia, colleagues MMCs, councillors, all protocol observed. Speaker, let me actually take this opportunity to thank councillors for the uh criticisms that they would have given the departments and entities, uh both positive. I think we'll take them. And I must indicate that uh

05:57:35uh Councillor Koekemoer, you are correct. Uh my biggest worry is the river pollution that is happening across the city. Uh you look at uh Bruma, you go to Alexandra, uh it's the same. And the work that we are doing currently in Alexandra is beginning to bear fruits. We were just there just a week ago just to monitor the developments there. Uh you are correct. I think we're also concerned about the high vacancy rate within the entity or the department,

05:58:06uh which we'll be working very hard to in fact deal with that particular uh high vacancy rate. And you'll understand that you've also noted that others are unfunded, and I think those that are funded should be in fact um uh attended to. Uh quite correct, some of the failures of departments we rely on other sister entities. You've mentioned uh the, you know, long processes that are happening around the procurement departments, which actually uh impact negatively on other departments for them to perform. I think uh

05:58:36uh Councillor Pitso, uh thanks a lot. I think uh uh we will take home. Quite correct that the city is experiencing a lot of illegal dumping across the city. So I think we have converted ourselves within Pikitup uh some of our security officers were trained by uh Public Safety just to monitor and patrol the city and make sure that there is no uh illegal dumping. Well, slowly, rest assured, we will get it correct. I think uh

05:59:06I've noted with concern the matter you have raised that there are officials of the city, I think you have said around City Power, where they are refusing to work with councillors, and their primary function is that. I mean, councillors should be assisted at all times uh when they raise matters that affect their own communities. Colleagues, I think uh Councillor Boer again um uh I'm glad you would have uh you know highlighted the revenue uh generation by City Power

05:59:37uh lately improving, uh which is good actually, I think uh you know, but again we still experience a drop, uh electricity loss somewhere. Uh meter reading again, we still need to do good again. We are working through an IGR that we have established with the Department of National Government, engaged the Minister of Electricity. Uh that we met around that time there was an issue with Eskom. For the reason why I think that matter was dropped, it's because of that particular IGR meeting that we had with the Minister, which we rely on in dealing with uh our issues with Eskom uh time and again.

06:00:16Colleagues, we are not happy to supply water through tankering system in our informal settlements or any other place whatsoever. It's because of the situation that is prevailing. It's there. People in communities need water now, which we must in fact find within our means to provide such, I think up until the proper processes that uh are followed, especially around informal settlements, where this issue of uh audit and other stuff that must be done before us uh bringing about the process of water uh and electricity uh provision.

06:00:50I agree with the fact that we need to do something. I think uh quite a number of councillors would have raised a matter around communication within Joburg Water that must be improved. Uh it's a department which is actually suffering from a lot of you know uh challenges as and when there is an issue around Eikenhof, whether power failure, planned and unplanned maintenance. I think through Joburg Water, we should communicate vigorously uh to councillors, and councillors obviously communicating with their own residents. I think it's a fair point to make.

06:01:21Councillor Steenkamp, I think the challenges of power around Observatory, Kensington, uh Bertrams and surroundings, we if you drive around this road that goes to Eastgate via Yeoville, you'll realize that currently we are doing or installing the second pipe, I mean cable, to complement the one we did around December, because that power failure that happened around December, it took us a very long time to solve the problem, because it's an aged infrastructure, over 50-year-old cable,

06:01:53oil-infused cable, which is no longer in the market. At some stage, our team had to dig the old one that has been decommissioned underground to go and replace that particular pipe. It was a very difficult job to do. Very recently, there was a cable that burnt for over 4 meters plus, 4 kilometers plus.

06:02:10plus from that point again towards the Spar up there in Kensington, to what Councillor Da Rocha there. Our guys are still currently doing their work. I drive most of my time in the inner city at night just to monitor the particular situation, but I think we will get it right since our guys were able to stabilize that power network at that area. I think, because if we don't do that,

06:02:32it will also affect the Yeoville reservoir up there. Yeoville reservoir then subsequently, you know, if water down with this side. So, it's very much important, just at some stage the time there were electricity restrictions and so on. I've even spoke to my team not to restrict areas where there are reservoirs, because if you restrict such, obviously it will affect the water supply, and water supply is a serious crisis.

06:02:5630 seconds remaining.

06:02:57Oh.

06:02:59I think we will work hard, Speaker, to resolve the Kya Sands matter. It's a thorny issue, it's a problem that must be resolved as a city. When we went there, you realize that there is anarchy happening there, all sort of illegality happening. In fact, when we got out of the cars, we were told not to walk in because it's not safe. That tells you that you can't have a situation where it's a no-go zone in our own city.

06:03:27That particular landfill will be visited, closed by Pikitup, I think, in a week or two we should be able to go to market in terms of the security to secure the place and allow Pikitup to handle the situation in a way that brings dignity, in fact, to the city itself. We will work hard on the street lighting, especially solar-powered, Speaker, across the city. In our view, it in fact assists us in terms of saving the network and burden of electricity network. We're also unveiling this coming week

06:03:56areas where in informal settlement we'll be unrolling a solar-powered, you know, mechanism to power our own informal settlement, take them off the grid of Eskom and City Power so that we save some of the challenges that councillors are raising here of the burnt power station that are very much expensive to actually fix. Apologies for that, let me just request council to note the report. Thanks.

06:04:21Thank you, MMC.

06:04:30Member in charge, Councillor Munyayi.

06:04:42Thanks, Madam Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity also to thank the member of the committee who indeed through their effort we can see some of the results. I thought like maybe through you, Madam Speaker, Councillor Bittkau and Councillor Steenkamp, they can speak good thing about the issue of Kya Sands because as we speak now, the illegal dumping has stopped through the effort of the MMC together with the ED of the department. We thought like maybe you will speak something good about the issue of Kya Sands,claim

06:05:12finally. Maybe you'll speak better about this government when you go back to the residents. Madam Speaker, I will request the councillors to note this report. Thank you.

06:05:27Thank you, Councillor Munyayi. Councillors, the recommendations are on pages 15.5, 16.27, 17.3, 18.4 and 19.10 to 19.11. Are the items agreed to? Thank you, councillors.

Items 20-22: Human Settlements, JOSHCO and Section 79 oversight reports

06:05:50Councillors, we're on item 20, and that's the performance assessment report for the Human Settlements Department for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, read together with item 21, and that's the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Social Housing Company for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, and both items read together with item 22, which is an oversight report of the Human Settlements Section 79 Committee

06:06:22on the 2024/25 second quarter performance assessment report of the Department of Human Settlements and Johannesburg Social Housing Company for the period October to December 2024.

06:06:37Member in charge, Councillor Mpolobosho.

06:06:54Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. On behalf of Human Settlements Section 79 Committees, I rise to table item 20, item 21, item 22. Thank you very much, Speaker.

06:07:11Thank you, member in charge. ACDP, Councillor Harris.

06:07:21Greetings once again, Madam Speaker. I rise to address items 20, 21 and 22. The Housing Act 107 of 1997, Section 9, states that every municipality must, as part of its process of integrated development planning, take all reasonable steps within the framework of national and provincial housing legislation and policy to ensure inhabitants of its area of jurisdiction have access to adequate housing on a progressive basis,

06:07:52and that conditions which are not conducive to health and safety of the inhabitants of its area of jurisdiction are prevented from attaining, sorry, prevented and removed. Statistically, the reports meets the requirements of the Structures Act. However, the Quarter 2 report gives no indication that there is a process of integrated development planning. The department is barely being kept aliveclaim

06:08:24with no creativity or innovation on display. The Southern Farms project presents a golden opportunity to the department to involve the Eldorado Park communities in the development of this project. Instead, the processes are cloaked in mystery and the sense of exclusion despite promises made by previous senior ANC officials is deepening day by day. The report does not address the issue of access to adequate housing. It would have been good to read something about the waiting list and the allocations policy,claim

06:08:56especially of the elderly who are hastened to their graves within an insensitive bureaucratic maze. Nothing is said about the deplorable conditions of existing stock, including retirement villages being allowed to deteriorate daily. There are 2,539 units within Westbury in various stages of decay. These units are not conducive to the health and safety of the residents. I can make a case for the psychological genocide being unleashed on the residents in that area.claim

06:09:275 million rand is allocated for Capex for the flats and senior citizens villages. This has not been spent according to the report because the budget is inadequate. I think they can give me that 5 million if they don't want it. No title deeds were issued to residents in Westbury, Claremont, Newclare, Bosmont and Riverlea. These are among the oldest estates owned by the city. Whilst this process is fraught with complexity, ignoring this initiative to give dignity and an economic hand-upclaim

06:09:57to people does not speak of social justice and economic justice. The deficit on revenue collection is 216.5 million, that is for the JOSHCO. This is a serious concern. The proliferation of social housing movement and tenants committees who want to redefine the parameters of social housing provision can have repercussions for revenue collection. This should not have an impact on service delivery, though.claim

06:10:27Basic security and maintenance must be continued. I appreciate the work done by Chairperson Mpolobosho and the Section 79 Committee. I urge you to take a closer look at the stock owned by the city and to put on the agenda the redevelopment of Westbury and the surrounding areas. I thank you.claim

06:10:49Thank you, Councillor Harris. Councillors at the back there. Chief Whip. Oh, Chief Whip is not... Councillors at the back there, please let's take the discussion outside, we can hear you all the way from here. It's very disruptive.

06:11:07Thank you, Councillor Harris. UDM, Councillor Zigebe.

06:11:17isiXhosaSomlomo, njengoCeba belibhunga loMasipala Mthungwa waseRhawutini, uxanduva lwethu

06:11:25extends beyond routine governance, it demands diligent oversight, thoughtful analysis and strategic foresight to ensure our decisions today create lasting benefits for generations to come.

06:11:35isiXhosaSiyayibulela imizamo, Mthungwa, nemiphumela emihle yesebe lezezindlu nophuhliso lweendawo zokuhlala kwabantu,

06:11:43notably the strategic and impactful investment of 190 million towards informal settlements upgrades in Region G, which significantly improved the living conditions of over 913 households moved from Phumlamqashi to Vlakfontein. Further exemplifying our commitment to efficient service delivery, the Riverside View Phase 3 project was successfully completed ahead of schedule, delivering 184 affordable rental units at an investment of 116 million.claim

06:12:12These milestones represent not just figures, but real life changes in the daily experiences of our residents. We also proudly recognize the Johannesburg Social Housing Company for its notable successes in the past quarter. JOSHCO exceeds its employment targets creating 330 EPWP job opportunities against the target of 250, thus directly contributing to the economic empowerment and stability of our communities. Furthermore, JOSHCO maintained a commendable 98% occupancy rate,claim

06:12:43reinforcing our collective commitment to providing sustainable and dignified housing solutions. As we celebrate these achievements, we do so acknowledging that our work remains ongoing and our aspirations are always aimed higher. Our review today highlights opportunities for continuous growth and improvement. It invites us to thoughtfully consider solutions to address financial sustainability challenges that we are faced with, in particular ensuring timely payment to suppliers, strengthening rental collection mechanisms and addressing financial management gaps

06:13:16will further enhance our ability to sustainably meet the growing housing needs of the Johannesburg residents. In the spirit of our constructive reflection, we recognize the need for enhanced delivery of basic services such as water, electricity and sanitation in informal settlements. Addressing these critical areas will require innovative approaches, proactive resource allocations and collective strategic planning to ensure no community is left behind. It also calls for continued dedication towards responsible financial stewardship

06:13:49and effective governance integral to achieving sustainable and lasting outcomes. Good governance, transparency and meaningful community impact are at the core of our mandate. As we deliberate today, let us renew our commitment to collaborative problem-solving, strategic thinking and impactful action. We have the privilege and responsibility to craft a legacy of excellence and inclusivity for Johannesburg, building a city where every resident can thrive. Let us rise to the opportunities ahead, confident in our abilities to shape a vibrant, inclusive and prosperous Johannesburg.

06:14:21The UDM and MGP fully supports these reports. I thank you. Speaker,

06:14:26isiZulunginome manje, angenza kahle. Siyabonga,

06:14:30Councillor Zigebe, you are keeping to the time allocated. UIM, Councillor Abdool.

06:14:48Thank you, Speaker. I am just going to do a short introduction in terms of the background of what I'm about to say. A short drive south of the city, some 10 kilometers outside of the CBD, are remnants of Joburg's first settlement of the Khoisan, South Africa's oldest people. They are found at the Eikenhof Khoisan Farms consisting of 247 hectares of land immediately south of the Klipriviersberg mountain on the banks of the Klip River.claim

06:15:20The site has been occupied by the Khoisan for a hundred years. According to the Constitution in Section 217, it clearly states that when an organ of state in the national, provincial or local sphere of government or any other institution identified in national legislation contracts for goods or services, it must do so in accordance with a system which is fair, equitable, transparent and competitive and cost-effective.

06:15:51All this is superimposed in Section 197 of the Constitution, which is basic values and principles of public administration. Most importantly, Section 152 of the Constitution speaks and reminds all the objects of local government. It is against this elaborative preamble that I wish to draw this house to the attention of economic inclusion of the indigenous residents onto the Southern Farms Mega Development Project.

06:16:24And I just want you to note that I will harp on this each time I come into this building if this is not addressed. Based on Section 17 of the Public Procurement Act of 2024, they have the right to be subcontracted on a set-aside basis. This through an aggregation tender to the tune of 5.6% of the value of the project. The 5.6% is based on the population ratio of indigenous people in Johannesburg as recorded by the World Population Review.claim

06:16:56Therefore, as we all strive to deliver services in Region G, let us be mindful of the important piece of legislation requiring us to set aside economic opportunities for the indigenous people in the Region G to the economic value in proportion to their population ratio in line with the established legislation framework. I repeat, this community does not want preferential treatment, but they also want to be to sit at the table and benefit from a project which is being developed right next to their heritage site,

06:17:31which we request should not be destroyed. The UIM notes this report with great concern and reservation.

06:17:39AfrikaansAmasiko.

06:17:44Thank you, Councillor Abdool. PA, Councillor Mokwena.

06:17:56Greetings, Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor in his absentia, Chief Whip of council, Joburg 9 under the capable leadership of MMC Kenny Kunene, fellow councillors and distinguished guests, all protocol observed. Madam Speaker, I rise on item 20, 21 and 22. The purpose of this report is to present the second quarter performance report of JOSHCO. We note the favorable outcome of delivering 184 new units at Riverside View.claim

06:18:33We also acknowledge the financial investments, the 739 million for informal settlement upgrades. I am happy that the MMC has visited Maxwell Court, and the housing issue in Claremont were brought to his attention, and I know we will see the necessary changes. One of the issues that have greater impact of not achieving a target is the challenge in the rent collectionclaim

06:19:08and a prolonged housing allocation system, which leads to cost implications. The housing crisis and overcrowding in city townships are hard to ignore. We really need to speed up the allocation process in places like Fleurhof, Marlboro in Alexandra and other areas. The issue is close to my heart, which is perturbing.claim

06:19:39We have lost community members in Alexandra, including one of our own in council, may his soul rest in peace, the late Moshe Mphahlele. MMC, I may also ask on behalf of the Alexandrans, I mean people of Alexandra Township, that you consider some of the working class of the rental stock in Fleurhof and other areas as also addressing the housing backlogs in Alexandra Township. As Patriotic Alliance, we note the report. Ons baiza nie. Salute.claim

06:20:18Thank you, Councillor Mokwena. ActionSA, Councillor Ngwetsheni.

06:20:26Greetings, Speaker. Greetings to the Fabulous 44 and the house at large. ActionSA believes it's high time we see pragmatic improvements or solutions in dealing with the issue of C-forms and the backlog in human settlements provision, as well as the acceleration of the UISP program. Speaker, may I also take this opportunity to address an issue that has been a significant challenge to many communities across our nation, the prolonged

06:20:58and complex government processes that delays the establishment of townships and, as a result, prevent our citizens from receiving title deeds in time. These delays do not only frustrate our efforts to provide security of tenure to deserving residents, but also undermine the trust and hope of countless families. For years, our people have been eagerly awaiting the formalization of their homes,

06:21:28but the red tape and bureaucratic processes have created significant barriers. The establishment of townships involves a multitude of steps from planning to rezoning, to consultations and compliance with various legal frameworks. Each of these stages takes an inordinate amount of time to complete, often spanning several years. The lack of timely township establishment is not just a logistical issue, it's a social and an economic challenge. The slow pace at which title deeds are issued

06:22:00means we are denying our people the most basic form of security and the right to stake a claim to their land. This situation stifles development, restricts economic empowerment and fosters a climate of instability and uncertainty. MMC, we notice your efforts, but we believe more can be done, and thus ActionSA calls for streamlining and acceleration of the processes that hinder township establishment.

06:22:29We cannot allow years of paperwork and complex procedures to continue to impede progress. We must prioritize the reduction of bureaucratic inefficiencies and develop a more proactive approach to finalizing the establishment of townships and issuing title deeds. Our people deserve more than promises, they deserve tangible progress. ActionSA will advocate for better coordination between relevant departments and improved technologies for managing the processes,claim

06:23:02most importantly, even the reforms in the legislation to expedite the timelines. And the challenges experienced at JOSHCO need attention, the financial deficit of 215 million due to high operational costs and low revenue, the rent collection, which is sitting in the second quarter sitting at 72% collection rate, below 80% target, due to boycotts and economic hardships.claim

06:23:32We're also looking forward to the moving of the city's referral stock when it finally gets to be moved to the city from JOSHCO's books. The revenue, 181 million rand, which is below budget by 5.2 million rand, the rental income sitting at 83.7 million, slightly commendable with 13% over budget. Speaker, we want to make a call for a regional tour

06:24:04of social housing indaba sessions wherein the Department of Human Settlements, JOSHCO, all stakeholders in the social housing space, such as your SHM and all the others, can all come under one roof and have an engagement and resolve all the differences ranging from qualification criteria, lease agreements, social housing policies, maintenance and repairs, rent collection and all other issues of contention within the social housing space to ensure mutual understanding of all processes and common ground.

06:24:35We believe this will go a long way in addressing challenges at JOSHCO. The residents of both Alexandra and Mzimhlophe hostels are waiting for a fair opportunity to thrive and live with dignity. But the reality they face daily is that of inadequate water supply, poor sanitation and deteriorating infrastructure. The lack of access to basic amenities such as proper waste management poses a significant health risk and threatens the very lives of these communities. The absence of urgent intervention is exacerbating the plight of women,

06:25:08children and the elderly in these areas. ActionSA implores the Department of Human Settlements and JOSHCO to act swiftly and not let the promises of a better living conditions remain unfulfilled. The intervention of Joburg Water to address the critical water infrastructure issues in these areas is not a luxury, it's a necessity. The Johannesburg Water infrastructure, which serves both Alexandra and Mzimhlophe women hostels, is in desperate need of repair, upgrading and maintenance.

06:25:41This is no longer just a matter of inconvenience, it has become a matter of public health, dignity and the quality of life for our fellow citizens. ActionSA notes the reports. Thank you.

06:25:55Thank you, Councillor. EFF, Councillor Nenemba.

06:26:08Thank you, Speaker. I'm standing in for Councillor Nenemba. My name is Ramatsobane Leshilo, I'm the councillor of EFF in the City of Johannesburg from Ward 77. Thank you. Revolutionary greetings to our caucus leader, MMC of Public Safety, Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, our Chief Whip, Thabisa Mogapi, MMC of Health and Social Development, Ennie Makhafola, and the 29 battalions of the mighty Economic Freedom Fighters, not forgetting the residents of City of Johannesburg.

06:26:41The EFF notes the report and appreciate and acknowledge the effort made by both the MMC and the officials in this department. However, there are a few pressing matters that we feel need to be given very much attention. Speaker, it is important that we outline the necessary historical background of the challenges in the informal settlement that we find ourselves in as the City of Johannesburg being a South African economic hub.

06:27:15It is absolutely surprising that many people from different parts of South Africa and the continent will come in, in large numbers in the City of Gold. They come in different reason, being in seeking job opportunities and trying to be closer to their places of work. Speaker, in the 30 years of democracy, we still have a very apartheid spatial planning and that seeks to keep our working class

06:27:48as black progress in particular. This apartheid spatial planning has kept the majority of black people as far as possible from economic opportunities. Speaker, as the formalization of informal settlement is not an act of good gesture, but rather a duty that this department is obliged to fulfill, not only Section 25, right to adequate housing, but Section 10, inherent right to dignity.

06:28:21It is this reason that the EFF calls for expropriation of South African land without compensation for equal redistribution. Speaker, the formalization of this informal settlement shall include water and sanitation to all necessary infrastructure of our people. As we provide these services, we ought to guard against self-serving agents who come in form of political

06:28:51officials. We know and greed corruption of many politicians knows no boundaries. Some politicians don't mind to steal the very limited resources that we meant to change the life of the poor. They claim to representing allegation of stands being sold to officials, bribes taken becoming the reality that we must act against this department.

06:29:24It is brought to attention that the JPC has the list of hijacked buildings in this city. It gives the EFF every reason to call collaboration between Human Settlement, JPC and Public Safety to ensure that all these hijacked buildings are reclaimed from criminals and converted into student accommodation and low-income rentals. In conclusion, Speaker, the EFF once tabled a motion of expropriation of hijacked buildings

06:30:00for low-cost housing and student accommodation was adopted and passed in this council.

06:30:07isiZuluSisalindile,

06:30:08Speaker. I thank you.

06:30:14isiZuluSiyabonga,

06:30:15Councillor. ANC, Councillor Maluleka.

06:30:22Thanks, Speaker. Greetings to the Mayor, MMCs, Chief Whip, Chair of Chairs, the councillors, City Manager and all officials in the house, and members in the gallery. Speaker, I think the Department of Human Settlement

06:30:47Councillor Maluleka, thank you. Much better.

06:30:50I think the Department of Human Settlement has made some improvement in a number of KPIs, and more especially the KPI in installation of electricity in informal settlement, the installation of standpipes in informal settlement. And that also, Chair, talks to the issue of the long waiting list that we are talking about.

06:31:20The serviced stands that are reported in Cosmo City also respond to the call, Speaker. The development of Riverside View, the 184 units that are built in Riverside View also, Chair, respond to the same long list that we are talking about in this council. And Chair, the hybrid

06:31:52that is also installed in an informal settlement, Chair, waiting for the panels to be installed on the roof of Helen Joseph is also, Chair, plays an important role to this development of...

06:32:10informal settlements. And Chair, we also commend the Department by issuing of title deeds. I see more than 1,000 title deeds have been issued because this title deeds empowers owners of these properties so that they can develop further or achieve whatever that they will want to. But Chair,claim

06:32:37Speaker, JOSHCO has a problem for quite sometimes in rental collections. And all plans that are now in place show that the improvement of rental collection, which is Chair, in future we'll see this entity improving further.

06:33:01But Chair, the empowering of SMMEs that also result in employment of our EPWP is also noticed in this. Because Chair, we said in all reports of JOSHCO must indicate the skills transfer. So that

06:33:23this employment must not only end up with employing people without skilling some of them so that they can be able to do some other works after project and all that. So, we think that the Department of Human Settlements, it's improving.

06:33:43But in closing Speaker, we as the African National Congress Chair, as we note this report we are also appealing Chair for the Department to speed up the issue of permanent appointment of whether the CEO of JOSHCO, the COO of Human Settlement as well as resolving issues of the Executive Director. Because the acting

06:34:15arrangement also impact on issues of a service delivery. Thanks Speaker.

06:34:26Thank you, Councillor Maluleka. MMC Mabaso.

06:34:39Councillor Mthembu, Speaker of Council, the Members of the Mayoral Committee, the Executive Mayor in his absentia, all the councillors that are present in the meeting, Speaker, maybe before I respond to the issues that have been raised by councillors,

06:35:05I do wish to indicate that the IFP celebrated 50 years of existence on Sunday. And as such, Speaker, we are a very experienced organisation in the political environment.claim

06:35:28So, I will be matured in my response, Speaker, considering that I'm a member of an organisation that is 50 years old. Speaker, Councillor Harris has raised quite a lot of issues, and he was expecting to see some of the issues addressed in the report.

06:35:53And most of the issues he is expecting to be addressed in the report are not within the business plan of the Department. Hence, they will never appear in the report. And I will suggest that when he

06:36:11reads the report, he must read it against the business plan of the Department and that's how you measure the performance of the Department. I do acknowledge Speaker that some of the issues that he has raised, the Department has not been able to respond to or meet its target because

06:36:34of the funding challenges that the Department find itself in. And I think Members of the Committee are aware of those challenges because I did articulate them in the Committee that we've got quite a lot of unfunded project because of how the allocation was done in the current financial year. And we are working towards addressing that with the MMC of Finance and the Executive Mayor.

06:37:00Speaker, the beneficiaries for Southern Farms, the report has not yet served in Council. Once we finalize the identification of beneficiaries, the report will serve in Council. And I think Speaker, we need to slow down. Some of the colleagues, I think they are moving on a very high speed and they are on the fast lane

06:37:27when it comes to Southern Farms. There are processes that will follow, Speaker. And I will suggest that all of us we align ourselves to those processes. The beneficiation of local businesses and the participation of all the residents of Johannesburg

06:37:50particularly those that are adjacent to the wards that where the development will take place they will benefit. But we need to slow down Speaker.

06:38:03isiZuluAbantu bagijima kakhulu.

06:38:09Councillor Zigebe, yes we appreciate the analysis. I think it's the true reflection of the performance. The provision of houses and the improving of living conditions of our residents in the informal settlements is a moving target of course. But we will get it right. And part of the strategies in the Department, we said we will get a program manager that will assist us to define the scope

06:38:36of the upgrading of the informal settlements. Because most of the companies and the consultants that we have in the system does not really understand that the formalisation of the informal settlements is an in-situ development, not a greenfield. And most of the time when they apply their processes they apply it as if it's a greenfield development, and that's why we are now getting a program manager that will assist them to define the scope and also to monitor the implementation of the formalisation and upgrading of the informal settlements.

06:39:08The Maxwell Court, we did appoint a social facilitator Councillor Mokwena to engage with the residents. And once that process is finalised, we will then start the process of evacuating because we understand that it's important to save the lives of those that are residing within that particular building. And with the Alexandra, during the adjustment budget something was allocated to the Department. I know you are part of the councillors from Alexandra

06:39:42that accompanied me when we were doing oversight on the containers. So, we do have a budget now which will assist us to complete the work that must be done for us to complete the work in the containers. The MinMEC noted the impediments on the planning process

06:40:04which hinders on the issuing of title deeds. So, the matter is actually receiving the attention it deserves. But I agree with you Councillor Maluleka that despite all those challenges we are issuing title deeds and we are meeting our targets. With the hostels we have no issues of waste and cleaning in the hostels. We've got people that are cleaning hostels on daily basis. The issues of infrastructure, especially with the sewer,

06:40:36they are being attended to. Johannesburg Water was appointed. On Friday we are introducing a contractor at Dube Hostel. We are finalising the environmental issues for women's hostel in Soweto. We have engaged with Calgro to deal with the sewer challenges of Meadowlands Hostel.

06:41:00In Helen Joseph, Johannesburg Water is also in a process of appointing a contractor now that is going to deal with the sewer. So, the issue of the sewer infrastructure is receiving attention that it deserves. Yes, we have introduced a micro grid in the informal settlement as part of our electrification program so that we offload the load in our grid. So, we are working

06:41:26towards that, working together with City Power. Hence, we have identified the clinic in Helen Joseph as part of the properties that we will be using to electrify some of the informal settlements. Skills development, yes it's important. The CEO and the team were requested to devise a strategy on how the skills transfer can be done especially with our EPWP employees at JOSHCO. The provision of permanent services in the informal settlements that's what is taken

06:41:57Please wrap up, MMC.

06:41:59Thank you very much. That's what is catered to by Phase 3 of the formalisation of the informal settlements. And all the informal settlements that we are formalising we will be working towards providing permanent services because all the phases that we are engaging on are important. But the last phase talks to the permanent provision of the services in the informal settlements and that's where we are heading to with all the informal settlements. Thank you very much.

06:42:27Thank you, MMC Mabaso. Member in charge, Councillor Mpolobosho.

06:42:35Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Speaker, I ask the Council to note Item 20, Item 21, Item 23. Thank you very much.

06:42:45Thank you, member in charge. The recommendations, councillors, are on pages 20.3, 21.9, and 22.6. Are the items agreed to? Thank you, councillors.

Items 23-24: Public Safety performance and oversight reports, debate

06:43:02We are now on Item 23, and that's the performance assessment report for the Public Safety Department for the 2024/25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, read together with Item 24, which is an oversight report of the Section 79 Public Safety Committee on the 2024/25 first quarter performance report of the Department of Public Safety for the period October to December 2024.

06:43:29Member in charge, Councillor Wissler.

06:43:34Thank you, Speaker. Thank you to the MMCs, my fellow chairpersons of the Section 79 and all of the councillors present, including the residents out there. Speaker, I rise to table the report, Quarter 2 report on the Section 79 Public Safety Committee for the financial year 2024/2025. Speaker, the Portfolio Committee on Public Safety in the second quarter of '24 and '25 remained focused in making sure that the department's deliver.

06:44:04Madam Speaker, an observation is made that the department had reported on 22 key performance indicators. Out of the 22 KPIs a total of four were under achieved under this quarter. Madam Speaker, the committee commends that the department on achieving its targets in relation to the KPI and the percentage increase in licensing services, licenses revenue for the quarter under review. Madam Speaker, the department has achieved 100% on fraud and corruption cases that were investigated.claim

06:44:34The department inspected a total of 4,068 buildings during this period under review against the quarterly target of 3,250 inspections. The department has made a total of 281 drug searches and seizure operations against the target of 210. Looking into the financial performance, the committee notes that the department spent a total of 3.6 billion against the budget of 3.1 billion, reflecting an over-spending of 464 million.claim

06:45:06In terms of human resources, the committee notes that there was one employee who was promoted and 25 employees were employed. Thank you, Speaker.claim

06:45:18Thank you, member in charge. GOOD, Councillor Cook.

06:45:25Speaker, members of council and fellow residents of Johannesburg, I must state categorically that GOOD is not an opponent of public safety, but is a defender of real accountability, meaningful service delivery and the interests of the people of Johannesburg. Unfortunately, the reports tabled by the Public Safety Department are filled with numbers, road blocks conducted, licenses renewed and buildings inspected.claim

06:45:57But what it fails to present is the true measure of success. Are the people of Johannesburg safer today than they were three months ago? Most residents of Johannesburg will agree with me that the answer is, no. Speaker, the department can boast of 16,000 roadblocks, 64,000 vehicles stopped and 1,693 arrests made.claim

06:46:27However, these are just fantastical numbers. Where is the evidence that crime has decreased? That our roads are safer? That our communities are more secure? Speaker, the reports admit to several failures such as the ward-based policing, which is severely under-resourced, with officers stretched across multiple wards unable to provide the security presence our communities need.claim

06:46:56There are also only 38% of CCTV cameras functional, leaving our city in darkness while criminals roam freely. We cannot accept a report that tells us Johannesburg is safer when the very tools needed to ensure safety are broken, missing or underfunded. Speaker, the report shows that the department overspent by R464 million.claim

06:47:24Where did the money go? We see no major improvements in service delivery, no significant investments in crime fighting technology, and no real reduction in criminal activity. We cannot simply rubber stamp a report that presents a budget deficit without clear justification. Speaker, this report highlights that 1,053 shacks were removed and 11 brick and mortar structures demolished.claim

06:47:56But it fails to answer a crucial question. Where did the people go? Were they provided with alternative housing? Were they given any support by the city? The enforcement of bylaws must not come at the expense of human dignity. We cannot be a city that destroys homes without providing solutions. It is unacceptable.claim

06:48:24Speaker, despite all the interventions listed in this report, the city still faces rampant crime. Only seven arrests for drug related offenses were made in the entire city over three months. Seven arrests. We know that drug abuse and drug trafficking are crippling our communities. Yet this is the best our safety department can do? Seven arrests in three months?claim

06:48:52This report states that the Disaster Management Center responded to 99 incidents affecting 1,300 households. But what does a response mean? A temporary handout? Where is the long-term disaster prevention strategy? Johannesburg needs fire prevention, flood mitigation, and urban planning solutions, not just an emergency relief when disasters strike and a food parcel.

06:49:20Speaker, this report is not a blueprint for a safer city. It is a report of broken promises, poor planning, and misplaced priorities. Johannesburg deserves better. Our residents deserve a Public Safety Department that actually makes them feel safer and makes them safer. Not one that just merely measures how many roadblocks it set up or how many posters it's removed.

06:49:56Thank you, Councillor Cook. Freedom Front Plus, Councillor Pelzer.

06:50:07Thank you, Madam Speaker. All protocols observed. In this quarter the department only achieved 18 out of 22 KPIs, key performance indicators. One of the KPIs not achieved is the reduction of bylaw infringement as the result of the number of bylaw operations.claim

06:50:36This indicates that the department needs to focus on bylaw enforcement. We know it was December and the demand rises during the festive season, but in our fair city the bylaw enforcement seemingly always lack behind. We have to enforce bylaws.

06:51:02The department spent R3.6 billion against the budget of R3.1 billion, reflecting an overspending by R464 million. This is an over expenditure of 14.58%. Over expenditure on a tight budget is frowned upon, to say the least.claim

06:51:33Madam Speaker, the next point of concern of the Freedom Front Plus is that there were 11 fraud and corruption cases that were reported under JMPD. The department's whole purpose is public safety. So, we would like to see these cases investigated through the proper channels and according to the law.claim

06:52:01And ultimately, this should not happen in this department. Madam Speaker, I want to touch on the integrated mining risk workshop that was held. Of course, this is part of the implementation of the disaster management plan. We can all see the problems associated and effects of illegal mining.

06:52:30And hopefully this is a step in the right direction to address this enormous problem. Then lastly, one of the challenges that is faced by the department is the theft of cables and damage to infrastructure. This is the Public Safety Department. This is JMPD.

06:52:57We need to protect our assets and ultimately protect our residents. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

06:53:09Thank you, Councillor Pelzer. ACDP, Councillor Rohlssen.

06:53:17Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Greetings to you all in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. Greetings to you, Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor in absentia, MMCs, distinguished guests, and residents of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, I rise on Item 23, the performance assessment report for the Public Safety Department for the 2024/2025 financial year for the period of October to December 2024.claim

06:53:50Madam Speaker, the ACDP is very concerned when there is an over expenditure of R464 million and only seven arrests result from that over expenditure for drug-related offenses. Surely this cannot be. This cannot be. However, the ACDP is encouraged about the department's of Public Safety's program of reaching out to communities informing the community emergency response teamsclaim

06:54:22where 2,345 community members were trained. The ACDP also notes the school emergency response teams program where 42 schools have received emergency training. This is noteworthy and is very encouraging. Especially the connecting with the communities andclaim

06:54:49partnering with them and assisting them with these vital training programs. Taking into consideration the dire need for the urgent procurement of additional emergency resources, which are currently not available. For example, insufficient emergency medical equipment, insufficient numbers of ambulances, as well as firefighting equipment, firefighting trucks, crews and equipment.claim

06:55:19The ACDP therefore calls on the Department of Public Safety to urgently increase these training programs throughout the City of Johannesburg. These programs should not only incorporate fire prevention and reaction, but also medical first aid response training. This the ACDP believes will greatly contribute towards the safety and well-being of the residents of Johannesburg. The ACDP notes this report with reservations. God bless South Africa. God bless the sovereign State of Israel. I thank you.

06:55:58Thank you, Councillor Rohlssen. PA, Councillor May.

06:56:15Greetings, Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor in his absentia, PA Caucus Leader, MMC Kenny Kunene, the fantastic nine, Joburg 10 loading, esteemed guests in the gallery and our communities watching at large. Public safety is a crucial aspect of any community as it encompasses the protection and well-being of all individuals within that society.

06:56:46It is essential for maintaining order, ensuring a sense of security, and upholding a rule of law. Several factors contribute to public safety, including law enforcement, emergency response services, and crime prevention efforts. Law enforcement agencies play a pivotal role in maintaining public safety by enforcing laws, investigating crimes, and apprehending criminals. Emergency response services, such as fire departments and medical personnel,

06:57:16are also crucial in times of crisis. To that, we need to provide a swift response to support those in need. Additionally, crime prevention efforts such as community policing initiatives and public awareness campaigns are essential in reducing the likelihood of criminal activities and promoting a safer environment for all citizens. By fostering a sense of responsibility and cooperation among community members, these efforts can help prevent crime and improve overall public safety.

06:57:49MMC of Public Safety, it is a collective responsibility that requires the collaboration of law enforcement agencies, emergency services, government officials, and community members. By working together to address these potential threats and prevent harm, we can create a safer and more secure environment for all residents within the city. The PA notes this report. Thank you, salute.

06:58:21Thank you, Councillor May. ActionSA, Councillor Coutriers.

06:58:35Madam Speaker, late reports or at least the tabling thereof of these reports or even commenting on them are like weeds in a garden. Madam Speaker, weeds take up space in the garden, waste resources, and can choke good plants. And just as a gardener needs to remove weeds to allow the garden to flourish, we need to avoid useless comments to allow meaningful scrutiny to take place. In this case, Madam Speaker, Elvis has left the building.

06:59:06The stable door is open, the horse has bolted. What has been done cannot be undone, it is too late. Madam Speaker, good afternoon. Good afternoon, colleagues. There are however a few unknowns in these reports that are and will continue to be rearing its ugly head. Madam Speaker, across the 135 wards in our city,

06:59:35how often do we see JMPD personnel regularly patrolling during the day? Let's not even speak of nighttime. Secondly, what amazing numbers are reflected in terms of revenue from licensing. Big numbers, big words. Certain people will have problems pronouncing or calling out those numbers, we won't say who. And we surpassed the target.claim

07:00:04But how much of this revenue actually comes to our coffers? Remember that we have an 80/20 split. Madam Speaker, I think it's high time that our Executive Mayor has a cup of tea because I know he doesn't imbibe, with the province and discuss their claim of 80% of the lucre that they demand. Giving us a mere 20%.claim

07:00:32Afrikaans'n Mens moet vra, maar wie doen die werk?

07:00:36Another area we can look at to bolster our revenue in doing away with the surcharge on electricity or at least reducing it. Speaker, there's an entire page in one of the reports that is dedicated to the armory. Is there a major problem with the armory? Why does it seem as though there's a little boys club taking place there? Does each and every officer carry a service sidearm when they go out on duty?

07:01:05Shockingly and alarmingly, no. Bulletproof vests, we don't even want to go there. I see on the reports, Madam Speaker, I see that data was not provided for the employment equity information. I wonder why? You know, Speaker, at my age,

07:01:29Afrikaansen ek is nie 'n ou man nie.

07:01:35We used to as kids wean information from all forms that we could obtain knowledge from. And one of those forms was the Chappies bubblegum wrapper. I don't know if you remember that, Speaker. Well, here's a free wrapper for you today. Did you know? 461, there's not one so-called colored officer in JMPD above the rank of Chief Superintendent.

07:02:10The next rank thereafter is Deputy Director, and then Director, and then Chief. Not one Coloured person.

07:02:18That's correct, Speaker. But what is even more interesting is the fact that many of those so-called Coloured officers sport qualifications that we could only dream of, and will easily lead properly.

07:02:34Madam Speaker, these questions are directed at these reports only. And according to the reports, Public Safety seems to be on the brink, no, not the former City Manager, of being admitted to ICU.

07:02:49The word accountability is not just some go-to word. It must and will be adhered to. ActionSA and the residents of our city will not allow members in charge of departments to carry on as if it's business as usual. Our Section 79 Oversight Committee is unified in our commitment to expose and assist to rectify our beloved, but ailing Public Safety Department.

07:03:19Under the steermanship, or should I say steerwomanship, of our Councillor and Chairperson, Councillor Wissler, already a number of issues have been resolved and or are tackled head-on. Councillors, especially Ward Councillors, can expect a more in-depth report regarding activities that take place in the various regions and then wards. There's going to be a revisit of the KPIs.

07:03:49The over-expenditure is going to be addressed, or is being addressed. There's also resolve to jack up and apply the ward-based policing and crime prevention programmes and strategies. We're addressing the tools of trade and the inhumane conditions in which our uniformed employees are expected to work in.

07:04:0930 seconds remaining.

07:04:11Lastly, Speaker, through you, we need to address the slumlord department, which is the only phrase I can use to describe JPC. We cannot continue like this. The rat and human faeces infestation taking place in our buildings cannot be. Buildings that are in far worse condition than that of our Metro Centre are commonplace. Collapsed ceilings, non-functional toilets, no furniture, and then we expect these men and women to lay down their lives for us, the citizens of Johannesburg.

07:04:41An example of their total disregard is the state of our very own Council Chamber. Speaker, who does JPC think they are? We allow individuals to willy-nilly carry on as though there are no ethical and legal concerns surrounding them. No, reward is in the name is the name of the game. Let's just give you another position, a highly financially rewarded position.

07:05:06AfrikaansSpeaker, my bloed trek reis.

07:05:09Let me conclude. It is imperative that we act as one to build a dynamic, efficient, and citizen-orientated public service that serves the interest of citizens of Johannesburg. We must, as a municipality, act as one to challenge racism in all its forms.

07:05:24Time's up, Councillor.

07:05:25And proactively work to break down racial stereotypes, racial prejudice. Speaker, ActionSA notes the reports tabled to Council. I thank you.

07:05:37Thank you, Councillor Coutriers. DA, Councillor Maila.

07:06:08Eh, Madam Speaker, his Worship, the Executive Mayor, the honourable, the leader of the official opposition, the honourable, the Whip of Council, esteemed members of Council, the people of Johannesburg, greetings and salutations.

07:06:34I am certain, Madam Speaker, we can all agree, as elected representatives of the people, that we have a collective duty and responsibility to ensure that the 6 million residents of this great city are and feel safe in their homes, in their streets, and at their different workplaces, in both the public and private sectors of our significantclaim

07:07:05yet fledgling economy. If we agree that public safety is our responsibility as Councillors, then we must also agree that the Department of Public Safety should receive our priority attention, because no human development is possible in an unsafe environment. But this ANC-led Government of Local Unityclaim

07:07:35does not seem to get it. They don't seem to understand that the Public Safety Department must be sufficiently resourced in order for us to realise a safe and secure environment the people of Johannesburg so desperately yearn for. They don't seem to appreciate that the department needs a full-time Head of Department, which it has not had in more than 2 years,claim

07:08:05in order for it to be administratively stable. They are unable to make the link between visible policing, especially in those policing areas with a high prevalence of crime, such as Johannesburg Central, Hillbrow, Jeppe, Ivory Park, Alexandra, Midrand, Diepsloot, and Orange Farms, and the recruitment of additional police officers to ensureclaim

07:08:35that we are able to deploy at least 10 JMPD officers in each of the city's 135 wards. They are refusing, Madam Speaker, to accept the basic fact that we need more fire trucks and firefighters in order to protect the people of Johannesburg from the ravaging fires that have claimed hundreds of lives, particularly in the inner city and other parts of our vast areaclaim

07:09:05of jurisdiction. Madam Speaker, this Government of Local Unity is unable to do some basic policing research that will tell them you need an effective anti-corruption strategy, which includes lifestyle audits and integrity testing in order to wage a battle against corruption in the JMPD. That said, Madam Speaker,claim

07:09:33the Democratic Alliance notes the performance assessment report for the Public Safety Department in respect of the second quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, as well as the oversight report of the Section 79 Public Safety Committee on the second quarter performance report of the department for the period October to December 2024. As I conclude, Madam Speaker, we must express the fervent hope that the people of Johannesburgclaim

07:10:04will vote wisely in the upcoming 2026 local government elections and rescue themselves from this shambolic Government of Local Unity. I thank you.

07:10:21A future impossible tense.

07:10:25Thank you, Councillor Maila. EFF, Councillor Mbambala.

07:10:35Thank you, Madam Speaker. Greetings to you, Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor, honourable Councillors, residents of City of Joburg, and special greetings to the EFF party leader, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, and EFF Chief Whip, Councillor Thabiso Mogapi. I greet you in the name of EFF pillar number one of expropriation of land without compensation for equally distribution. As a representative of the Economic Freedom Fighters,

07:11:07I rise in full support of the Public Safety Department report. Our people deserve a city that is safe, efficient, and accountable, and this report shows clear progress in making that a reality. Over the last quarter, the crime prevention program has led to over 1,600 arrests, thousands of vehicles stopped, and increased by-law enforcement to restore order. Emergency services exceeded targets,claim

07:11:39inspecting 3,900 buildings, and training thousands of residents and schools in disaster response. Speaker, our CCTV surveillance and traffic operation have made the city safer. Speaker, JMPD has been working without the Section 56 notice book for over six months, yet the department is able to collect 417 millions in revenue,claim

07:12:09even without resources. We compliment the effort and success on this department. There are still challenges traffic There are still challenges, traffic congestion, crime hotspots, and infrastructure vandalism, but solutions are being implemented. Speaker, as the EFF, we will continue to hold this administration accountable, ensuring that the resources are directedclaim

07:12:39where they are needed most to the people of Johannesburg. Speaker, we acknowledge the achievements of the department, particularly in increasing in licensing revenue, intensifying crime prevention operations, and traffic enforcement. These efforts are steps towards making Johannesburg a safer and more orderly city. Speaker, under MMC of Safety

07:13:09of Public Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, Johannesburg is safer than it was before. Even that President of GNU acknowledged the visibility of JMPD in every street in the City of Johannesburg. The EFF note the report and push for even greater actions. A safer Johannesburg is our priority, and the fight for economic freedom includes the safety, the security for all.

07:13:39Thank you.

07:13:40TshivendaNdo livhuwa.

07:13:50TshivendaNdo livhuwa,

07:13:51Councillor. ANC, Councillor Nair.

07:13:58Greetings, honourable Speaker, the Executive Mayor, members of the Mayoral Committee, Chair of Chairs, Chief Whip of Council, fellow Councillors, guests in the gallery, and the residents of City of Joburg. I greet you with the universal greeting of peace be upon you. Madam Speaker, I hate playing political games, but I have to bring this in, you know, when there's an attack on a specific political party. Let me remind this house that over the last 10 years,

07:14:29the administration of the city had changed hands. There was a time that the people in blue ruled the city. It came back to the ANC, and then it came back to coalition governments, and in between, I think the opposition had a chance to rule the city for a year. So, when we throw blame, let us just look within ourselves. The degradation of the city didn't start yesterday. It didn't start from the time that the GLU has come into power. It started a good few years ago. So, let us look within ourselves and take blame for this,

07:15:00and not just point fingers. Madam Speaker, public safety is a concern of everyone in this house, and I'd like to believe that it's a concern of everyone in this house, and not just the opposition. We, as the ANC, really it concerns us. Do not forget that we do represent the large majority of voters and residents in the city, and we do care for our residents. Madam Speaker, crime, and I'd like to take this opportunity

07:15:30to congratulate the Executive Mayor and, with the support of the MMC for Public Safety, for finally taking a stand to reclaim our inner city. And I'd like to believe that under the mayorship of our Mayor and the Mayoral Committee, that we will win this war, and we will reclaim our city. It is a small beginning, but yes, I'm positive that we will see the fruits as we go along. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak

07:16:01on item 23, 24 of the Public Safety performance assessment report for the financial period October to December 2024. Madam Speaker, we feel that not enough is being done to bring the lawlessness that is prevalent across the City of Johannesburg under control. You know, criminals do not choose when they attack someone, or they rob someone, or rape someone. And all our residents of the City of Joburg have become victims of this. So, we are hoping

07:16:31that we're all committed to bring the city to a place of peace and safety. As recently, over the last few months, we are aware of incidents that has occurred in the inner city and in Ward 58, a shootout between JMPD, SAPS, and security personnel with cable thieves, and the destruction of property by illegal, undocumented foreign nationals. Madam Speaker, I want to make this statement. One of the biggest contributing factors to the lawlessness in our city are the illegal, undocumented foreign nationals,

07:17:01and I hope that this Mayoral Committee will address this both with provincial and national government. I want to say the President was here and he threw us all as Councillors under the bus, and he accused us of being useless Councillors. Maybe in a way we are, because we're not achieving much, but I'd like to believe that this Government of Unity is working towards and achieving and turning around what's happening in the city. Madam Speaker, I want to, in question, and I think I would not do justice

07:17:31to the residents of Ward 58, and especially the residents of a suburb, a small, little, quiet suburb in Ward 58 called Homestead Park. Madam Speaker, since 2010, this community has been experiencing problems with illegal squatters, illegal herding of cows and pigs in the park, and a whole lot of lawlessness that has stemmed from the illegal squatters. So, this has not appeared yesterday. It's a problem from 2010,

07:18:01but I want to appeal to the MMC, he has been there, that please, the residents are crying out for some help. We need to look at this illegal squatter camp that's there. It is 95% in

07:19:04how effective they are in a ward. There's a whole lot of by-laws that need to be attended to, but all I've seen is the normal traffic operations where they would have a vehicle or two positioned as you come off the highway, and they stop people for traffic offences. But if you drive through Ward 58, you will see infringements of by-laws at the highest. Every corner we have foreign nationals trading on corners, selling from fruit, vegetables to live

07:19:34poultry and illegal development of backrooms, large numbers of contravention of by-laws. And I'm hoping that in the next month, as been promised, that I will get to see these 10-plus officers and see more by-law enforcement in the area. Madam Speaker, the issue that I have observed is that one of the biggest problems faced with all of us as Councillors in the city as a whole,

07:20:04is the mindset of our civil servants. And I want to appeal to the Mayor, to the MMC, to all our MMCs, we need to change the mindsets of our civil servants. These civil servants not only come from the African National Congress, they come from all political parties. And it's because of their attitude, because of the laziness, and some of them totally incompetent, is that we are facing what we are facing. But generally, I don't believe it's the incompetence. It's just a mindset of laziness

07:20:34and entitlement. We need to change this mindset. If we're ever going to win and get Joburg to a state that we're all going to be happy with, we need to change the mindsets of civil servants. Madam Speaker, on the issue of the crime prevention, this was covered by a lot of my fellow speakers, so I'm not going to keep you here. JMPD, the figures, really, 35,000, 37,000, 69,000, amazing figures, but where and what? And I think as the Portfolio Committee

07:21:05on oversight, we need to start demanding more that they give us precise reports telling us where these things are happening, what these like I mean 70,000 in total, and then you get 1,693 arrests. The numbers don't add up. Madam Speaker, by-law enforcement, like I say, nothing in my ward and most parts of the inner city and neighbouring wards, illegal street trading, a massive problem, illegal shacks and structures

07:21:35on the side of the road. And this is why I say we need a mindset change among JMPD officers, because JMPD officers would drive down the street, they will see this plastic shelter, and they will not do anything about it. They will see drug addicts shooting themselves on the streets, and they would look the other way. So, you know, when we talk about the broken window syndrome, let us start with the little things, JMPD. And you'll see how we'll have a change in policing in the city. Emergency Management Services,

07:22:07the one thing that I want to talk about is your PIER program. I see you've done some more wards compared to our last report, but the number doesn't justify. There's been no training in Region C, D, and G, only one ward in Region B, and only four wards in Region F. We would like to see this extended. What we should be working towards to is having civil defense units in every ward, because Johannesburg is a city on

07:22:38gold tunnels. And we've noticed recently with the flash floods that we've been having, we're not ready for a disaster across the city. And most progressive cities throughout the world have civil defense units [inaudible] in the event of any disaster. Madam Speaker, the issue I've also witnessed is that the fire hydrants are not maintained in the city. We have a fire,

07:23:07the fire brigade would fire truck would arrive there, and then it will take us 10 or 15 minutes trying to locate a working fire hydrant. There has to be some synergy between Public Safety, Johannesburg Roads Agencies, and Joburg Water, because this is people's lives that we talk about. On the issue of fire engines, Madam Speaker, it's now going close to four years we've had no fire engines that have been delivered to the city. And my appeal to the MMC, that please,

07:23:38our townships that don't have fire stations and fire engines, this should be a priority. Madam Speaker, I just want to finish off on the issue of the TRU. I mean, this is an achievement, really, guys. I've seen them. They look like a very specialized unit. They look the unit, but seven arrests, one drug bust. Really, guys, in a city that's been overwhelmed by drug abuse, the mothers, the parents

07:24:09of Riverlea, Westbury, Vrededorp, Eldorado Park are crying out for help. Drugs is a major, major issue. It's slowly getting into our other townships. We need to, as the fathers and mothers of the city, elected by our people, to prioritize the issue of the scourge of drugs in our communities. It is destroying our youth and it's destroying our future. Madam Speaker, I just want to finish there.

07:24:40I think I want to take this opportunity once again to thank the Mayor and the MMC for the work that they're putting, and I'm hoping that this continues and we hope to see the results in the near future. With that, the ANC accepts this report. I thank you.

Public Safety: MMC Tshwaku's reply and committee close

07:25:02Thank you, Councillor. MMC Tshwaku.

07:25:09isiXhosaIfighter iyanyamezela. Ifighter. Ifighter iyanyamezela. Ndizakuthini?

07:25:23Actually, I don't normally defend my reports, but I think it's the first time now I have to stand up and speak. Firstly, let me greet the party leader, the caucus of the EFF, and the Councillors of the EFF, the Mayor, the

07:25:46the Mayor and the Mayoral Committee members, the caucus of caucus, the Chief Whip of the ANC, and also the Councillors and everyone that is here today. First thing first, I'd like to, Speaker, to invite the house to the inauguration of the Chief of Police,claim

07:26:10Chief Jaca. He is going to be inaugurated next week on the 3rd of April. So, you are all invited. This is the achievement. Thank you very much for the partners in this GLU that have actually supported and all of that. Remember, we did not have a Chief, Councillor Mokoena, for almost five years. So, this team,claim

07:26:40this government has actually achieved that. It's an achievement. And I think you should be clapping this side. I don't know why

07:26:46isiXhosaniwumona nje.

07:26:49And thank you very much for the support and all of that. I think the Mayor and the Mayoral Committee worked very hard, where you were united on the names and all of that in terms of what needs to happen. So, you are all invited. It's going to be an Armageddon. It's going to be biblical. And also, he's going to be changed, not be the Chief of Police now. He's going to be the Commissioner, the Commissioner of

07:27:17Metro Police, Chair of Chairs. This is an achievement. That's why I want to stand on it. It was very difficult. It was very difficult. It was very difficult, because the destabilization of JMPD was on that position, because people were not focusing.

07:27:38isiXhosaBafuna ukuya phaya phezulu.

07:27:42So, I had to stop,

07:27:43isiZulunoma kanjani manje nami.

07:27:45That's why you don't see me being active. I said, "Hey, let me go there and stabilize that position there." Because

07:27:51isiXhosawonke umntu,

07:27:52wena Chair of Chairs,

07:27:53isiXhosaufuna ukuya phaya.

07:27:55They forgot,

07:27:56isiXhosakulitywe

07:27:57they forgot ne-by-laws, they forgot this,

07:28:00isiXhosauyabona? Kuthiwa ndikhetheni. Nam ndifuna ukungena. Ngoku bonke bafuna ukungena.

07:28:06But I know that the JMPD has been working very hard, shame. We came from the bottom. When we arrived as this the whole GLU, they did not have uniform. They did not have the cars. So, this team had to unleash everything, supported by the Mayor, who at that time was the Finance Minister and also Finance MMC, and also the team. We had to ensure that cars are released, they have cars and all of that.

07:28:38We came from the bottom, but now we are here. We are here. I don't know, leadership, there's a Councillor here who was trying to cook something, Councillor Cook.

07:28:54isiXhosaHayi mina andimazi

07:28:55that Councillor. He just came in blazing. I don't He never even attended not a single Section 79 Committee, that Councillor. He comes here and sings and says things that he doesn't even understand. I don't even think that he actually comprehends, uyazi, understands i-crime stats.

07:29:15isiXhosaHhe banna,

07:29:16like, yima bra, yho, Councillor. Councillor, go to the crime stats. That's where science is,

07:29:25isiZuluubone ukuthi,

07:29:26at least, there's a decline, but it's not enough. We know the problematic areas, Orange Farm, Ivory Park, but there's a sense that something is happening, because the Maycom said, "Look, please, your focus is crime and by-law." I said, "Okay, fine, let's do crime, you know, the crime prevention." Hence, there was a launch of a TRU, supported by this GLU.

07:29:54isiZuluSo, wena uyafika la,

07:29:56like,

07:29:56isiZuluuyangitshela ukuthi

07:29:58nothing is happening, and everyone is singing. I'm like, Jesus, who is this guy? Like, I mean, yho, the Councillor. You know, I appreciate, uyabona, I was the only person that I was going to have a headache with is Councillor Maila, because he always has scathing attacks on Section 79. He doesn't make me sleep, this Councillor, because I know that I must fully prepare when I come there, because, hey, this guy, he reads those things in like And I said, "Oh, where is he now? Is he coming? Is he sick?" They said, "No, he's coming."

07:30:30So, even now, when I was about to speak, I said, "Hey, my man, please, man. I can't be cooked by Councillor Cook and then you next to me." Hey, I was like, hhe banna. So, guys, very quickly, on the employment equity, we agree that we need to review it quickly, but it's a city-wide one, Councillor. We need to have a look at it. Okay? The problem is here, is Councillor Kunene.

07:30:59He has hired a lot of Coloureds in the city, and then he did not even spare anything for me. We've been writing deviation reports.

07:31:10isiXhosaNdithi,

07:31:10"But look, there's no Indians there, there's no Coloureds," and also,

07:31:16isiXhosayithi abafuni nani.

07:31:17Don't go overseas, e-USA. White people

07:31:20isiXhosaabekho phaya.

07:31:21I want you there, as well. So, it's not representative of the demographics. Of course,

07:31:2730 seconds, MMC.

07:31:28Oh, my God. Okay, by-law. Let me tell on the by-law. Colleagues, the other ones, I'm probably going to write something so that we can look at the other questions. Visible policing, ward-based policing, I don't think that it is working very well. We're going to review it, my Councillors and all, the Chair, as well, Councillor Wissler. We're going We talked about we're going to review that. And then on the by-law, we're going to decentralize it. It has not been working effectively. So, now we've moved away from the crime prevention. We're on by-law.

07:31:58So, with the assistance, we're meeting COGTA next week just to look at the by-law food chain. Remember, it's inspections, and then after that, if people are not abiding by the by-law, we must

07:32:10enforce it, so we are on that bylaw now. So instead of being centralized, we are going to decentralize it. Ward-based, don't worry. Since now the position of the Chief of Police has been stabilized, people are back now to do the work. So we are even hiring, we're going to, I think the director of bylaw and the director of tactical, they went for assessment. Hopefully by next week, we'll be having a director of bylaw, so that people can focus now and do the work.

07:32:37isiZuluMMC, uyathetha, liyaphela ixesha.

07:32:41isiZuluNgulenyamezela, ifighter iyanyamezela, ifighter iyanyamezela, ifighter iyanyamezela, ifighter. Akhululeke amakhansela ami.

07:33:00Thank you very much.

07:33:19Eish, MMC Tshwaku. Member in charge, Councillor Wissler.

07:33:26Thank you, Speaker. I'd also just like to highlight a few things so that we make sure that we're all on the same page. The Section 79 committee resolved that JMPD will now give us very detailed reports on bylaw enforcements and crime preventions, and it will be whittled down to each ward, so that we can actually determine, from the committee's point of view, exactly what crimes are being committed in each ward and whether they're being addressed correctly, and if not, then the committee can assist JMPD in getting the right information to be able to deal with those issues.claim

07:33:57We also resolved, as a committee, that JMPD needs to go back to the basics, as the MMC was mentioning, that the problem is that the bylaw enforcement was all in one department and that we need to take all of that back to ward-based level and back to the ground, so that we can deal with these issues of crime as well as bylaw enforcement can be done right there and then. And we were saying that the officers need to adopt a mindset that this is not my job,

07:34:28it's a different division's job. We must adopt a mindset that is no longer, that if you see something, you deal with something, and then you call for backup to be able to assist you. In light of this, and all of the above, Speaker, the committee recommends that Council approves the second assessment performance report. Thank you.

07:34:52Thank you, member in charge, Councillor Wissler. Recommendations are on pages 23.21 and 24.4. Are the items agreed to? Thank you, councillors.

Items 25-29: Transport, JRA, Metrobus and MTC reports, debate

07:35:11Councillors, we're now on item 25, and that's your performance assessment reports of the Transport Department for the 2024-25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, read together with item 26, which is the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Roads Agency for the 2024-25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, and also read with item 27, and that's the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Bus Services

07:35:42for the 2024-25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, and above items are, lastly, read with item 28, which is the performance assessment report for the Metropolitan Trading Company for the 2024-25 financial year for the period October to December 2024, and lastly, with item 29, which is an oversight report of the Transport Section 79 Committee on the second-quarter performance assessment report of the Transport Department, Metrobus, Johannesburg Road Agency,

07:36:16and Metropolitan Trading Company for the period October to December 2024.

07:36:24Member in charge, Councillor Ndlela.

07:36:39Speaker, esteemed members of councillors, and distinguished guests, Madam Speaker, I hereby rise to table item 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29, as read by the Speaker to Council. Thank you.

07:37:03Thank you, member in charge. DA, Councillor Crichton.

07:37:10Thank you, Speaker. It's Councillor Crichton. Good afternoon, Madam Speaker, all protocol observed. I hereby rise to speak on item 25, which pertains to the Transport Department's performance in the last quarter. The Democratic Alliance notes this report with some concern. One of the issues is that we are particularly concerned about the fact that the Rea Vaya fell short of its passenger number targets by over 20,000.claim

07:37:40This is mainly due to delays with the launching of phase 1C. The bus operating company has now been tasked with sourcing funding to procure 141 buses for the Rea Vaya phase 1C. However, this may prove to be a challenge, as the bus operating company is currently under business rescue. Public transport is a critical service, and these failures are actively undermining Johannesburg's ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transport for our residents.claim

07:38:14The procurement of 68 Metrobuses for reconfiguration and branding to be utilized for the Rea Vaya 1C is in place, but the branding and reconfiguration of the buses has not yet begun. The DA is extremely concerned about the ongoing delays to implement Rea Vaya 1C. At a time when residents are struggling with unreliable public transport and increasing transport costs, this delay is just unacceptable.claim

07:38:43The DA also notes with concern the fact that the complete street links for both the Chiawelo and Merafe railway stations were delayed due to budget constraints. This is yet another example how poor financial planning and mismanagement under the ANC-EFF-PA-ActionSA coalition are failing the residents of Johannesburg. Investments in the transport infrastructure should be a top priority, not an afterthought.claim

07:39:13At the moment, the DA has to note with concern the shocking contempt that MMC Kenny Kunene is showing the Section 79 Transport Committee by not attending the last meeting and did not submit an apology. The MMC's attendance of Section 79 meetings in recent months has been scarce, to say the least. With the shocking performance that is happening under his watch, one has to expect that he would take these meetings more seriously.claim

07:39:44One must ask, is it a case of avoiding accountability, or just being asleep behind the wheel? Johannesburg's Transport Department is in crisis, and like so many other aspects of the city, the Transport Department needs urgent intervention. The DA needs immediate action to resolve delays in the Rea Vaya 1C, strict accountability from the MMC and his department for these ongoing failures.

07:40:14The residents of Johannesburg deserve a transport system that is efficient, reliable, and well-managed, not one with delays, excuses, and absentee leadership. The DA notes the report with great concern, and we will continue to fight for a city that puts the needs of its commuters first. I thank you.

07:40:38Thank you, Councillor. ANC, Councillor Maake.

07:40:44Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Greetings to you, Madam Speaker. Greetings to the Mayor, Councillor Dada Morero. Greetings to the MMCs. Greetings to Chief Whip. Greetings to Chair of Chairs, chairpersons of portfolio committees, and councillors.

07:41:17Madam Speaker, I'm rising to speak on item 26, performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Road Agency for the 2024-2025 financial year for the period October to December. Madam Speaker, as we are noting this report, I want to highlight few issues.

07:41:52SesothoMMC, a ke batle go buella ka sekgowa, because of ge nka bolela ka sekgowa ba tlo re utlwa, ne ba ipotsa gore ra lwa. Ga re sa lwe. MMC, grootman ya rona, ke kopa gore re chenche the way re berekang ka teng. You know, truly speaking, JRA ya bereka ko di warding tse dingwe, mara ko di warding tse dingwe ga e bereke. Eya ko Diepsloot, eya ko Ivory Park,

07:42:24Sesothoeya ko Alexandra, eya ko Snake Park, eya ko Orange Farm. They are not doing anything, oh, sorry, ga ba etse niks. Ga ba etse niks, MMC. Akere wa itse gore re mo lenyalong, MMC? Then ge re le mo lenyalong, re tshwanetse re botsane nnete, somewhere, somehow, because of ge re ka se botsane nnete, re latlhisana ma-side, MMC. If eba re mo lenyalong, ene re na le bana, mara bana ba ga re ba-treat-e

07:42:59Sesothogo tshwana, a ke batle go jampisa, go tshwana, then it's gonna be a, go tla nna le bothatanyana, MMC. If you go to Diepsloot, go na le seterata se sengwe ba re ke Dr Alfred Xuma, ko Extension 4. Go na le seterata ba re ke Ndimatsheroni, ko Extension 1. Go na le seterata ba re ke Rivers of Babylon, ko Extension 2. Go na le seterata ba re ke Emfuleni, ko Extension 1. Ai, di seterata tsele ga di right.

07:43:30SesothoEne di seterata tse, ka nako ela ya Operational Restore, ne di le mo programeng, mara ga ba di etsa. Maybe bothata ke gore JRA ekare e hwetse batho ba bagolo. Most of batho ba, ba no tla go bereka mošomo o one, wa understanda? A ke batle go jampisa. Mošomo o mo-one. Ge ba o bereka mošomo o, ba o bereka ba le ba bantsi, o thole gore ekare ba le seven mošomonyana o monnyane. Ba ye lunch-eng for bo ma-two hours.

07:43:59SesothoRe na le young people ba e leng gore currently ga ba bereke, MMC. Maybe if eba re ka ba fa chance, ba tla etsa dilo monate, MMC. A re ba phushe, a re chanche dilo, MMC. Maybe ge re ka chancha dilo, re tla ba shapo. Ga re go tlhasele, just that akere re tshwanetse re bontshane mola le mola, MMC. O se ka re ge re tswa mo, wa thoma go laetsa gore, "Mara mchana, ne o ntlhasela." Aee, ga re go tlhasele, MMC. A re etse dilo monate.

07:44:28SesothoKe kopa gore at least one day ge o ka no-driver wa ya ko Diepsloot, wa ya ko Orange Farm, o tlo bona. Maybe ba go fa le report e e leng gore ga e teng.

07:44:40Ga ba bereke go tshwana le di department tse dingwe. To those who didn't understand what I was saying, I was saying the ANC is noting the report. Thank you very much.

07:45:06Thank you, Councillor Maake. UDM, Councillor Zigebe.

07:45:21SesothoLe nna ke kopa go tla ka go tshwana ke tlile ka Sesotho.

07:45:25Madam Speaker, it is with a profound sense of responsibility and unwavering dedication to service that we assess the progress and performance of the Transport Department and its valued entities. Allow me, Madam Speaker, to highlight the commendable strides that our department have made in this period. Metrobus deserves special recognition for its visionary Metrobus goes cashless initiative, resulting in an impressive 18% rise in revenue collection. Madam Speaker.claim

07:45:57isiXhosaAkasozeka lo. Indlu yakho? Haa, iyawashazela. Bathulile ke manje.

07:46:04isiZuluUngaqhubeka, Khansela.claim

07:46:05Thank you. I hope those few seconds were paused. Allow me, Madam Speaker, to highlight the commendable strides that our department have made in this period. Metrobus deserves a special recognition for its visionary Metrobus goes cashless initiative, resulting in an impressive 18% rise in revenue collection, totaling R17.7 million. Additionally, Metrobus operated an outstanding 1.6 million fatality-free kilometers, reinforcing our unwavering commitment to commuter safety and service excellence.claim

07:46:37The successful implementation of the automated fare collection system for Rea Vaya Phase 1A and 1B by the Transport Department has significantly improved operational efficiencies and enhanced commuter satisfaction. With 40 stations and 149 buses now equipped with modern fare collection validators, the achievement reaffirms our position as a forward-thinking metropolitan hub. In the same breath, the Metropolitan Trading Company has notably exceeded its revenue targets by over 20%,claim

07:47:09reflecting proactive financial management despite fiscal constraints. Their impressive financial performance, achieving total revenue of R173.7 million for the quarter, serves as a testament to our collective vision of sustained financial sustainability and robust governance. While we celebrate these meaningful achievements, Speaker, we must with maturity and responsibility address areas requiring immediate attention

07:47:40and deliberate action, not merely opposing for the sake of being in an opposition, kwaba bakwelacala ke. The observed delays in capital expenditure within the Transport Department, with 0% spent of the allocated R562.5 million, indicate the urgency for prompt improvement. Such delays, if unresolved, have significant implications for our infrastructure development goals and require our focused interventions. Operational efficiency at Metrobus, currently experiencing fleet availability

07:48:11at only 49% of the required capacity, impacts service reliability. Likewise, the Johannesburg Roads Agency, having achieved only 53% of its planned key performance indicators, faces distinct, but solvable, challenges, including delays from contractual and community engagement issues. These challenges remind us of the importance of continuous dialogue and proactive stakeholder engagement. To this end, we must strategically advance

07:48:40with immediate, but thoughtful, corrective measures. We need to prioritize and expedite capital expenditure processes, ensuring allocated funds promptly translate into tangible infrastructure projects that benefit our citizens; enhance oversight capabilities, particularly regarding fleet management at Metrobus, to improve operational reliability progressively; strengthen financial management systems, ensuring timely supplier payments, thus improving cash-flow management and operational confidence across all entities;

07:49:11intensify inclusive stakeholder and community engagement, ensuring developmental projects proceed collaboratively and effectively with all involved parties. In closing, Madam Speaker, esteemed colleagues, while acknowledging these challenges, let us remain united and unwavering in our commitment. Our collective resolve to nurture a responsive, accountable, and efficient government shall guide us through these complexities, toward achieving the aspirations of a vibrant, innovative, and inclusive City of Johannesburg.

07:49:42The GLU rises to meet every challenge, seizing this opportunity to reaffirm our dedication to serving the people with integrity, with foresight, and unwavering commitment. I'm left with five seconds. Thank you, Speaker.

07:49:56Thank you, Councillor Zigebe. DA, Councillor Kreusch. I see the time is split between three speakers. You have three minutes.

07:50:08Thank you. I rise on item 26. Madam Speaker, all protocol observed. Looking at the quarter-two report, some striking items come to note. For yet another year running, the CapEx is roughly 50% of the original 2016 budget of R1.5 billion, and so we've whittled it down from R850 million the previous financial year down to R790 million. A year-on-year decrease of 50% implies that the JRA has little or no infrastructural maintenance budget,claim

07:50:40but this is not surprising. The JRA CEO indicated that the city needed 70 million to restore all the signals to working order, and ironically, R60 million was sort of shaved off the CapEx for this year, so there's even less to work with. A recent press release is looking at roughly R100,000 to R300,000 per signal, and I guess those broken CCTV cameras that we were talking about would come in very handy to avoid this vandalism. The R40 million given by the Gauteng provincial roads only restored 17 intersections out of 250claim

07:51:11that province gave to JRA. So if you are getting excited about your signals, don't, because there's still a lot of work to be done. So the citizens of Johannesburg should not get hoodwinked by the PR and get excited. Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport already owes JRA R22 million, with no success. 64% of the JRA CapEx budget heavily depends on the USDG grant of R500 million, which is ring-fenced for specific developmental areas for road and infrastructure. That means the rest of the City of Johannesburg gets a paltry R285 millionclaim

07:51:42for other capital projects, a very skewed budget indeed. The USDG grant has been assigned gravel to tar for projects in Diepsloot, Mayibuye, Orange Farm, Tshepisong, and Kaalfontein, which amounts to R165 million, with R75 million already spent. Here's the kicker. In the report, the number of kilometers of gravel roads upgraded to surfaced roads is 1.4km, undertaken in Doornkop, Thulani, and Tshepisong, with a total of 3.2km in various stages of upgrading. So if you do the math,claim

07:52:11R75 million for 5km. We also note that there were two parcels for Diepsloot under the USDG grant, R49 million for 5001, 2005, as well as for R49 million for parcel 6001, of R49 million. The first amount's already fully spent, and the second amount, R11 million has been spent. So in total, Diepsloot, on paper, received R60 million to tar gravel roads, and I know Diepsloot doesn't have roughly 40km or 50km of road,claim

07:52:42if you work on R1 million a kilometer. So when we talked about chowing in the last Council, I think we're talking chowing when you look at the USDG grant. So I'd like to know where the money's going. Only one bridge structure was inspected in quarter two, due to limited budget, noting that, by the Executive Mayor, that only 6% of bridges, 900 of them, are actually in good condition. The one that they're raving about is the pedestrian bridge at the FNB Stadium. Sure. The number of signalized traffic intersections was upgraded to a target of 30,claim

07:53:14with zero done. So things are still looking pretty bleak when it comes to signals. Number of bridges being reconstructed or replaced, the target was six, and of those, most of them were humble pedestrian bridges. So it is evident that we're not getting any significant projects and have to come to expect we spend a lot of time redoing bad workmanship at a premium. We have an infrastructure crisis with no extra money in the adjustment budget, so Joburg citizens will have to suffer in silence until the elections in 2026.claim

07:53:45The photo ops by JRA on repairs stop, and the money runs out, and the roads will continue to deteriorate. People will eventually vote with their pockets. The Band-Aid is going to be short-lived. The citizens have had enough of being taken for a ride. We ask the residents send MMC Kunene a signal. Thank you. We reject the report. We note the report with reservations. Thank you.claim

07:54:05Thank you, Councillor. Freedom Front Plus, Councillor Boer.

07:54:16Thank you, Madam Speaker. I had the intention to speak on item 26, the quarterly performance report of Johannesburg Roads Agency, but through you, the MMC for Public Safety scared me off, because I'm not on that committee, and I'm just afraid that I'm going to get the same treatment from the MMC of Transport, talking about things that I don't know anything about. So I'm not going to speak on this item, but I only want to make one request,claim

07:54:52through you, to the MMC of Transport. I see in this report, as well, on employment equity, the quota for the currently disadvantaged group is 7.4%, and it's only filled, at the moment, by 2%. So if the MMC can really have mercy on the currently disadvantaged group and appoint some people there. Thank you, MMC. Thank you, Speaker.claim

07:55:22Thank you, Councillor Boer. ActionSA, Councillor Mokoka.

07:55:34Thank you, Speaker. Greetings to you, fellow colleagues, our guests in the gallery.

07:55:42SesothoEish, we tsebe keng? Okare le nna nkare fafa ka puo, jwale bothata setse ke ngotse ka sekgowa.

07:55:50Speaker, I rise to speak on item 25 to 29. Let me note all the reports and just highlight concerns on the JRA. Speaker, I concur with Councillor Masoga regarding oversight committees. As committees, we haven't realized the full potential of effective oversight. As a result, we suffer the consequences of resources being poorly managed, leading to inefficiencies in service delivery.

07:56:23Speaker, the JRA is on the verge of collapsing. Looking at these ratio analysis, JRA's financial standing is very worrisome. The current ratio is 0.73. This raises liquidity concerns. JRA has less than R1 to cover each R1 of their short-term debt, indicating potential struggle with immediate payment systems.

07:56:56This simply means that they can't pay their immediate payments. The solvency ratio is on 0.90, which indicates long-term risk. Their assets don't fully cover their liabilities, raising doubts about long-term financial stability. They've accumulated loss of 593, 387 million in their past struggles, which may impact future operations very badly.claim

07:57:29They have a negative cash on hand of 7.2 million. JRA is struggling to meet immediate obligations. Repairs and maintenance ratio, Speaker, is on 1.44%. This reflects infrastructure neglect. The insufficient spending on road upkeep risks future problems. Speaker, it is evidence on our roads. We see it.

07:57:59One of the biggest red flags, Speaker, is the cost coverage. JRA can only cover a fraction of a month's expense, making it highly prone to financial shocks. Before we are all shocked, Speaker, I will urge the JRA to improve on their KPIs by implementing rigorous systems for monitoring and addressing underperforming KPIs;claim

07:58:30conduct thorough investigations into reasons for the KPI failures; implement stricter cost-control measures to reduce operating losses; prioritize service delivery issues; strengthen community relations to prevent project disruption. This is a very important one, Speaker, especially now that we are hearing that around the Lilian Ngoyi project, some CLO and some community members that are working there have been fired.

07:59:05We'd like to urge the MMC to really pay attention to this issue and ensure that it gets resolved in the best interest of our residents, that it doesn't come out of control, that we find this project being halted again. Improve contractor selection and monitoring process. This has also been a major problem, Speaker. We've seen with the terminations of contractors while they're in the middle of projects, so we would really like for them to improve these processes.

07:59:41And we would like JRA to investigate and address the root causes of irregular expenditure, and wasteful expenditure reduction. They must implement measures to reduce fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and they can start by looking into the low-hanging fruit, such as negotiate their bank charges of these high numbers that we see in these reports. This is just a simple thing that you enter into a bank and you have a conversation. You negotiate around bank charges.

08:00:14In conclusion, Speaker, the ratios paint a concerning picture of JRA's financial situation. Addressing the liquidity, the solvency, and the infrastructure maintenance issue is crucial for ensuring that JRA's ability to deliver its mandate within Joburg. Thank you.

Transport items: Metrobus, MTC and Rea Vaya comments continue

08:00:42Thank you, Councillor Mokoka. ANC, I see your time is also split between three speakers. I'll call Councillor Mavhona. You have four minutes.

08:00:58Thank you, Speaker. I greet you. Greetings to the EM, Councillor Dada Morero; greetings to Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Zungu; Chair of Chairs, Councillor Adolph Marema; all MMCs of GLU, and all councillors of the City of Johannesburg, not forgetting the residents of the City of Johannesburg.

08:01:31Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Bus Service for the period of October to December 2024, the second quarter. Madam Speaker, as we commemorate Human Rights Month, we appreciate that the City of Johannesburg is continuing to strive for the right to access and reliable transport system.

08:02:03Madam Speaker, the period under review, Metrobus recorded a decline in-]

08:02:10In comparison to the same period in the past financial year. We note with concern the non-achievement of key governance indicators that are consistently not achieved including internal audit findings and internal audit and the management of risk remains.

08:02:39Madam Speaker, we are looking for continuous improvement on the entity performance and service offering and proper stewardship in pursuit of the outcomes of financial sustainability, operational efficiency, industrial harmony, and eco-mobility. Speaker, as ANC, we note the report with concern. Thank you.

08:03:18Thank you, Councillor Mavhona. DA, Councillor Pietersen, you have three minutes. Councillor Mavhona, please switch off your mic.

08:03:36Thank you, ma'am. I rise to speak on item 28 which deals with the MTC. Firstly, I just want to say that we as the DA believe that MTC is incorrectly placed at Transport Department and should really go back to the Economic Development Department.

08:04:02So the second quarter of 2024/25 saw MTC report a deficit before taxation of 92.6 million. However, total revenue including subsidies from the City of Johannesburg increased by 12% compared to the previous period reaching 173.7 million. This growth was attributed to MTC's execution of higher value projects for CoJ and its municipal entities.claim

08:04:31MTC's revenue streams consist of a 56.3 million subsidy and a 117.4 million from service sales. The company's net interest income was zero due to a negative cash balance of 697 million held with the Treasury. The main cost drivers were interest payments on the shareholder loan and other operational expenses related to project delivery.claim

08:04:59The company achieved its cash collection target boasting a 431% collection rate against an 80% target and generated a 105 million in revenue. MTC also met its target of paying 88% of invoices within the stipulated time frame. MTC's financial challenges included a negative cash balance with the Treasury attributed to difficulties in collecting debts from other CoJ entities.claim

08:05:28This has led to delayed payments to suppliers and threats of service disruptions. MTC's solvency ratio stood at 0.84%, 0.84, below the desired 2% due to an increasing long-term shareholder loan and depreciating assets. The entity was allocated a capital expenditure budget of 3 million for the financial year, none of which had been spent by the end of the second quarter.claim

08:05:58Now, MTC Management have been complaining that they have old and ageing infrastructure, yet presented with a 3 million, they have not done anything. MTC received an unqualified audit opinion despite some findings marking an improvement from previous years. The Board has also approved the write-off of certain unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditures.

08:06:25Looking ahead, MTC anticipates continued challenges in revenue collection from internal debtors. The company also faces risks related to slow digital transformation, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and fraud and corruption.

08:06:41One minute remaining.

08:06:43They have implemented risk mitigating strategies, but effectiveness has been limited. To remedy this, we say that they must improve their revenue collection. They must improve their risk management. Must improve on filling vacancies at HR crucial appointments. They must improve efficiency in financial processes, and they must also require more from the Board members in their input.

08:07:12The DA notes this report with concern. Thank you.

08:07:17Thank you, Councillor Pietersen. EFF, Councillor Komane.

08:07:28Thank you, Speaker. Greetings, Speaker of Council, Councillors of the City of Johannesburg, 29 battalions of the Red Brigade led by Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku and the Caucus Whip, Thabisa Mogapi.claim

08:07:55Not forgetting the residents of the City observing these proceedings from various platforms, including our distinguished guests in the gallery. I rise on item 25, 26, 27, 28, and item 29. Madam Speaker, we can only hope that the issues that caused inconvenience

08:08:24to the minibus taxi operators which have led to nearly a month of disrupted services due to protests. Speaker, we hope that they are addressed amicably to ensure no more future disruptions, but sustainable solution. While the EFF has noted the item, has noted, sorry, Speaker, in the item 25claim

08:08:54the work is underway to refurbish and reconfigure 68 buses which are expected to be operational in Rea Vaya phase 1C(a) during the fourth quarter of this financial year. Speaker, we are informed in this report that once it is signed off, when is that?claim

08:09:22Once it is signed off, work on the remaining buses will commence. Could we please have a timeline for this? As we speak, the fourth quarter begins next week and we have only three months left until the end of this financial year. Are we going to see it done in this period, Speaker? However,claim

08:09:50it is also commendable, Madam Speaker, that Johannesburg Metropolitan Bus Service collected 17.7 million. That is an 18% increase as compared to the revenue collected in the same period last financial year. During the same period under review, Speaker, the actual number of 113 SMMEs were employed, exceeding the targeted number of 70 by 43claim

08:10:24SMMEs, meaning more jobs for residents of the City. As EFF, we say job creation is applaudable. The EFF, Madam Speaker, notes the report. Right. Thank you.

08:10:48Thank you, Councillor. ANC, Councillor Supe.

08:11:04Councillor Komane, please switch off your mic.

08:11:09Greetings, Speaker. Greeting to the Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, Member of the Mayoral Committee. Greetings to the Chief Whip of the Council, Manzini. Chair of Chairs, Councillor Marema, son of the hunter, all Councillors and the residents of Johannesburg. Greetings to Councillor Nkubungu, Councillor Floyd, Councillor Nyembe, Speaker.

08:11:43Speaker, let's appreciate that as the City of Johannesburg, we are adhering to the United Nations principles of recognising the importance of realising internet access as a basic human right. Speaker, the right to the broadband of freedom to connect states that all people must be able to access the internet in order to exercise and perform

08:12:15their duties. We are privileged in the City of Johannesburg to have MTC that takes care for the enablement of Smart City programme, network service and et cetera. We note the performance assessment

Office of the City Manager: MMC reply and items agreed

08:26:33And of course, the concerns relating to monitoring in terms of the work and challenges where we would not have met our target. But for the better part of it, I think there is a huge improvement in terms of the Office of the City Manager. On the payment,

08:27:03the issue of making sure payments are done on time, the CFO and his team and I know the MMC also, MMC Finance, she refers to follows up with the war room where to ensure that payments are done on time. It's not always possible when of course there are, as Councillors have mentioned, there are some, there would be some cash flow

08:27:33challenges. But I think the point about legal and contracts it's a very tricky and a dicey environment because you never know when you need the services of any lawyer or attorney. So it becomes difficult to pre-plan when you require services. What is important, that's why there's a panel. That's why in the panel when you would have services that when there is a need for a

08:28:03example, a legal opinion that is required or the City is taken to court, I think we must commend the efforts made by the Group CFO under the stewardship of MMC Finance to make an effort to ensure that there is just no unnecessary spending, but also on the issue of payments, we take the criticism and we will endeavor to do better

08:28:33as well in that regard. Thank you so much for that and we ask Council to note this quarterly performance and we also thank the Committee members for always being robust in the Committee and constructive to ensure that at a governance level, we do better, led by the Chairperson Magwentshu. We always listen to his very rough

08:29:03and direct opening remarks directed to the Executive and we take them with good, we appreciate the fact that the intention is to build and the Office of the City Manager is actually also a very critical office with governance and all administrative functions that are actually the heartbeat of the City's administration. And we ask Council to note the report. Thank you.

08:29:39Thank you, MMC. Member in charge, Councillor Magwentshu.

08:29:44isiXhosaEnkosi, Somlomo.

08:29:46I ask Council to note the report. Thank you.

08:29:51Not bad. Thanks, member in charge. The recommendations are on pages 30.21 and 31.10 to 31.11. Are the items agreed to?

08:30:05Agreed.

08:30:06Thank you, Councillors.

Items 32-34 introduced and quorum challenge

08:30:11We proceed now to item 32 and that's the performance assessment report for the Health Department for the 2024/25 financial year for the period of October to December 2024 read together with item 33, which is the performance assessment report for the Social Development Department for the 2024/25 financial year for the period of October to December 2024. And the above items are read with item 34, which is the oversight report of the Health and Social Development Section 79 Committee on the 2024/25 second quarter budget and performance assessment report of the Health Department and Social Development Department for the period October to December 2024.

08:31:02Councillor De Lange.

08:31:09Thank you for the opportunity, Speaker. Speaker, just a request. Do we have quorum in the room still at this time of the night? I don't know if we can get some advice on that. Maybe just check for us, please.

08:31:26Thank you, Councillor De Lange. Let's quickly check.

08:31:47Okay, Councillor De Lange, Legal will confirm quorum. IT, please ring the bell for those outside to the Legal Department can confirm if we form quorum still or not.

08:32:20And, Councillors, please don't walk out. They are going to do a head count.

08:35:34All right, Councillors. Councillors, there is a quorum, Councillor De Lange. We are sitting at 142. So there is a quorum and we'll proceed. Councillors, let's just push up to item 40. We've got a lot of items. Let's...

Items 32-34 tabled by acting member in charge

08:35:55Chair of Chairs, please confirm I don't see the member in charge for this item, Councillor Amod. For item 32, 33 and 34. Okay. We'd appreciate it if we can get the names, the speakers list on the floor. Thank you, Councillor...

08:36:19isiZuluubani ofuna ukulanda le?

08:36:23Greetings, Speaker.

08:36:25isiZuluPhansi izinja

08:36:26EFF, Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, Chief Whip of the EFF, Councillor Tabisa Mogapi, 29 Battalion of the Economic Freedom Fighters and most importantly, the Chief of Jo'burg. Honourable Speaker, I am Councillor Kedisaletse standing on behalf of Section 79 Chairperson of Health and Social Development,

08:36:58isiZuluuKhansela Thapelo Amad.

08:37:04Speaker, I therefore rise to table three reports. Item 32, performance assessment report for the Health Department. Item 33, performance assessment report for Social Development Department. And item 34, oversight report for the Departmental of Health and Social Development. All three reports

08:37:33are for the year end October to December 2024. The report represents a critical evaluation of the departmental performance. Speaker, this is done to align with our constitutional mandate to ensure effective service delivery, accountability and good governance. Through this process, we affirm our commitment to monitoring

08:38:03the performance of municipal departments in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the Municipal Systems Act, the Municipal Finance Management Act and other applicable legislation. The reports provide a detailed analysis of: 1. achievements and challenges encountered by the Health and Social Development Department during the reporting period;

08:38:332. key performance indicators and their alignment with our service delivery objectives; 3. recommendations for improvement aimed at addressing identified gaps and enhancing service delivery outcomes. Honourable Speaker, conducting oversight is not nearly a compliance exercise; it is an opportunity to ensure that the resource entrusted to us

08:39:03are utilized effectively to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve. These reports reflect our collective responsibility to drive efficiency, uphold transparency and strengthen accountability across all levels of governance. In conclusion, I respectfully request that this Council notes the content of these reports and acknowledges the recommendations therein; commits

08:39:40to addressing the identified challenges and implementing the proposed measures to enhance departmental performance; monitors the progress of these initiatives to ensure sustained improvement in Health and Social Development service delivery. I pause here. I thank you.

Health Department report: DA comments

08:40:13Thank you, Acting Member in charge. DA Councillor Leitch.

08:40:18Horwitz, yeah. Thank you. Good day, Madam Speaker, DA Caucus colleagues, Executive and audience, all other protocol observed. I rise today to speak on the performance assessment report for the Health Department of the second quarter. The Municipal Finance Management Act, the MFMA provides guidelines on budgeting, planning and financial management by municipalities.

08:40:43One of the essential building blocks of a budget is the consideration of key stakeholders inputs. Key stakeholders include all political parties representing residents in Council, health service providers themselves, and the public using the facilities. Many a resident will tell you the toilets are disgustingly filthy at their local clinic or they share the lack of medication, or that there aren't enough medical staff, which means they end up waiting hours for help.

08:41:12Clinic staff will tell you they are underpaid and overworked, that they must fill in patient details manually over and over again and are often abused by patients as the fatigue for standard of care. Councillors can report the above-mentioned issues as well, but not all political parties are included in the engagement process, which means key stakeholder engagement does not happen in the City of Joburg. The biggest funding challenge is, in the first place,

08:41:42the limited budget allocation that Health gets. Spending on health is simply not a priority of the Government of Local Unity, the GLU. It's like Health is actually stuck in glue, hardly being able to move at all. To make matters worse, the meager resources that are allocated to Health are constantly having to be spread thinner and thinner to breaking point. This breaking point is recognizable in the report that came before this Council showcasing the shortages of essential medicine,

08:42:12equipment and staff. Then there is the problem of inefficient budget management and misallocation of funds, with overspending occurring, leading to a lack of funds for crucial spend, such as those much needed medical supplies, more staff and maintenance. Further budget cuts in the midterm adjustment budget lead to a worsening of the situation. What does not seem to be taken into account is that the City of Joburg has a growing population, creating more demand

08:42:42for healthcare services. It is proved, for example, the increasing cost of living brought about by, amongst other things, the increase in VAT, leads to more people needing health services to combat the effects of unhealthy living. The GLU, in not setting aside more budgeting for health, is only helping to perpetuate the much higher incidence and cost of chronic diseases in populations that are most vulnerable. Our public health services do not have

08:43:12the resources to roll out even one public health or nutritional education campaign for the entirety of the City of Joburg in any given year. This is one reason why the VAT increase is not supported by the Democratic Alliance. As for the resource of timing, this too is abused, such as the delay caused through JPC taking a sweet time, finding documents or the putting together of a panel of contractors.