Transcript: State of the City Address Debate

Opening, prayer and notice of the meeting

00:01:22Oh. Good morning councillors, ladies and gentlemen in the gallery, distinguished guests. May we rise for the Speaker of Council, Councillor Nobuhle Mthembu.

00:01:46May we please observe a moment of prayer or meditation.

00:02:05Thank you, councillors. You may be seated.

00:02:23[inaudible] take quorum in five minutes. We'll take five minutes. [inaudible]

00:02:33Good morning councillors. It is hereby notified

00:02:37[inaudible] of the City of Johannesburg Municipality

00:02:44Connie Bapela Council Chamber in Metropolitan Centre in Braamfontein. And the first item on the

00:02:56Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero.

00:03:04Whip of Council, Councillor Nkosiphendule Zungu in his absentia. Chair of Chairs, Councillor Vonani Marema in his absentia. All political party leaders and whips, members of the Mayoral Committee in their

00:03:39[inaudible] Makola,

00:03:49[inaudible] of the City of Johannesburg.

00:04:03[inaudible] State of the City's

Quorum confirmed

00:09:36Councillors, let's settle down.

00:09:42isiZuluCouncillor Nkonyeni.

00:09:44isiZuluBuyela esitulo sakho, Councillor.

00:09:52152, neh? 152.

00:10:03Please note that there are 152 Councillors present in the meeting and as a result there's quorum and the meeting will continue.

Applications for leave of absence

00:10:17Uh Councillors, we are now on applications for leave of absence.

00:10:27I'll start with Councillor Avant-Smith, then Councillor Harris, Councillor Simonse, MMC Arnolds, Councillor Makhuba, in that order please. Councillor Avant-Smith, you're the first one.

00:10:46Good morning, Madam Speaker. Thank you very much. Um we have Councillor Hoon, Councillor Van Der Merwe and Councillor Truluck all on private business. Councillor Shabalala and Councillor Masera are ill. Councillor Deppe, Suddaby, Da Gama, Koekemoer, Landis and Chame. Um all the above are on private business except for Landis and Chame, they're on council business. And then we'll have a late arrival from Councillor Mnisi and Councillor Kreusch. Thank you.claim

00:11:17Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Harris.

00:11:20Good morning, Madam Speaker and colleagues. Uh please excuse Councillor Mkhonza who is away on party business. Thank you.

00:11:28Noted, Councillor. Councillor Simonse.

00:11:31Good morning, Madam Speaker. Good morning, um fellow colleagues. MMC Kunene will be running a bit late and Councillor Ponsonby is away on political business.

00:11:41Noted, Councillor. MMC Arnolds.

00:11:47Thank you, Speaker. Um Councillor Mhlongo will be slightly late. Thank you.

00:11:54Noted, MMC. Councillor Makhuba.

00:11:59Thank you, Speaker. Uh from the IFP, Councillor Khanyile and Councillor Nyembe will be arriving late.

00:12:10Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Dammie.

00:12:15Good morning, Speaker. Thank you. Councillor Maake, Councillor Lobi, ill health. Thank you.

00:12:23Noted, Councillor. Councillor Mposula.

00:12:34Thank you so much, Speaker. Uh Councillor Elmari, uh Councillor Marcel, Councillor Delano, Councillor Esme, late arrival. Uh Councillor Nicole Johnson, uh ill health. Councillor Zahid, ill health. Councillor Sarah Wissler, party business. Councillor Moipone Rakosa, family bereavement. Councillor Sello Mabelebele, party business.

00:13:01Um Councillor Joyce Ntombela uh will be leaving at 4:00 provided that we are not done with the business of the day. Uh Councillor Mandla Nyaqela, Lwandabini, Edwin Ntshidi, late arrival. Thank you, Speaker.claim

00:13:17Noted, Councillor.

00:13:23Chief Whip of the EFF.

00:13:28Greetings, Speaker. Thank you. From the EFF, apologies. We've got Councillor Ramatsobane, ill health. Councillor Nenemba, ill health. Councillor Ngwenya, ill health. Ntoele, ill health. Councillor Molefe, also ill health. Councillor Baloyi, family commitment. Uh Councillor Telekoa, family bereavement.

00:13:59Uh MMC Mgcina will request to leave at 12:00 and myself at 1:30. Thank you.

00:14:11Noted, Councillor. Councillor Dammie, do you still want to come in?

00:14:17Yes, Speaker. It's Councillor Modupi, ill health and Councillor Mbulelo Mazibuko, ill health.

00:14:30Noted, Councillor.

00:14:36Councillor Cook.

00:14:41Councillor Dammie, please switch off your mic.

00:14:45Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just to note that if we aren't done by 5:00 p.m., I will need to be dismissed due to private business.

00:14:53Noted, Councillor Cook. I don't see any other hands. Councillors, are the apologies noted? Thank you, Councillors.

Start of the State of the City debate and UDM technical delay

00:15:05Uh we are now proceeding to the debate on the State of the City Address by the political parties.

00:15:12The first speaker is from the UDM, Councillor Zigebe. Councillor Zigebe, you have 6 minutes.

00:15:23Uh Speaker, may you please uh allow me time to uh set up my devices. They've uh betrayed me. Can you call me again?

00:15:38Okay, let me call the second speaker then I'll come back to you afterwards.

00:15:42Thank you, Speaker. I'm betrayed by technology.

ATM response to the State of the City Address

00:15:46Councillor Zigebe. I'll move over to ATM, Councillor Magwentshu. I hope you are ready.

00:15:57You have 6 minutes, Councillor.

00:15:59Greetings, Speaker. Greetings to the Executive Mayor. Greetings to the Chief Whip. Greetings to all the Councillors in the house. Madam Speaker, as the ATM we want to see a functioning Johannesburg. We want to see a habitable Johannesburg. We want to see a safe Johannesburg. We want to see a Johannesburg that is a better place in the world. We want to see an economically thriving Johannesburg. We want to see Johannesburg as a place of opportunities.

00:16:29I stand here, Madam Speaker, representing the ATM on behalf of the people of Johannesburg who voted for us in 2021. And I agree with the diagnosis of the Executive Mayor, Councillor Dada Morero, that the City of Johannesburg is going through a difficult time. As much as I'm tempted to present my political analysis of the SOCA, I choose to resist the temptation and give you what the people are saying.

00:16:55But I want to appeal to the Executive Mayor to tread carefully on the rotation issue of senior managers as there are laws governing the labor relations in this country. Libone Moshweu wrote, "Can we have a cleaner Joburg? Winter is here. Our street lights need to work. Grass cutting is a problem after this rains. JMPD visibility should be more. It's winter. We need more youth programs. Service delivery protests are led by unemployed youth. We need to get them off the streets."

00:17:26Lwazi Kelembe wrote, "When is he addressing the issue of illegal mining that is destroying the infrastructure? We have roads that are closed. Businesses are suffering because of that. Law enforcement is the main issue. Traffic signals are not working as they are destroyed for copper. When is he going to deal with scrap yards that receive materials from the COJ infrastructure?" Tatazomthebhele wrote, "Load reduction is affecting our area. Every week we have 10 hours of no electricity."

00:17:56Mfirifiri Chabalala from Ward 10, an ATM member, says, "Potholes are a challenge, and we've been promised of a clinic, till today the clinic is not there." Ukhonzaphi Mbhele eDrieziek uthi, "For years Drieziek has been receiving missed calls when it come to service delivery. They see the library, they see the bus, taxi rank, they see Olympic-size swimming pool, but none of those are operational. They still walk on dusty roads from 1996."

00:18:29isiXhosaUThemba Baloyi from uh eLehae uthi, "Till today they still have dusty streets, abana ma-Apollo lights, and ama-drains wabo asangcolile awakliniwa." UNicholas Muyolwa uthi, "Apho ndihlala khona 98% yabantu abanamaphepha mvume zokuba lapha eMzantsi. Isibhamu sidlala abantwana. Abantu babulawa ngathi zizinja eHillbrow. Kudingwa nje ukuba ku-clean-we the whole Hillbrow."

00:18:58isiXhosaHayi, le kaNomazibuko Nzama, ndicela Executive Mayor ndizakunikeza yona, I don't want to be seen as um uh ndicela ukuba ndizakunikeza yona ecaleni kodwa it must come to you because it's addressed to you.

00:19:12UMxolisi Makhubu wrote, "Honorable Councillor, please submit. High drug activity in Hillbrow area, urgent need for intervention to dismantle drug syndicates and rehabilitate affected youth. Hijacked buildings, proliferation of unsafe, illegally occupied buildings posing safety, health and criminal risk. Filthy and neglected streets. The city is visibly dirty. A structured nightly cleaning program as done in Tshwane should be implemented.

00:19:44Unreliable basic services, frequent water and electricity outages without timely communication or resolution. Collapse of infrastructure, potholes, leaking pipes, broken street lights and deteriorating public facilities across wards. Little or no support for informal trading. Street vendors are essential to the economy and need urgent structured assistance rather than their goods being confiscated by JMPD. Regulation of the inner city economy.

00:20:15Many foreign nationals are using this economic sector as a front for illegal businesses. With reports of human trafficking syndicates being rife, we need urgent intervention here. There is a need for a dedicated arts and culture program for many of these young artists standing at traffic lights dancing on crates. The city can embark on partnership with the NSA, AFDA, etc., to create some form of certification for them and place them in world-class productions such as The Lion King, etc."

00:20:47The above clearly indicates that the people of Johannesburg are concerned about the place they also call home. Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor reminded us of his oath of office. It is the same oath of office which drives me as I stand here. I agree with the Mayor that Johannesburg needs a turnaround. People of Johannesburg have waited for too long. The ever-increasing unemployment which largely affects youth, I mean young people, has reached pandemic stage.

00:21:18We agree with the Executive Mayor that the city faces rapid dilapidation. We agree with the Mayor that every day we must listen to and respond timelessly to the voices of Joburgers. All they want is electricity, water, transport, safety, and housing.

00:21:3630 seconds remaining.

00:21:38Madam Speaker, we fully appreciate that the Mayor has demonstrated preparedness to work hard towards restoring Johannesburg as a place of preference to many. Madam Speaker, as the ATM, we stand ready to support the Executive Mayor in his plan to recover Johannesburg. Count the ATM in when you restore the city. Count the ATM in when you turn the city around. Count the ATM in when you refurbish the aged infrastructure.

00:22:07Count the ATM in when you create employment for the young people of Johannesburg. Count ATM in when you crisscross the length and the breadth of the city inspiring hope to the citizens of Johannesburg. Peace in our land, peace in our lifetime. Thank you.

UDM response to the State of the City Address

00:22:26Thank you, Councillor Magwentshu. UDM, Councillor Zigebe, are you ready?

00:22:38Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor, the executive, Section 79 Chairs, Councillors, residents of the City of Johannesburg. The Johannesburg we all want is not imagined in boardrooms. It is born in townships, it is born in the streets, informal settlements, clinics, schools and homes. It is defined by lived reality and built by those who choose the difficult road of governance.

00:23:10The Mayor's address did not offer illusions. It called us to account on infrastructure, on safety, on housing, on youth development and governance, and it reaffirmed this government is at work. Honorable members, we face a 300 billion infrastructure backlog. Our water systems are strained, but under the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Johannesburg Water is implementing a 27 billion pipeline upgrade and reservoir development plan.claim

00:23:42Projects like Carlswald and Northern Works are already transforming the experience of residents in high-pressure zones. And this work isn't happening in isolation. It is part of a broader commitment to ensuring that every resident, whether in Sandton or Slovoville, experiences the full promise of municipal government. It's a commitment to equity in delivery. On electricity, 296 million has been allocated to electrify informal settlements.claim

00:24:10This is more than a power connection. It's about safety, it's about legality, and quality of life. Substation upgrades, energy efficiency retrofits and reduced reliance on Eskom are in motion. Your light matters. Oh, sorry. We are saying to your communities, your light matters, and your inclusion in the grid is not a favor, it is an overdue justice. On roads and mobility, the MMC for Transport and JRA is driving the multi-year infrastructure program.claim

00:24:44Gravel roads are being tarred, stormwater infrastructure is being reinforced. Lilian Ngoyi's road's reconstruction will be completed within months. This is restoring movement, commerce and dignity to communities long isolated by geography. Through the MMC for Human Settlements, over 73,000 housing opportunities are being delivered. From Lufhereng to Southern Farms,claim

00:25:10isiXhosaniyandixolela bethunana, ndingumXhosa.claim

00:25:12The foundation of spatial justice is being laid. The inner-city regeneration plan, also supported by Development Planning, is converting neglected buildings into homes and economic spaces. We are reclaiming the inner city, not for capital, but for communities. Through the Health and Social Development Department, clinics like Hikhensile are being upgraded, shelters for displaced persons are being refurbished. Social inclusion is not an accessory, it is a right.claim

00:25:40The MMC for Community Development is also investing in multi-purpose centers like in Matholesville and Bertrams, and reviving civic spaces that build belonging. The Public Safety Department is central to our war on lawlessness, from cable theft to hijacked buildings, land invasions to illegal dumping. The expanded Integrated Intelligence Operations Center is coordinating real-time enforcement while the state of disaster declaration strengthens our hand.claim

00:26:09We are saying clearly the rule of law must return, and our streets must belong to law-abiding residents, not criminals. The Economic Development Department is activating over 40,000 township jobs through partnerships with Coca-Cola, the Youth Chamber and others. Innovation hubs, the Y20 platform and Grow My Business are not concepts, they are realities in Soweto, in Alexandra and Orange Farm. This is what practical economic justice looks like, putting tools, capital and support into the hands of township entrepreneurs.

00:26:43Through the Finance Department, revenue collection is being sharpened, billing systems are being modernized. The city's fiscal credibility is being rebuilt brick by disciplined brick. This is the hard, unseen work of restoring public trust. The Corporate and Shared Services Department is leading the internal reform agenda, cleaning systems, enforcing performance, and ensuring that city employees serve not their comfort, but their mandate.

00:27:08Public service must mean something again. And through the Department of Economic Development and Smart City Office, we are laying the groundwork for broadband access, digital public infrastructure and smart metering. Smart metering technology as a tool for equity and access, not elitism. Madam Speaker, this administration is equally intentional about those often excluded from the conversations, through the gender, youth and people with disabilities.

00:27:36We are making it clear the Johannesburg we want is inclusive, accessible clinics, skills for youth, safe spaces for women, support for persons with disabilities. This is not charity, it is justice. Yet while we build, others heckle. Some sit in this chamber confused, unsure whether they are opposition or government. One day they put support, they support the program of action, the next day they perform rehearsed outrage. Delusional in posture, ambiguous in purpose.

00:28:06They left the Government of National Unity when it demanded backbone, and now haunt its corridors with gallery politics. But Johannesburg isn't governed from hashtags or livestreams. It's governed from commitment, from clarity and courage.

00:28:1930 seconds remaining.

00:28:21Madam Speaker, the 30 minutes is fine. The Johannesburg we want cannot be wished with slogans. It is earned through early mornings, honest budgets, responsive departments and unshakable discipline. This administration is governing under strain, but it is governing nonetheless. And while others debate from the sidelines, we deliver from the front lines. I thank you.

Freedom Front Plus response

00:28:47Thank you, Councillor Zigebe. Freedom Front Plus, Councillor De Lange.

00:28:54Thank you, Madam Speaker, all protocol observed. Madam Speaker, please note I will also translate the following into English.

00:29:02AfrikaansAfrikaans is vandag 'n 100 jaar oud. Die taal is herken in 1925 vir die eerste keer, al het die volk lank voor dit bestaan en deur jare se onderdrukking as gevolg van hulle taalvoorkeur. Madam Speaker, die Uitvoerende Burgemeester het ons gister versoek om 'n meer lankmoedige debat vandag te voer, maar ongelukkig is daar donker realiteit wat ons tans in die gesig staar. Dit is die afgelope drie jaar asof ons teruggevoer is na Bybelse dae in Eksodus met die 10 plae.claim

00:29:40AfrikaansOns het brandende geboue gehad. Ons het letterlik paaie gehad wat ontplof het. Ons het brûe gehad wat inmekaar getuimel het. Ons het 'n hele blok in Fietas gehad wat net ingesak het en dan natuurlik het ons groot vloede gehad oor die afgelope drie jaar omdat die raad versuim het om behoorlike rehabilitasie op rivierbeddings en rivierbanke te doen.claim

00:30:02Translated into English: Afrikaans is a 100 years old today. It was recognized for the first time in 1925, but the people existed long before that, through years of oppression because of their language preference. Madam Speaker, the Mayor urged us to do a more positive debate, but unfortunately, there is stark reality staring us in the face. It almost takes me back to the days of Exodus in the Bible with the 10 plagues.claim

00:30:32We had burning buildings. We had roads literally exploding. We had bridges collapsing. We had a whole block in Fietas sinking into the ground, and we had huge floods because of the city's neglect to rehabilitate their riverbeds and their banks. Back to the Mayor's speech. The Mayor mentioned the war on traffic lights and potholes and street lights. On a personal note, Madam Speaker, when I drive out of my gate in the morning, the first robot I come to hasn't been working for 2 years, or let me correct myself, it did work for 2 days after it was struck by lightning, and only God knows why that happened.claim

00:31:14Just further up the road on Dekkers Road, 50% of the street lights are not working, and the side streets are riddled with potholes. The Mayor mentioned people mustn't go to bed hungry. Grants is not the solution. A positive economic climate and job creation is the solution in the city. He mentioned the history of Joburg. It's all good and well, and the history of the mayors, but that's not going to solve our current problems in the city.claim

00:31:40Further, he spoke about water and electricity infrastructure, the backlogs. This will only be turned around when the city starts investing their own money into these projects. Currently, it's only capital loans and corporates that is providing the money. The Freedom Front did provide you the solution 2 weeks ago. We had a meeting with the Mayor and the MMC. Then if we come to the inner-city revitalization projects, it will fail for two reasons: crime and grime.

00:32:14What kind of property investor would actually invest in the city if it is dirty and crime-ridden? Electricity rollout in more areas. It might be a good idea, but will these residents be able to pay for these services, or will we only enable them in the culture of non-payment? Further to this, it doesn't make financial sense, Madam Speaker, to only upgrade certain precincts while other wider infrastructure is dilapidated and crumbling in taxpayers' wards.

00:32:50Madam Speaker, in Region C, where I and even the Mayor resides, we are fortunate enough to have one of the highest collection rates. Taxpayers in Regions A, B, and C should be rewarded for carrying the city financially. 20% of their taxes should be ring-fenced to maintain their road, water, and electricity infrastructure. Madam Speaker, the Mayor mentioned a turnaround strategy. It was emailed, I don't know what it's about. He spoke about a COJ bomb squad. Hopefully, the following is in that plan: Collect outstanding debts.

00:33:24Cut the services or break the culture of non-payment. Revamp the supply chain process. Madam Speaker, curb, arrest, and jail water and electricity vandals and thieves. Stop with the new and rather focus on maintaining the old as inherited. Use the city's own capital to invest in their capital projects. In closing, Madam Speaker, the Mayor mentioned a rotation

00:33:54Finance and 6 months later become the MMC of Social Housing. How can the MMC of Social Development, it doesn't make, it's not good business practice, it doesn't make sense. What about institutional

00:34:08Further, Madam Speaker, we cannot stumble from crisis to crisis and beg, borrow, and let me use another word,

00:34:16Councillor, please.

00:34:18Thank you, and plea to survive. In closing,

00:34:24unpopular, not politically aligned decisions to save our city. I thank you.

ANC response to the State of the City Address

00:34:46Madam Speaker, Councillor Nobuhle Mthembu, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, the Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Zungu, nkosi ephayo, the Chair of Chairs, Whip of ANC caucus, Councillors present, distinguished guests in gallery, residents of the City of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, as the ANC caucus, we rise not only to respond, but to affirm.

00:35:21We affirm the bold leadership shown by the Executive Mayor, our very own in Johannesburg. The Mayor's address was not a speech, it was a call to action, a roadmap of hope, a strategy of delivery, and above all, a commitment to the people of Johannesburg. This address reflects leadership that is grounded in vision, accountability, and implementation.

00:35:54Madam Speaker, allow us to pay a special tribute to the High Impact Service Delivery Program, a flagship initiative that is beginning to restore faith in local government and redefine how service delivery is experienced on the ground. The High Impact Service Delivery Program is not a slogan. It is a movement, a movement that fixes what is broken, restores what was forgotten, and rekindles what was neglected. Let it become the new DNA of Johannesburg that works of delivery.

00:36:36demonstrates what is possible when government works with urgency and purpose. We commend the Executive Mayor for ensuring that this program

00:36:50but rooted in visible, measurable action. Madam Speaker, what we witnessed from the opposition is not just political mischief, it is an assault on service delivery. In a targeted move, they went to court to get assistance to withdraw the protectors assigned to our MMCs, fully aware that these officials are at the coalface of high-impact service delivery, revenue collection, and daily engagement with our communities.

00:37:29This was not an act of fiscal prudence, it was a deliberate attempt to slow down the momentum of a responsive and action-driven leadership. But true to the spirit of the movement, we did not retreat, we continued

00:37:47continued to serve on the ground in our communities, using our own resources.

00:37:56And when they saw that we refused to be discouraged, we started moving through the city with our own personal arrangement, committed to the people, no matter the personal risks.

00:38:10They panicked. Now they turn to the baseless, frivolous motion of no confidence. Cowards dressed in the robes of accountability.

00:38:24isiZuluIsiZulu sithi executive mayor, zikhonkotha ehambayo. Uyibambe ngohlelo executive mayor, qhubeka njalo.

00:38:33Madam Speaker, our people don't feel progress through spreadsheets. They feel it through working streetlights, running water, clean pavements and safe walkways.

00:38:47We say to the residents of Diepsloot, Ivory Park, Orange Farm, Alexandra and Soweto, help is not on the way; help has arrived. We are not dreaming of a better Johannesburg, we are building it brick by brick, street by street, and service by service.

00:39:12Madam Speaker, there was once a time when the heartbeat of Johannesburg pulsed proudly through its inner city, a place where families shopped, artists performed and our communities thrived.

00:39:28Today we reaffirm our commitment to breathe life back into this historic core.

00:39:35Through targeted investment in infrastructure upgrades, precinct management, housing refurbishment and support for informal traders, the city is reclaiming the space for its rightful owners, the people.

00:39:53By partnering with property owners, developers and social entrepreneurs, we are not just restoring buildings, we are reigniting opportunity.

00:40:04The inner-city revitalisation programme is not about

00:40:09nostalgia, it's about possibility. Transforming... It's not my mother's tongue.

00:40:19It's about possibility, transforming decay into dignity,

00:40:26vacancy into vibrancy, and fear into freedom. Let us walk the streets of Johannesburg once again with pride.

00:40:35Executive Mayor, we have concluded in creating an informal trading system.

00:40:43All commitments required by the policy have been established or rather committees required by the policy have been established. We are ready to hit the ground running.

00:40:56We are confident that once the city provides designated, regulated trading zones, it replaces chaos with coordination, traders operate with dignity, streets remain clean, and business confidence returns,

00:41:16inviting both small and large investors.

00:41:20We are committed in supporting informal traders. By doing so, the city is unlocking economic opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed.

00:41:32This is not just survival, it's enterprise at the grass root, creating jobs and feeding families in real time.

00:41:43Madam Speaker, when we speak of revitalising the inner city, we must speak boldly about empowering informal trading places like kwaMai-Mai, which are more than just markets.

00:41:58They are a living museum of our culture, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.

00:42:05Tourists don't come to Johannesburg for malls alone; they come to feel our rhythm, taste our food and meet our people.

00:42:17That is why the ongoing renovation of kwaMai-Mai is so important.

00:42:22isiZuluMam' uJabu, usihlalo weHleze lakwaMai-Mai, isikhalo sakho sizwakele mama. Sithi umsebenzi omuhle owenzayo wokuthi uqinisekise ukuthi izintombi zethu ziyazigcina uyabonakala.

00:42:38isiZuluSizokwenza konke okusemandleni ukuthi si-deliver in the promises.

00:42:45This is an old lady who approached us requesting that we renovate the facility where she is working.

00:42:53She hosts young girls for ukuhlolwa and subsequently provides some private space where she can do her work. We want to say to you,

00:43:04we have made some great strides. Upgrading of ablution facilities

00:43:09has been concluded, the installation of lights across kwaMai-Mai has been concluded, we are almost done with the renovations of the hall, and your container will be delivered.

00:43:20Executive Mayor, this is not just about infrastructure, it's about dignity,

00:43:29about recognition and about economic opportunity. These upgrades are part of a broader effort to revitalise informal trading hubs as cultural and commercial anchors of the inner city.

00:43:47By doing so we are formalising our informal economy and turning neglected spaces into proudly Joburg landmarks.

00:43:58Let us invest in these corridors, not only to grow our local economy, but to show that Johannesburg values its own.

00:44:08Madam Speaker, allow us as the ANC caucus to applaud the Executive Mayor for prioritising the electrification of informal settlements in the State of the City Address.

00:44:20This bold commitment to invest 296 million through City Power to connect areas like Diepsloot, Orange Farm, Ivory Park and Kya Sands is both visionary and responsive.

00:44:36We commend the Mayor for recognising that electricity is not just a utility; it is a catalyst for dignity, safety and development.

00:44:48By bringing thousands of households into the formal energy grid, the city is not only reducing risks associated with illegal connections, but also laying the foundation for meaningful service delivery and long-term formalisation.

00:45:06This is the kind of leadership that puts the people first and we stand firmly behind it.

00:45:14Madam Speaker, true transformation is measured not by how we serve the powerful, but by how we uplift the forgotten. The Executive Mayor's commitment to investing in deprived and marginalized areas is not just a policy shift;

00:45:34it is a moral awakening.

00:45:37When we tar roads in Orange Farm, electrify shacks in Kya Sands and build clinics in Lawley, we are not simply delivering services,

00:45:48we are healing wounds of exclusion. We are building bridges over decades of neglect.

00:45:56This administration is sending a clear message: the poor are not invisible, their lives matter, this future matters.

00:46:07As the ANC caucus, we applaud the Executive Mayor for ensuring that townships and informal settlements are no longer treated as afterthoughts, but as a centre of progress, pride and potential.

00:46:21Let this be the legacy we leave behind, that the margins became the heart of our mission.

00:46:31Madam Speaker, the Department of Economic Development has established an investment desk to accelerate and eliminate bureaucratic processes associated with the municipal practice,

00:46:42enable quicker response to opportunities, investments and incentive prospectuses,

00:46:50seamless coordination with other departments and entities to provide investors with researched information to explore investment opportunities in the City of Johannesburg.

00:47:05Madam Speaker, the Mayor in his speech yesterday correctly diagnosed the city, its capacity, its potential, and how the world still views it.

00:47:16And it is important for us not to forget that we have inherited, we have inherited a city that gives us an upper hand in hosting world-class events

00:47:29and it is critical that we remind the citizens of Joburg that in the following week we are hosting the world.

00:47:38From the 14th to the 16th of May 2025, the world will bow to the excellency of the City of Johannesburg as we host WUWM Conference.

00:47:52This will be the first in the continent. This will be the first

00:47:59time an African country has been entrusted with such a responsibility and rights to host. We should cherish this moment as Johannesburg.

00:48:13The event gives us an opportunity to bolster our local economy, create jobs, empower SMMEs and display our rich diverse culture to the world again.

00:48:29And remind the world of the character we have and dispel many myths sent around about our country and the city.

00:48:38Mr Mayor, this is yet again a reminder of what you had contributed in your speech about the calibre of senior managers that are there at the Joburg Market. Placing right people at the right position empowers the people of the country and the city, and furthermore gives us an advantage.

00:48:59The fresh produce market after this showcase will grow from strength to strength and continue to deliver turnover of a billion, as they have in the previous financial years and the current one.

00:49:13In extension to this, Executive Mayor, let us use next week as a litmus test of our capacity

00:49:23to successfully host the G20 and U20 conferences. We will host

00:49:31as the year goes by. This is an opportunity to brand ourselves as the City of Johannesburg.

00:49:38Speaker of Council, I am glad the State of the City Address touched on the district model. Prior the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Johannesburg and four other municipalities

00:50:0130 seconds remaining.

00:50:04Councillors, please.

Point of order on ANC speaking-time arrangement

00:50:07You can continue, MMC.

00:50:10Can I take time from one of the speakers of the ANC? It's not possible?

00:50:17isiZuluUfuna ukuthatha isikhathi from u-councillor ubani? uRadebe noNgwenya?

00:50:28They must agree, MMC. Councillor Ngwenya? Councillor Radebe? Okay.

00:50:35isiZuluNgicabanga kanjalo.

00:50:37MMC, we'll add two minutes ke.

00:50:46Thank you, Madam Speaker. The City of Johannesburg and four other municipalities were identified...

00:50:49Please hold on, MMC, please hold on. Councillor, I can't see your name from the back.

00:50:56It's Councillor Pietersen.

00:50:57Councillor Pietersen.

00:50:58Madam Speaker, thank you for recognising me. Point of order. This house has already set a precedent that we had to make that arrangement prior to starting speaking.

00:51:11Councillor Pietersen, the two speakers from the African National Congress agreed. It's their time allocated to their caucus, so if they agree among themselves, there's nothing wrong.

00:51:25Speaker, you yourself sanctioned me even though we had agreed that we would combine the speeches.

00:51:32Councillor Pietersen, please sit down. This is time allocated to the ANC. If the ANC agrees to divide the time among themselves, it's their time, so let's give them that privilege.

00:51:47MMC Mnisi, we'll add two minutes. Councillors, we'll add two minutes as agreed. We'll take a minute from Councillor Ngwenya and another minute from Councillor Radebe and add it to your speech.

00:52:02Thank you, Madam Speaker. When the Executive Mayor speaks of Southern Farms, he speaks not just of hectares and housing; he speaks of hope rooted in the soil of justice. This is more than just a mega-project, it is a monument to inclusion.

00:52:19For decades, the South has carried the weight of underdevelopment, but today, through this bold investment, we are flipping the script. The Southern Farms mega-project is a beacon of spatial redress, bringing infrastructure, jobs and dignity where there was once neglect.

00:52:39It answers the cries of the people who've waited for too long for their fair share of the city's promises.

00:52:48Those who have never experienced living in a three-room house with 10 family members, and kitchen at night is turned to a bedroom, will never have an appreciation of how this development will touch the lives of our people.

00:53:02Those who have never experienced renting a shack from a landlord that monitors how many plastics you came in with and how many times do you use the ablution facility, where your kids can't even enjoy playing in the yard, you will never comprehend how will this bring much joy, relief and dignity, and much-needed houses for our people.

00:53:25To the Executive Mayor, we say thank you. Thank you for turning forgotten fields into the foundation of thriving futures. This is the Joburg we want. This is the ANC we believe in.

00:53:39As I conclude, Executive Mayor, Madam Speaker, in your conclusion yesterday, Executive Mayor, you state that we can poke holes in your speech,

00:53:51but I choose not to. We choose to follow your theme and build this Johannesburg with you. I would like to make an input in building this city. Our core constituency and demographics in the city is the young.

00:54:06Johannesburg as a migrant capital characterized by labour would mean the young occupy the space. I ask of you to be considerate in planning moving forward that we make a budget for youth empowerment, we get them involved in different industries, and we want... We support them intentionally.

00:54:27Mr Mayor, as we went through a critical history lessons of the city and its mayors, let me remind you of words of the late Mayor Jolidee Matongo.

00:54:34MMC, your time is up.

00:54:39All hands are needed on deck and this is also a time to enable the youth and

00:54:47socioeconomic...

00:55:08isiZuluSiyabonga, MMC Mnisi.

AIC response to the State of the City Address

00:55:30AIC, MMC Arnolds.

00:55:35It's AIC, African Independent Congress, not IEC, Madam Speaker.

00:55:45Good morning to you, Madam Speaker. Good morning to the Executive Mayor, fellow councillors, all MMCs present, the REC of the AIC in the gallery, and also to the Secretary-General of the AIC, Councillor Mhlongo.

00:56:05Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the African Independent Congress in support of the 2025 State of the City Address as delivered by the Executive Mayor, Councillor Dada Morero.

00:56:21This address was a clear, confident articulation of where our city stands, where it is going, and how we plan to get there. It showed what responsible, people-centred leadership looks like.

00:56:37The State of the City Address was not a celebration of government; it was a call to action for society. It was not filled with promises; it was filled with progress, budgets and plans already in motion.

00:56:56It reflected the heartbeat of a city recovering its rhythm. It reflected a government of local unity, of which the AIC is part of, that is stabilizing governance, restoring dignity and recommitting to service delivery.claim

00:57:14And yes, we should reflect with pride on real tangible milestones like the Lufhereng mixed-use development. This is not a press release, opposition; it is a massive, funded, multi-phase development bringing over 30,000 housing units with bulk infrastructure.claim

00:57:38We also want to say, as the people of Eldorado Park, thank you for the issue of dealing with the Goudkoppies landfill. It is something that needs to be dealt with, and also the Southern Farms development brings hope to the people of Eldorado Park.

00:57:56The Lufhereng project, this is a project near Protea Glen, is what spatial justice in action look like, delivered through intergovernmental cooperation and a political will to reverse apartheid spatial planning.

00:58:13This is what transformation looks like, not in theory, but in brick, mortar and dignity. Similarly, I welcome the 296 million allocated to electrifying informal settlements, reaching communities that have been in the dark, not only literally, but figuratively, for too long.

00:58:36But there is another story that must be told, a story of rescue, renewal and revival. I speak of the bold and long-overdue project to revitalize the inner city. Johannesburg's urban core is not just the geographical centre of the metro; it is the historical soul of our city.

00:58:58It is where economies were born, cultures collided and identities were shaped, and for long it has been left to rot. Now, under the GLU-led administration, this ends.

00:59:12The inner city is no longer a cautionary tale; it is becoming a blueprint for inclusive urban renewal. We are not just repairing what was broken; we are transcending what has been called "urbicide", the deliberate neglect of the

00:59:31urban poor. We are building a mixed-income, multifunctional, proudly African inner city. A city rebuilding from the inside out, a city governed not by egos, but by a government of local unity committed to outcomes over optics.

00:59:50And let me turn now to what is perhaps the backbone of a sustainable governance: revenue collection. We cannot build, light, clean or protect what we cannot afford to maintain.

01:00:05And that is why I fully support, or the AIC fully supports, the Executive Mayor's assertion that the city must collect a minimum of 200 million per day to improve its fiscal position. This is not a thumb-sucking figure; it is

01:00:23a non-negotiable threshold for financial stability, for budgeting with certainty and for protecting service delivery across all regions in our metro.

01:00:36To achieve this, the city has launched targeted and people-centred interventions: open days, which is not attended by councillors, revenue collection drives and enhanced customer engagement efforts, and I'm talking about ward councillors.

01:00:55These are not about sending threats or turning off taps; they are about rebuilding the relationship between the city and its residents. Madam Speaker, I must address the elephant in this chamber.

01:01:10Just hours before the Executive Mayor was due to deliver this address, the Democratic Alliance submitted a motion of no confidence, not only in the Mayor, but also in you, Madam Speaker.

01:01:25Let's be frank: this is not an act of accountability, but a desperate attempt to steal the spotlight and derail a moment of progress.

01:01:37Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the Executive Mayor for his steady leadership, his emphasis on infrastructure-led development and his refusal to be drawn into petty politicking. His address reminded us that this city is not beyond repair; in fact, it is already being renewed.

01:01:57In conclusion, the GLU is not perfect, but it is working, it is holding, it is delivering, and it is maturing. The 2025 State of the City Address made that plain for all to see. Now let us stay the course and keep building the Johannesburg that our people deserve, with lights, with homes and dignity, with pride. I thank you.

01:02:26Thank you, MMC Arnolds from the AIC.

01:02:33We'll move over to...

Network and livestream problems raised

01:02:35Speaker.

01:02:38Councillor Zigebe.

01:02:42Sorry to disturb your flow. Your network is not working, and our own networks that we came with are not working either. My worry is that there are people outside, we are not sure whether they are connected or not onto this important debate.

01:03:00May you please check with your technology? I thought I was betrayed by my own gadgets, but now I see that it's the network here that betrayed me. Thank you.

01:03:16Councillor Zigebe, are you talking about the network to connect to the internet or the livestream?

01:03:24Both, because we are watching the livestream, we've also switched it on to check. Then at least fix our Joburg Wi-Fi then, because we can't get any network on our own.

01:03:35Okay. Alright, we'll address this with IT. Thank you, Councillor Zigebe. Councillor Sifumba, I remember you spoke about this the last time.

UIM response to the State of the City Address

01:03:47UIM, Councillor Abdool.

01:03:57Greetings, Executive Mayor, Madam Speaker, fellow colleagues and residents of the City of Joburg. Rest assured, I will not be punching holes in your speech. I just have observations, suggestions and questions.

01:04:12AfrikaansGraag wil ek ook noem dat ek as mede-Suid-Afrikaner en Afrikaanssprekende ook die 100 bestaansjaar vier, en laat dit altyd onthou word dat die bruin Suid-Afrikaner deel uitmaak van die taal en dat Afrikaans die derde mees gesproke taal in Suid-Afrika is, en dat dit die bruin bevolking is wat dit die meeste spreek.claim

01:04:33What I said is that we also celebrate the 100-year existence of Afrikaans. As brown people in South Africa, we speak the most Afrikaans, and Afrikaans is the third most spoken language in South Africa.claim

01:04:51My first observation I'm making has more to do with the infrastructure and maintenance. It would have been nice to see our EM walking on stairs that are nicely painted and the black and white blocks also looking dapper.

01:05:07The JMPD really look very sloppy, overweight in oversized uniforms, not representative of the city which is the actual hub of the rainbow nation.

01:05:18We as councillors and political parties have a duty to educate and inform our constituencies and residents that when services are eventually rendered in our communities, it is not because of one single councillor or political party,

01:05:32Afrikaansbut indeed that we as parties in this building are actually fighting for it. Ons sit nie verniet hierso en debate nie.

01:05:39It is the responsibility of the ward councillor to clarify all of that. It is called integrity. As long as we continue with party politics, our residents will remain ignorant, critical and non-cooperative.

01:05:53Let's be cautious of abusing social media, posing for events and services rendered as if we are the ones that executes them. It is called cheap politicking. At least acknowledge the entities responsible.

01:06:06The IDP meetings and CBP meetings, which are regurgitating equals to UIFWE, will not be so dramatic and abusive if we as ward councillors and PR councillors can just do our jobs, which is service delivery:

01:06:25water, electricity, potholes, traffic lights, fixing the pools 100% and not 90%, fixing graveyards 100% and not 90%, fixing everything 100% and not just 90%.

01:06:37I would like to suggest that we inquire from the Germany executives or the people that will be representing Germany how they went about it to create a system which not only provides energy to residents, but create an income for residents.

01:06:56My question is the following: the rotation of MMCs and senior managers are really a concern for me. How will this be executed? What is the reasoning behind it? There will be no continuity, no accountability, and good opportunity for more UIFWEs.

01:07:17If an MMC is not doing their job, they need to be removed and replaced; however, there needs to be a good monitoring tool that has to be used.

01:07:2783,000 mixed housing in Midrand, I would just like to know when and where? The city does not have the funds for service delivery. 40 to 50,000 jobs, when? What types of jobs? The city does not have proper service delivery funds.

01:07:47how are we going to execute that? What I missed is the regulating of recyclers. They keep the city clean, yet they are being disrespected, ostracized, and sometimes abused. The city needs to keep them the the they need to keep the city clean, but right now they are seen as a nuisance. Please note they are not necessarily poor. They are in the recycling industry and it needs to be regulated.

01:08:12In conclusion, kindly I kindly request that the turnaround plan also be sent to us as counselors because we are the stakeholders and custodians of the city who are equally responsible in seeing to it that the vision is actually executed. In fact, publish it in the in one of the Joburg based newspapers for the residents to see because they are supposed to be the beneficiaries of this turnaround plan.

01:08:41Together we can really build a world-class city with ex- execution, which is done with honesty, integrity. And if that is not done, uh we will this Soca will remain a speech on a beautifully printed booklet and just a city of dreams. I thank you.

IFP response to the State of the City Address

01:09:05Thank you, Councillor Abdool. IFP, MMC Mabaso. MMC, you have 6 minutes.

01:09:23isiZuluEh angibingelele Speaker, nawonke amakhansela. I-Caucus ye-IFP nginibingelele ngolimi lwakithi lwase-Afrika.

01:09:42When the Executive Mayor paid tribute to the former Executive Mayors, I experienced mixed emotions. On one hand, I felt the pain of losing colleagues in the short space of time. On the other hand, I was deeply concerned by the high turnover of mayors in this city that we have experienced. This is a clear indicator of the political instability that continues to hinder the growth and the development of our city.

01:10:10Johannesburg has been governed through coalitions for the past 9 years. It is time we mature beyond party lines and political ideologies to focus firmly on service delivery and the development of our communities. Stability must become a priority, we are to make if we are to make a real and lasting progress.

01:10:32The Executive Mayor's address rightfully acknowledged the challenges facing the city and provided strategies to address them. The focus on service delivery program reflects a government that is in touch with the realities on the ground and I commend you, Executive Mayor, for that.

01:10:50Executive Mayor, I share your sentiments. We must declare war on criminality. Land and houses invasions, electricity theft, and the hijacking and the hijacked buildings are bleeding the cities of much-needed resources. These buildings often controls by or controlled by criminal syndicates generate illicit income while endangering the lives of innocent residents.

01:11:16It is unacceptable that some individuals own multiple shacks in the informal settlements, live lavish lives while exploiting the poor. We cannot allow our city to be surrendered to criminals.

01:11:31There are already many programs and strategies that deployed in the inner city. And But this time, we must ensure that they are implemented effectively focusing on other CBDs, of course. The time for half-measures is over. These criminal network are also responsible for harboring undocumented foreign nationals in these hijacked properties. This is a security, legal, and economic threat that we must confront head-on. We owe it to our law-abiding citizens to restore safety and dignity in our communities.

01:12:09Let's reclaim our industrial zone and create an environment that welcomes business investment. Johannesburg is an economic hub and we must use this to drive employment and revive the economy. We also welcome your efforts, Executive Mayor, in writing to the president for an additional supportclaim

01:12:28isiZulungoba abaningi ngathi abazi, EM, ukuthi yithi esacela usizo ku-president.claim

01:12:33Johannesburg infrastructure has been decaying for many years and we acknowledge that the city's current resources are not enough to resolve all these challenges. On our revenue collection, we must be we must be more robust and tighten all the loopholes. The revenue base is there. We need the political will to enforce our strategies effectively. Our capital investment should actually exceed 10 billion to make meaningful impact on the development of our communities. We welcome the announcement of new mega developments in the City of Johannesburg, which will complement the existing projects.claim

01:13:12Collectively, these developments have the potentiality to yield more than 200,000 housing opportunities and this is a significant step in addressing the housing backlog in our city. The Department of Human Settlements will continue to champion the formalization and the upgrading of informal settlements, the redevelopment of hostels, and the implementation of the low-cost social and affordable housing. Proclamation of all townships for the rolling out of the title deeds, which will give residents security of tenure and a sense of ownership and pride will be prioritized.

01:13:48In conclusion, the State of the City Address gave a roadmap. What remains is the political commitment to implement. Let's all unite, rise above political games, and serve the people of Johannesburg with dignity, pride, and focus and with a sense of urgency. On behalf of the Executive Mayor, I extend our well wishes to the Kaizer Chiefs as they travel to Durban for the Nedbank Cup final. Thank you very much.

01:14:30isiZuluSiyabonga,

ACDP response to the State of the City Address

01:14:31MMC Mabaso. We'll move over to ACDP, to Councilor Harris.

01:14:44Good morning once again, Madam Speaker. Good morning, Executive Mayor, MMCs, Chief Whip, Chair of Chairs, Chairpersons, Councilors, residents. I am rising to respond to the State of the City Address as delivered yesterday. It's very difficult standing on this side of the chamber not to be cynical or critical.

01:15:13But I don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, so I am going to take to heart what our EM said yesterday. And I will try to speak about the city that the ACDP would like to see.

01:15:32I think the Yesterday, I was I came in here hoping that the fog of depression that is sinking on the City of Johannesburg as we battle with service delivery and a whole host of social ills, I thought that would be lifted somewhat. But um I think the devil is in the detail, and I was I'm I'm comforted by the IDP document that has given us some of the the uh detail.

01:16:02I think for me the big problem and the big issue would be the priority housing development areas, which excludes Westbury. It excludes Newclare, Bosmont, Coronationville. That is a serious challenge for me. It excludes Kliptown that is such an interesting heritage site.claim

01:16:25The mayor spoke about the landfill sites, the upgrading and rehabilitation of those. For me, proper cutting edge waste-to-energy initiatives should be part of the city's waste management program. He spoke through the about the integrated intelligence ops centers. These have to be leveraged to fight crime if we are really serious about doing away with the serious crime that is besetting our centers our suburbs.

01:16:56Uh these ops centers must be integrated with the South African Police Services as well, so that IGR process is critical if we are going to be do any uh have any impact on crime. The mayor alluded to industrial parks and business centers, which are critical for the addressing of the massive unemployment amongst the youth especially, and I trust these centers will come out into the formerly Colored areas as well.

01:17:28The formalization of informal settlements is a critical issue. On the one hand, it is very good. But on the other hand, it is rewarding illegality because those who have not gone to grab land are sitting on the sidelines hoping for a housing opportunity, whereas those who have taken the opportunity to put up a shack somewhere are being rewarded with electricity and water. It speaks to a lack of an urbanization plan and it speaks to a lack of our ability to uh provide our citizens with proper housing.

01:18:06The sports, music, arts, and culture is very little is spoken about it. Um we should be developing as a world-class African city, we should be developing our sports people, our music industry, our arts, visual arts, uh culture. These need to be supported by the city. The capital expenditure is a critical issue that I the ACDP is worried about. It makes up only 8.3% of the budget.

01:18:36This is inadequate for the developmental city. What is even more critical is that 42.2% of this CapEx is from loans. The city has no money to support its own infrastructure development. For me, the bomb squad, I think, is an ultimate insult to the 30-odd thousand people employed by the city.

01:19:01The It is an insult to those who are already in the system. It's an insult to those who are already at senior levels who are supposed to be doing the work. We do not need somebody from the outside who has no institutional knowledge to come and tell the city how to run it. I think if they want somebody that want that that needs to lead this uh program, there's an excellent person at the city uh City Power station in Hursthill, Malcolm de Lange, an excellent man. I think he can be used to to lead that process.

01:19:35From the ACDP's point of view, innovation, creativity, having a developmental mindset, productivity are key to making Johannesburg the city we want to see. Orlando Pirates beat Chiefs once. They're going to do it again this coming week. Thank you.

Lost property, comfort break and Mayor's return

01:20:12Thank you, Councilor Harris. Councilors, I've got a lost and found here. If you've lost some items, sunglasses, a little bag, and a cable, please come to us. We found this in the chamber this morning.

01:20:34Councilor Sifumba. Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, perhaps this calls for maybe um a comfort break since the mayor is not here. We can't be debating his State of the City's Address whilst he's not here. Thanks.

01:21:13Okay, councilors. Let's take a 7-minute comfort break while we go and and call the mayor back. It's 11:33. Please let's be back at 11:40. [00:13:42] [no speech]

01:23:59isiZuluHhayi,

01:24:04SesothoLefa,

01:24:06isiZulubayagilana laba. [00:16:21] [no speech]

01:37:37Councilors, let's settle down. The Executive Mayor is back.

01:37:56isiZuluHhayi bo, Councillor Nkonyeni.

01:38:06isiZulu[inaudible] ANC Councillor Ngwenya.

01:38:13isiZuluCouncillor Nguse Sihle.

Second ANC response (Cllr Ngwenya)

01:38:29Okay. Councillors, we'll continue with business of the day. I would like to call the next speaker from the ANC, Councillor Ngwenya. Councillor Ngwenya,

01:38:43isiZuluuyakhumbula

01:38:44we gave

01:38:44isiZului-minute eyi-1 ku-MMC neh? So, instead of 12 minutes, uyenza 11.

01:38:56Eh, Madam Speaker, Councillor Nobuhle Mthembu, Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Zungu, members of the Mayoral Committee, Chair of Chairs, Councillor Marema, all Section 79 Committee Chairs, councillors of the City of Johannesburg, distinguished guests and the residents of Johannesburg.

01:39:26Speaker, there is a saying that dynamites come in small packages and yesterday reminded us of that. Allow me the honour of greeting the Executive Mayor, Councillor Sello Isaac Morero. Our very own dynamite, though he might not come in the tallest package,

01:39:52but his impact, leadership and presence are undeniably powerful. His stature may be modest, but his achievements, vision and commitment to service are larger than life. Speaker, let me echo the sentiments by the Executive Mayor by applauding Orlando Pirates for their win in the past weekend.

01:40:20Speaker, let me further warn those like u-Councillor Mabaso who are expecting a loss this weekend, to wake up and face reality. Just like the City of Johannesburg, Pirates will win again and again. Eh, Speaker, as we reflect on the Mayor's bold and visionary State of the City Address, I stand in unwavering support of the outlined intervention. This is not just a speech. It is a declaration of intent, a road map of transformation and a call to action for every resident, councillor and stakeholder in Johannesburg. Below, I unpack the key pillars and explain why they must be embraced with urgency and commitment.

01:41:14Madam Speaker, allow me to deliver my speech in point form as I believe this will be clear, direct and focused. I choose this approach because unfortunately many seated across this chamber came not to contribute constructively, but to criticise without offering viable alternatives. The aim is not to build, but to block. We are at a critical moment in the development of this city. The Executive Mayor has laid a vision grounded in real tangible progress, not empty rhetoric. Mr Mayor, we hope the opposition will put the residents of Johannesburg first and support the plan as outlined in your speech.

01:42:04So allow me to present the 12 key focus areas highlighted by the Mayor, areas that will truly move this city forward. Number one, restoring law and order through by-law enforcement and crime prevention. Madam Speaker, the Mayor has placed restoring law and order at the centre of his plan. The city's intention to declare a state of disaster on crime and lawlessness speaks volumes about the urgency by the law enforcement. By-law enforcement must be relentless. Crime prevention is not just a police issue, it requires active communities, empowered metro officers and consistent court support.

01:42:50By reducing crime rates, people feel safer in their homes, schools, communities and encourages more social interaction and cohesion. Councillor De Lange, the Mayor made a direct commitment to ensuring that traffic lights work. This may sound like a small detail, but in a city tormented by congestion, accidents and infrastructure decay, functioning traffic signals mean safer roads, a faster commute and restored public confidence. This ensuring that those that are going to work can get there on time and arrive safely. Traffic signal maintenance must be prioritized across the entire City of Johannesburg.

01:43:38And the residents of the City of Johannesburg can attest that the work has begun and we believe that it will be intensified to reach all corners of the city. By introducing stronger enforcement on traffic fines, we restore discipline to our roads. Fines are not just about punishment, they're about accountability. Every fine paid is a lesson in civic duty and prevention to reckless driving. This contributes directly to our mission of safer and more orderly communities. Creating opportunities for young people, from entrepreneurship hubs supported by the Youth Chamber of Commerce to skills development through international partnerships.

01:44:22The Mayor has put young people at the centre of his vision. Creating jobs in township economies, launching smart city programmes and building inclusive infrastructure means we are not leaving the youth behind, we are empowering them to lead. Keeping the street lights on. Street lights are a symbol. They represent safety, care and functionality. The Mayor's commitment to keeping them on is more about the infrastructure, it's about visibility for women walking at the night in the streets of Alexandra, children returning from school in Zakariyya Park and business owners protecting their shops in the inner city. We must invest in maintenance teams, energy efficiency, public reporting tools to make this promise real.

01:45:13Madam Speaker, there was a time when Johannesburg was not just a city, but an experience. Families would dress in their finest to visit the inner city, not only to shop, but to celebrate life. Places like Carlton Centre, Hillbrow and Joubert Park, these were the hubs of culture and pride. Now with the precinct upgrades such as Jabulani and the Orange Farm Renewal Programme, we are not just rebuilding infrastructure, we are reclaiming the soul of our city. Madam Speaker, the city's digital public infrastructure plan highlighted by the artificial intelligence is a bold and forward-thinking step,

01:45:57evidence of a government that is not only reactive, but proactive. This strategy embraces the power of technology to transform how we deliver services with AI driven systems. We can detect service delivery failures like water leaks, power outages or traffic signal malfunctions before they escalate into crisis. This means faster response times, fewer disruptions and greater efficiency. But the impact goes beyond just better service delivery. This digital infrastructure will open new avenues for inclusive growth. For example, Speaker, smart city dashboards can guide infrastructure involvements to underserved communities, digital skills development hubs supported by AI tools can equip youth entrepreneurs with tools to participate in the digital economy.

01:46:53In short, Speaker, this is not just about technology for its own sake, it's about using innovation to close gaps, service gaps, unlock opportunities and ensure no community is left behind. A smarter city is a more inclusive city and this plan puts Johannesburg firmly on the path. Eh, Speaker, perhaps it is important for me or it is important for Councillor De Lange once more to listen carefully. Perhaps yesterday he was not listening to the Mayor. I say this and in explaining on the war room and the bomb squad approach is how we move from talk to tangible results, turning strategy into execution with urgency and precision.

01:47:37The war room is where planning meets coordination, a central hub where decision-makers and stakeholders converge to monitor progress, resolve bottlenecks in real time and adjust strategies based on live data. It's not about endless meetings, it's about results-driven, accountable governance. The bomb squad is the rapid response unit tasked with diffusing crises before they explode. Whether it's service delivery protest, a burst water pipe or a power failure, this team steps in with the skills and authority to act immediately, no delay, no red tape. Speaker, let me further take this opportunity or this moment to commend the Executive Mayor for his honesty and courage in confronting the harsh financial realities facing our city.

01:48:31Transparency is the first step towards meaningful change and the Mayor has demonstrated true leadership by refusing to sugarcoat the challenges that we have as a city. The City of Johannesburg's fragile financial position demands not just acknowledgement, but bold reform. We need a complete shift in how we manage and grow resources. This means revamping revenue collection systems, implementing split budgeting so that essential services are protected, while strategic long-term projects are planned responsibly. Sustainability begins with accountability. We cannot build a better Johannesburg on a broken financial foundation.

01:49:17Fiscal discipline, transparent governance and efficient service delivery must be our guiding principle. Councillor Echeozonjoku of the opposition party, the current administration, unlike the past coalition that was led by the blues, is not just talking about transformation, it's taking the tough, but necessary steps to secure it. That is,

01:49:4230 seconds remaining.

01:49:42leadership worth supporting. The public and private partnership collaborating for impact, the Mayor acknowledged a wide collection of public-private partnership and we applaud that, Speaker. Eh, let us build a city with its own people. Let us show unity. Let us model patriotism. Let us protect our infrastructure and respect our spaces. In closing, Speaker, this is time to build together. The Mayor's message is clear. The time for excuses is over. The time for implementation has begun. Let this speech be a call to action, a moment where talk gave way to transformation. Let this be a turning point. We must rise to the call. 2025 and beyond must be the year we see the Joburg we want to see. Let's not delay, let's deliver. I thank you, Speaker.

01:50:57isiZuluSiyabonga, Councillor Ngwenya.

GOOD Party response to the State of the City Address

01:51:04Councillor Cook from the Good Party.

01:51:09Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor, fellow councillors and residents of Johannesburg. As the Good Party, we rise today to affirm our commitment to ethical leadership, spatial justice and a sustainable, equitable Johannesburg. Yesterday, the Executive Mayor delivered his State of the City Address and it was a masterclass. A masterclass in political spin, grand visions, ambitious timelines and lofty ideals. But the people of Johannesburg know better, Madam Speaker. They live the truth daily with a city in deep and visible decline, barrelling towards oblivion with no end in sight.

01:51:52Madam Speaker, as Good, we do, however, commend the Mayor on what he got right in his speech yesterday. The Mayor is correct when he says the people of Johannesburg legitimately are concerned about the city they call home. It is true. Our city is in a crisis and this is no time for empty political theatre. We must now speak truth, offer solutions and act with urgency. Madam Speaker, I must just note a concern. Yesterday, we were painted a picture of a united GLU who is going to reimagine Johannesburg. However, everyone in this chamber could see that the GLU is not united.claim

01:52:35Partners in the GLU didn't pitch up or walked across the house during proceedings, while other partners in the GLU sat arms folded, enjoying the perks of being in government, while they still behave like an opposition. Madam Speaker, it can't be that in a united GLU, which has over 190 of the 270 councillors in this chamber, that the Mayor had to repeat some of his specific SOCA pipe dreams to get a mediocre applause from a handful of his own colleagues. Yet the biggest applause he received yesterday was when he created a dramatic and over-theatrical moment to teach his peers how to send an email.claim

01:53:22Madam Speaker, we do commend that there is a commitment to spatial redress and welcome the Mayor's targeted investment of 3.03 billion in long neglected communities like Diepsloot, Zandspruit, Orange Farm and Eldorado Park. We also welcome the township economic reforms mentioned by the Mayor. He rightly points to the inequality of the Joburg Market system when township traders spend billions with almost no local retention. Good will support reforms that empower informal traders, local farmers and township-based logistics players. However, Madam Speaker, there are far more alarm bells than praises in the speech. The Mayor mentioned that international investors are looking at Johannesburg and are attracted by growth.claim

01:54:12Are they attracted by the growth of the potholes? The growth of the service delivery backlogs? The growth of the decay? The growth of the financial instability and debt that the city is in? Speaker, the Mayor mentioned that drastic times need drastic measures and that extreme action is needed. As Good, we agree. But after being in office for eight months, we want to ask the Mayor, when will you start? Speaker, the Mayor also mentioned that last year Joburg was reimagined. The executive must have a very good imagination, as according to residents, nothing has changed and the problems are getting worse.claim

01:54:54Where is the accountability? The Mayor acknowledged that our city is financially unstable and service backlogs are worsening, but where is the accountability for fiscal collapse? We cannot fix Joburg by repackaging the same leadership and expecting different results. We, as Good, are also concerned about private sector partnerships without guardrails. While we support collaboration, massive private sector investments like Steyn City's 11.5 billion, risk reinforcing inequality if not matched with public interest concerns. Where are the equity clauses? Where are the inclusion targets? And where are the public benefit measures? We are also concerned that there is no clear climate adaptation plan. Johannesburg is not immune to climate shocks.claim

01:55:42Yet, in a 24-page address, there was no mention of climate adaptation or disaster resilience strategy. This is an omission that Good cannot overlook. Madam Speaker, the Mayor's proposed bomb squad, while theatrically named, lacks detail, accountability and public oversight. Good cannot support the creation of a vaguely defined executive structure that bypasses democratic processes under the guise of urgency. Speaker, the framing of migration and declaring a war on undocumented migrants risks inflaming xenophobia. Joburg's problems are not caused by the poor, not by the foreign or by the informal. They are caused by corruption, poor planning and political instability. Good demands a lawful, humane approach to migration and urban inclusion.

01:56:35It is also concerning that not once did the speech mention corruption prevention, clean audits or procurement reform. At a time when trust in the city is fragile, the silence

01:56:4430 seconds remaining.

01:56:45is deafening. Speaker, Johannesburg is not short of plans. It is short of implementation, clean governance and short of justice in how resources are distributed. In closing, Speaker, I note that the Mayor commenced his speech mentioning each of the democratic mayors of Johannesburg and stating their legacy. Madam Speaker, some of those mayors might be turning in their graves at what has been undone over the last couple of years. I must, however, also caution the Mayor, Madam Speaker, not to become known as the mayor who can look you in the eye, shake your hand, make plenty of promises, but fail to deliver on them.

PA response (MMC Kunene)

01:57:36Thank you, Councillor. We'll move over. Councillors, let's settle down. We are still in the middle of our debate. MMC Kunene from the PA.

01:57:58Madam Speaker, let me greet you. Let me also recognize the Executive Mayor, the Chief Whip of Council, MMCs, the Chief Whip of the fastest growing political party, the Patriotic Alliance and the nine councillors of PA. Madam Speaker, let me send greetings to the residents of Johannesburg.

01:58:26You are 10.

01:58:27Yes, we are 10. I'm saying nine because I'm the 10th. I'm not confused. Eh, Madam Speaker, let me also greet the residents of Johannesburg who have voted for us to represent them properly and their plight. Madam Speaker, I do agree with the Mayor that Johannesburg is going through challenges and it needs a turnaround strategy. Be that as it may, Madam Speaker, I do not think that a turnaround strategy should be the rotation of MMCs, but I'll leave that for a political discussion outside of this house.

01:59:13I also think that, eh, Madam Speaker, the Mayor must have erred by saying that he's going to rotate the senior managers. Eh, senior managers, especially Section 56, are appointed by council and, eh, they have applied for the jobs with the requirements of certain credentials, competencies and qualifications. And, eh, I think maybe that was an err, eh, as the Mayor is not empowered, eh, to do so. Even the mobility policy of the city, eh, is very clear that when you move people around, they need to have certain competencies.

02:00:05The Mayor has mentioned, rightly so, that Eldorado Park needs to be developed as a liveable, eh, area. However, the people of Eldos have asked me to raise the following issues about Eldos. Number one, that when former Premier Makhubo, eh, former Premier... Who was the premier? Makhura. Thank you very much. Former Premier Makhura, when he launched the Southern Farms, it was launched in Eldos.claim

02:00:49However, when the main launch happened last year for the implementation, it was not done in Eldos. They are saying that they have received a memo that a site establishment is going to be launched in Ward 18 in Eldos, yet the councillor of Eldos has not been consulted. And they are saying the people of Eldos have not been allocated housing for the Southern Farms. They have been deliberately excluded. Madam, the people of Davidsonville have complained over the years about the mining dumps that flood their houses whenever it rains.claim

02:01:42How their pipes get blocked because of the sand. I have visited the area with the Department of Minerals, however, they have not come to the party. Madam Speaker, the residents of Glenesk in Region F say they are neglected. Their flats are dilapidated, their pipes are blocked, sewage and they need some attention from the city.

02:02:23Madam Speaker, these communities are complaining about how the budget is allocated in a divisive manner. Where a budget will be allocated to Chiawelo, but not to Klipspruit. Where a budget will be allocated to Finetown and Meriting, but not Ennerdale. Where a budget will be allocated to Kliptown, but not Eldorado Park. Where a budget will be allocated to Ivory Park, but not Rabie Ridge. And they are calling on us, as the executive, to correct this budget allocation. Madam Speaker, the speech of the Mayor did not highlight the achievements of the GLU.

02:03:14I think Councillor Zigebe has captured a few of those achievements. Eh, Madam Speaker, we have achieved a lot.

02:03:3030 seconds remaining.

02:03:31When we came in in 2023. I can list a lot of achievements that we have, eh, made as the GLU, both working together as MMCs and individually. Unfortunately, time is against me. Madam Speaker, let me close by saying success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts. Obstacles are inevitable, but quitting isn't. We can never quit. Madam Speaker, success is not the absence of problems, it's the ability to deal with them. And as the GLU, we are dealing with the problems that we have inherited from the DA administration. We are dealing with these problems as we move forward

02:04:22Time's up.

02:04:24and take the City of Johannesburg forward. Thank you very much. We invite all to the PA

02:04:31MMC,

02:04:31isiZuluhhayi, hhayi,

02:04:32MMC.

PAC response to the State of the City Address

02:04:44Thank you, MMC Kunene. PAC, MMC Nkokou.

02:04:55isiZuluNkokou. Nkokou.

02:04:59Madam Speaker, I think I must fine you

02:05:01isiZuluneh.

02:05:03You must do justice to my ancestors. Eh, Madam Speaker, Councillor Nobuhle Mthembu, Executive Mayor,

02:05:16SesothoMorero, Rre Dada Sello Morero,

02:05:20Whip of the Council,

02:05:21SepediRena Magaitšhi Zungu,

02:05:25Chair of Chairs,

02:05:28SesothoRre

02:05:28Adolph Marema, all the Chairpersons of Section 79 Committees, honourable councillors, City Manager and all officials, and most importantly, the residents of City of Joburg. The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, the PAC, welcomes Executive Mayor's State of City Address. We appreciate its honesty, its developmental orientation and its acknowledgment of both the challenges and potential of this great African city.

02:06:20The PAC views this address as more than a government report. It is a call to duty. As a liberation movement grounded in African unity, self-determination, we support Mayor's commitment to addressing historical spatial injustice, deepening partnerships and investing in marginalized communities. Projects such as the electrification of informal settlement, inner city revitalization and mega housing development in Diepsloot, Southern Farms and Lufhereng, are not just about service delivery, they are about dignity.

02:07:16They affirm the principles that the land and its benefit must belong to the people. We particularly welcome the investment in youth entrepreneurship, cultural facilities, township economic development, but we must be deliberate. These programmes must empower African youth to lead in innovation, digital transformation.

02:07:47and ownership, not just participate. Madam Speaker, on the question of rotational political leadership and management, let us make it let us be clear. Rotation is not disruption. It is a democracy in motion. In a government of local unity, rotation is an expression of shared power,

02:08:15shared responsibility, and shared accountability. It ensures that government does not become a preserve for one party or or personality, but a reflection of collective will. We support Executive Mayor proposal to rotate MMC and senior managers. This must not be reduced to opportunistic calculus.

02:08:42It must be guided by performance, ethics, and the need to break stagnation. Strategic rotation injects fresh ideas and energy, undermines entrenched patronage networks, enhances representativity, and upholds the principle of negotiated cooperation.

02:09:09In our African tradition, leadership is a collective and rotational. We gather in lekgotla not to entrench authority, but to share it. That is how we build legitimacy and resilience. To those who fear rotation, we say democracy must evolve. And if we are to serve the people of Johannesburg,

02:09:37not just some, then this rotation must be embraced, not resisted. In closing, the PAC recommits itself to the building of Johannesburg that is safe, just, and African in both form and substance. Let it be a city where our children are safe, our cultures are celebrated, and no one is left behind. Let Joburg

02:10:07let Johannesburg not only reimagine itself, but reclaim its soul. Madam Speaker, I'm going to make an announcement. Woo! Yeah, it comes it comes with responsibilities of being a leadership. Also, it comes with responsibility if you are serious want to build the city and the country and the continent.

PAC announcement on ANC-Afrikaner meeting and Afrikaans centenary

02:10:38Madam Speaker, fellow councillors, with your indulgence, I wish to make a brief announcement separate from my response to Mayor's address. Yesterday, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, PAC, had an honour to facilitate a historic meeting between the African National Congress and the Afrikaner Leadership Network. It was a moment

02:11:05of a frank and constructive engagement reminding us all of the need for inclusive dialogue in building united South Africa. In the same spirit, I wish to extend my warm congratulations as Afrikaans language makes its contemporary 100 years of official recognition. Let it be known in Johannesburg, the cultural identity of Afrikaners like of any other group is not under threat. It is our collective duty to ensure that

02:11:39to ensure that all cultures can flourish side by side with mutual respect and dignity. As a MMC Community Development, my office remains open and accessible to Afrikaner community and to every other culture and linguistic group in our city. Johannesburg is home to all. Let us rebuild it together.

02:12:02isiZuluIzwe lethu!

COPE response: sports, recreation, arts and culture

02:12:15Thank you, MMC. COPE, Councillor Mokome.

02:12:23Thank you, Madam Speaker and good day. Honourable Executive Mayor, Honourable Chief Whip of council, members of the Mayoral Committee, Chair of Chairs and Section 79 Chairpersons, Honourable Councillors, City Manager and the administration,

02:12:53residents of Johannesburg, guests in the gallery, ladies and gentlemen, good day. Madam Speaker, the doyen of sports administrators, former sports administrators, Donald Daniel Dliwayo,claim

02:13:23passed on a while ago. Sorry, a week ago. And Orlando Pirates has therefore gained an ancestor on their quest to challenge Sundowns in the Premier League championship,claim

02:13:48but also perhaps as a blessing as they travel down to Durban on Saturday for the Nedbank Cup final against Kaizer Chiefs. Once again, may his soul rest in peace. Madam Speaker, I rise on behalf of Congress of the People, COPE, to respond to the State of the City Address,

02:14:18the Johannesburg we all want. And Madam Speaker, from that end, we take an approach through the eyes of sports, recreation, arts, and culture within the City of Joburg, which is in some other instances is a misnomer called Community Development.claim

02:14:48Madam Speaker, in essence, as Johannesburgers, we must value we must get value from all our sports amenities. The demise of Moroka Swallows Football Club has rendered Dobsonville Stadium a white elephant.

02:15:16Madam Speaker, communities within Dobsonville and neighbouring areas, especially schools, when they've got to book that venue for their sports activities, they are being charged R20,000 for the day. Madam Speaker, in the light of the evolution, once again, the reintroduction of the

02:15:46Sports Wednesday in our schools, this kind of approach by Stadium Management South Africa is going to throttle and frustrate sports development within Johannesburg. And indeed, Madam Speaker, we take a cue which says Sports Management South Africa,

02:16:16the contract that we have with them is now coming into sharp focus, Madam Speaker. And this creates another problem also because within Dobsonville Stadium, there's also Dobsonville swimming pool, which also is now becoming

02:16:44a problem, a liability in the sense that maintenance is not being done, and that is now open to vandalism. Madam Speaker, further on, sports, recreation, arts, and culture is the heartbeat of our social life. Whether we are attending funerals during weekends, we are in parties,

02:17:14we are in taverns, Madam Speaker, we must be seen to be in an African world-class city. Citing an example once again, Arthur Ashe Tennis Court in White City is under threat because of vandalism. A library is closed in Orange Farm, Ward 4, Region G, because of bureaucracy.

02:17:48There is an altercation for lack of better word between the City of Joburg and the provincial authority running libraries.

02:18:0130 seconds remaining.

02:18:03And that once again, Madam Speaker, became becomes a problem with security. Madam Speaker, we need to establish a dedicated bid and hosting committee to hold events and leveraging opportunities for growth and development within the City of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, we lost to host the Nedbank Cup recently,

02:18:34which was won by Durban. And indeed, in that regard, Madam Speaker, this is a multi-million rand spinning event which the City of Joburg cannot afford to lose. Madam Speaker, the Congress of the People affirms and supports the State of the City Address as presented by the Mayor.

02:19:02Councillor Mokome, your time is up.

02:19:04Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Al Jama-ah response: Lenasia and southern communities

02:19:13Al Jama-ah, Councillor Karolia.

02:19:21Madam Speaker, Honourable Executive Mayor, esteemed members of council, colleagues, fellow residents, and distinguished guests. Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. And peace be upon you all. Today I am rising as a representative of Al Jama-ah party to engage in this important democratic tradition of reflecting on the state of our city, not in a spirit of division or partisanship,

02:19:52but with a sincere hope that our collective voices will contribute to a more inclusive, just, and accountable Johannesburg. Let us first commend the Honourable Executive Mayor for articulating a vision for a winning city, for outlining several progressive initiatives aimed at tackling long-standing service delivery challenges. We recognize the complexity of the challenges facing the city and the commitment required to address them. However,

02:20:21it is our concern and responsibility to bring to light areas where communities feel unseen, underserved, and excluded from this vision of progress.

02:20:36The absence of Lenasia in the city's strategic narrative. It is with respectful concern that we note the complete absence of Lenasia in the Mayor's 2025 State of the City Address. Not a single reference was made to this historically significant and economically vital community situated in the southern parts of Johannesburg. Lenasia is not a peripheral and marginal suburb. It is a well-established,

02:21:05vibrant area that contributes meaningfully to the city's socio-economic ecosystem. Its residents are tax-paying citizens, active voters, engaged stakeholders in the life of the city, yet their exclusion from the Mayoral address has been received with dismay and disappointment. This omission is not merely symbolic, it reflects a deeper systemic issue when areas like Lenasia are consistently left

02:21:34out of planning discussions, investment priorities, and infrastructure upgrades. It sends a message that some communities are less integral to the city's future than others. This perception undermines the social cohesion and trust we need in order to build a truly united Johannesburg. Lenasia is a catalyst for the southern corridor development. We wish to respectfully remind the Executive that Lenasia has long been

02:22:03microcosm and resilience in innovation and coexistence. The community is home to small and medium enterprises, IT, logistics firms, and many more. Faith-based organizations and informal traders. The area serves as a vital connector between various townships, emerging markets in the south. Yet, the challenges faced by this community are both persistent and deeply discouraging.

02:22:33We have a problem, road infrastructure. Numerous streets are marred by potholes, many of which are repaired by residents themselves without formal support or follow-up from municipal services. Water infrastructure, burst pipes and leaks often go unrepaired for weeks, causing both hazards and disruptions to daily life. Street lighting and safety, many areas are left in prolonged darkness due to the non-functional street lights,

02:23:03increasing vulnerability to crime. The aging utility networks, outdated sewer, electrical systems place limitations on both residential life and business operations, discouraging growth to investment. These are not isolated complaints. They are indicators of broader systemic failure to maintain equitable standards of service delivery. Despite our concerns, we wish to express

02:23:35appreciation for a number of initiatives mentioned in the Mayor's speech. Investing in underserved communities. We applaud the focus on areas like Orange Farm, Zandspruit, and surrounds, which reflects a commitment to social equity and developmental redress. These values resonate deeply with our Islamic principles of justice, inclusion, and dignity for all. Johannesburg Market reform. The intention to lower

02:24:06operational costs for township traders through market reform is commendable. We suggest, however, that this intervention be expanded to include the south-based markets like Lenasia and surrounds, Ennerdale, Eldorado Park, and so forth, enabling broader geographic impact. Digital infrastructure and innovation. The emphasis of using artificial intelligence

02:24:36for the leak detection and expanding a digital public infrastructure is forward-thinking. However, we advise technological advances to be implemented alongside community education and access programs. Without bridging the digital divide, innovation will remain concentrated and exclusive.

02:24:5630 seconds remaining.

02:25:06Okay. In conclusion, let us move forward together, guided by justice, informed by compassion, and committed to equality. Al Jama-ah remains a willing partner in building a Johannesburg that works for all its residents, regardless of geography, class, or background. We thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation. Shukran, thank you.

ActionSA response begins: critique of the address

02:25:36Thank you, Councillor Karolia. ActionSA, Councillor Modukanene.

02:26:04Councillor Karolia, please switch off your mic. Thank you.

02:26:12Madam Speaker, Councillor Nobuhle Mthembu, Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, Chief Whip of council, Councillor Zungu, members of the Mayoral Committee, Chairpersons of Section 79 Oversight Committees, the Fabulous 44, members of the media, distinguished guests, residents of the City of Johannesburg, ladies and gentlemen,

02:26:40Sesothoagee.

02:26:42The Mayor asked us to represent the views of the people and tell what kind of Johannesburg we want to see. Well, the people responded. And in true Joburg style, they didn't mince their words. They said that was more like a State of the Excuses Address. They also said, if you're expecting bold plans, measurable outcomes, or even a glimpse of urgency from Mayor

02:27:12Dada Morero's State of the City Address, you clearly haven't been paying attention to ANC performance art. Because what we got instead was a masterclass in doing accountability, a masterclass in dodging accountability, sugar-coating failure, and reciting problems as if they only appeared yesterday.

02:27:43Today, we rise not just to respond to Mayor Dada Morero's State of the City Address, but to expose the gaping chasm between words and action, between image and reality, between spin and service. Mayor Morero's 2025 address was long on nostalgia, short on substance. Kind of like reading an old love letter from someone who ghosted you.

02:28:14It painted a picture of optimism that is simply not recognizable to the people who live in Johannesburg's seven regions. While the Mayor celebrated plans and visions, communities across the city continue to suffer without water, without safety, and increasingly without hope. Let's begin with the Mayor's own acceptance speech, where he promised decisive leadership, reliable service delivery,

02:28:46and a Johannesburg that works for all. Nearly a year later, that promise rings hollow, like a vuvuzela with no air. He now delivers an address full of high-level targets and bureaucratic jargon, but no accountability for the decaying infrastructure, the mushrooming informal settlements, and the daily indignity suffered by residents.

02:29:16Compare this to Mayor Gwamanda's 2024 address. While also flawed, Councillor Gwamanda at least acknowledged the failures in water in infrastructure and the structural issues with power outages. He called for urgent reform. Mayor Morero, by contrast, downplayed these issues and attributed them to external forces, as if the water crisis was a surprise guest

02:29:46at his own party. Now let's examine ActionSA's position. Our Pre-State of the City Address was not a wish list. It was an intervention. Think of it as the political version of tough love. We highlighted the silent cries of communities, from Diepsloot's decades-long darkness to Orange Farm's daily water queues, to abandoned projects in Region D,

02:30:17while millions were spent and nothing delivered, not even a thank you sign. What did the Mayor say about this? Nothing. Speaker,

02:30:29Setswanake romilwe.

02:30:31People of Alex say

02:30:33Setswanaga ba happy ka Mayor.

02:30:35There was no mention of Alexandra, one of the people one of the most neglected and marginalized

02:30:43Councillors,

02:30:44marginalized

02:30:45Councillors,

02:30:48There was no mention of Alexandra, one of the most neglected and marginalized communities in Johannesburg.

Points of order over Alexandra claims and mic disruptions

02:30:56please hold on. Councillors, I'll start with Chair of Chair, our Chair of Chair, Councillor Marema.

02:31:10isiZuluKhansela yenza kahle, asime kancane. Ehhe, asimuphe i-opportunity ukuthi akhulume. Asiqale ngo-Chair of Chair.

02:31:24Councillor Modukanene, your mic. Councillors, please, let's stop playing with the mics, please.

02:31:45IT, do we have a roving mic?

02:31:47Now, I got it right now, Speaker.

02:31:51It's a point of order, ne, Chair of Chair?

02:31:53Yes, I wanted to check, man, because we seem to be misrepresenting the truth. I come from Alex, so I don't remember mandating that councillor over there to speak on behalf of Alex people. Thank you.

02:32:07isiZuluHawu, Chair of Chair. Hawu, Nkosi yami. Hawu!

02:32:15Chair of Chair. Councillor, before Councillor Raphadu

02:32:23Sesothoke tle ko wena,

02:32:25Chair of Chair.

02:32:27No, no. It's only fair. I think we support what the Chair of Chair's sentiments are, but I'm not raising on that. Speaker, I think when we come to these debates, the main point is to raise issues of our constituencies and not lie here. And we can't have councillors who don't have wards speaking on behalf of our constituencies. I'm a ward councillor in Alex, so people must not lie when they come here. They must just debate. Debate, don't lie.

02:32:57Councillor Raphadu.

02:32:58So they must not claim easy victories here.

02:33:00Councillor Raphadu.

02:33:01Please, they must not claim easy victories.

02:33:03Councillors, councillors, councillors, please. Actually, I was not even supposed to acknowledge your hand, Councillor Raphadu, because I took the point of order from the Chair of Chair and not to take both of them. So that was an error from my side. Councillors, in the house, we allow free speech,

02:33:31isiZuluangithi?

02:33:32Everyone is afforded time to speak. So can we give Councillor Modukanene her opportunity to express or speak or share her speech? Then the Executive Mayor also will come back and respond. And when he comes back, we will also give him the respect. So let's tolerate each other. Tolerance.

02:34:02Councillor Modukanene.

02:34:20Councillors, if we don't Okay.

ActionSA response continues: Alexandra, infrastructure and Mashaba legacy

02:34:26Thank you, Speaker. Speaker,

02:34:27Setswanaka re ke romilwe.

02:34:30People of Alex say

02:34:32Setswanaga ba happy ka Mayor.

02:34:33There was no mention of Alexandra, one of the most neglected and marginalized communities in Johannesburg. The Alexandra Renewal Project, once a beacon of hope, has collapsed under mismanagement. This is not an oversight. It is a betrayal, and at that point, it feels personal. The Mayor also conveniently ignores the electricity surcharge, a burden placed on residents

02:35:03already battling inflation. In our communities, this is not just an inconvenience. It is a crisis. ActionSA has called for this surcharge to be scrapped, yet the Mayor offers no relief. Let's talk infrastructure. Johannesburg faces a 300 billion backlog, yet the Mayor's speech offered no plan to fund or implement large-scale renewal. Water losses remain at 46%. Roads are crumbling.

02:35:35Waste is uncollected, and still, we are told to clap for progress. At this rate, even clapping is starting to sound sarcastic. What does ActionSA offer instead? Solar street lights in high-crime zones, not in five years, but now. Community boreholes in informal settlements like Orange Farm. Refurbished clinics and multi-purpose centers.

02:36:06Local job creations with every infrastructure project. A crackdown on cadre deployment and corrupt tenders, starting with full transparency. Where the Mayor talks of hope, we talk of hiring reclaimers to clean up Meadowlands and Region F. Where the ANC executive speaks of capacity, we talk of visible law enforcement to tackle hijacked buildings and unsafe places.

02:36:38We also note how the Mayor fails to propose a single meaningful reform to combat urban decay, even as our city slides further into dysfunction. The people of Johannesburg deserve better than traffic lights that don't work and clinics that don't open. Although, at this point, at least the traffic lights are consistent in one thing, not working. ActionSA has cautioned the Mayor about recycling his executive.

02:37:09However, the Mayor believes that rotating the executive is the answer to the city's many problems, as if musical chairs will magically turn incompetence into excellence. We would like to remind the Mayor that both Lufhereng mixed-use development and the Southern Farms mega project cannot be used as a benchmark for the City of Johannesburg. The city must devise aggressive ways of collecting revenue as opposed to the current posture,

02:37:41which gives more power to those who opt to disregard the rule of law.

02:37:47ActionSA demands that the city adopt an aggressive approach in dealing with those who are hell-bent on turning Johannesburg into a slumlord's playground. The only way to turn around Johannesburg is through bringing back the rule of law. ActionSA, however, welcomes some of the pronouncements by the mayor, which include declaring war against illegal immigrants and illegal miners.

02:38:16SesothoWa bona mo, mayor,

02:38:18we're going to work with you. We're going to work in front of you, behind you, and beside you. ActionSA strongly believes that the insourcing of security guards and cleaners must also take centre stage in this administration, if we are to restore dignity to our officers and cleaners who are often the first to arrive and the last to be appreciated.

02:38:47We partially welcome the declaring of the state of the disaster to fight illegality in the City of Johannesburg. Whether it is bomb squad or war room, if we don't change our attitude, we will never turn the city around. The mayor's speech was an ode to aspiration, not a blueprint for recovery. It was padded with political nostalgia, but absent of urgency, like a glossy brochure advertising a dream that's still waiting for municipal approval.

02:39:25Johannesburg is not broken for lack of funding. It is broken because of a lack of leadership. And that is why, Madam Speaker, we say, the time for talking is over. ActionSA delivers. We do not ask to be believed; we ask to be judged by our work and track record and our vision. Madam Speaker,

02:39:52the mayor yesterday downplayed the legacy left by our president, Ntate Mashaba. He said Ntate Mashaba is an accidental mayor who tried to clean the City of Johannesburg. Well, Mr Mayor, Ntate Mashaba reclaimed hijacked buildings and turned them into affordable housing. Ntate Mashaba introduced Buya Mthetho.

02:40:22Ntate Mashaba did not try to clean the city; actually, was cleaning the city. Mayor, just to make sure that in future you don't forget our president's legacies, the next

02:40:40Councillors,

02:40:44the next time you go out for an operation that resembles Buya Mthetho, we'll go out and celebrate and call it a Herman Mashaba Day. The next time there's a cleaning campaign around the city, we go out and celebrate and call it a Herman Mashaba Day. I thank you, Speaker.

02:41:08Proper, proper. Thank you. Well done.

Interjection by Cllr Zigebe

02:41:39Thank you, Councillor Modukanene. Councillor Zigebe, I hope it's not a point of order because she's done with her speech. Councillors,

02:41:51isiZuluUngesabi, Speaker.

02:41:57Councillors. Councillor Zigebe.

02:42:04isiZuluSpeaker, uCouncillor Modukanene umgigxabeze ngesihlalo efuna uthando. Ngoba i-speech sakhe nje

02:42:10all I need is love.

02:42:12isiXhosaHayi, Councillor Zigebe, ugqibile.

02:42:14isiZuluUqedile, nkosi yami.

DA response: governance, transparency and no-confidence motion

02:42:19All right, councillors, let's calm down and move over to DA, Councillor Echeozonjoku.

02:42:29You must have manners.

02:42:35Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor, honourable councillors, and most importantly, the residents of Johannesburg. The Democratic Alliance in the City of Johannesburg notes the State of the City Address delivered by the Executive Mayor yesterday, Councillor Dada Morero. The mayor said we must not poke holes in his speech. Well, Mr Mayor, we tried very hard.

02:43:06However, you left us no option, but to raise serious concerns. Madam Speaker, we must express our profound concern at the ongoing failure of governance, the lack of transparency, and the questionable administrative practices that continue to undermine the city's ability to deliver quality services to our residents.

02:43:36Madam Speaker, we know yesterday, the mayor said we should not poke holes in his speech. The mayor's speech, unfortunately, has no tangible solutions. It's only pie-in-the-sky promises, and shows that he is completely out of touch with the city that he leads. What we heard yesterday was not a reflection

02:44:07of the realities facing our communities. It was a speech filled with lofty ambitions, lacking substance, accountability, and constitutional integrity. We are deeply troubled, Madam Speaker, by several pressing issues that were ignored or deliberately glossed over in the mayor's address. Madam Speaker, let me start

02:44:37with the fact that the mayor announced the reshuffling of his cabinet. Well, that's his prerogative. However, Madam Speaker, his reshuffling of senior officials, in line with the Municipal Systems Act and the Constitution? The mayor has also not informed us how he intends to do this. Perhaps, Madam Speaker, the mayor must enlighten this house on how he intends

02:45:08to do this without ending up in court. Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor also needs to advise this house the terms of reference for the Presidential Working Group, and why this terms of reference had not been presented to this council, which is the highest decision-making body in this municipality. This omission seriously

02:45:38questions the legitimacy and the accountability of the Presidential Working Group and the role of councillors in regards to our ability to do oversight. I want to caution the mayor, Madam Speaker. This sets a very dangerous precedent, where critical initiatives are run parallel to council oversight.

02:46:07Madam Speaker, the bigger concern for us is the mayor's so-called turnaround strategy. This is widely publicised as the silver bullet to Johannesburg's challenges. This strategy, Madam Speaker, had not been presented in this council for scrutiny. We don't know what the details is, and how do we as councillors do oversight over this turnaround strategy?

02:46:37This is our mandate. It's our constitutional mandate to do oversight over anything that is presented or implemented in the City of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, the bigger concern for us as well is that we are aware that the mayor did not have the decency to consult his own Mayoral Committee or the senior management appointed by council. Let me remind you, Madam Speaker Let me remind the mayor, Madam Speaker, both the executive

02:47:08and the legislative authority of this city is vested in this municipal council, in terms of Section 151(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. This is not just unacceptable; it is undemocratic. It robs councillors and residents of the opportunity to engage with, interrogate, and improve the proposed way forward. Madam Speaker,

02:47:37the Executive Mayor said nothing about progress on the recruitment of a city manager that is full-time. Madam Speaker, this council need an urgent progress report on that matter. What is most alarming, Madam Speaker, yoh, is the mayor's publicity stunt yesterday, where he forwarded the strategy directly to the president, and councillors have not even had sight of this.

02:48:07Hayi, can't be correct. This action not only undermines political protocol, it undermines the authority of council. We are left to ask, Madam Speaker and Mr Mayor, is the city under administration? And if so, why are us as councillors being left in the dark? Madam Speaker, withholding documents,

02:48:37like the Presidential Working Group's terms of reference and the turnaround strategy from council, violates the principle of transparency, accountability, and democratic practice. The DA demands immediate clarity, Madam Speaker and Mr Mayor. The residents of this city has to know, they have the right, in fact, to know who is governing them and how. Is the president governing directly, or is this executive governing them?

02:49:09The fact that the Executive Mayor failed to bring this turnaround strategy to council, like he has done with the City Power turnaround strategy and the Joburg Water turnaround strategy, is very concerning. While the mayor is talking about a state of disaster and the war on potholes, Madam Speaker, the mayor said nothing about what he will do about the grants we keep losing that goes back to National Treasury.

02:49:38Just this past week, we heard in the news report that Rea Vaya lost R300 million that was returned back to Treasury. If this money was spent on service delivery, you would not need to declare any state of disaster or any war on potholes because it will be used for what it's supposed to be. This is a clear lack of direction and incompetence, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the mayor mentioned nothing

02:50:07about details of how they will tackle the constant bursts and vandalism of power and water infrastructure across the city. What happened to the Infrastructure Protection Unit, Madam Speaker and Mr Mayor? Why discard plans because you are not the one who initiated it? You'll get the credit for it anyway. Madam Speaker, it will be an injustice to our residents if we do not raise the serious concerns

02:50:37about the mayor's questionable proposals, such as declaring the state of disaster, as I've said, and the so-called bomb squad. When were these introduced to council, Mr Mayor, through you, Madam Speaker? This was supposed to have come to council because we cannot have public relations theatre than serious policy. What happened to the intergovernmental relations that should exist already?

02:51:07Had there been complete breakdown between the municipality and other spheres of government, like the provincial government, and we are not aware of what's going on? The mayor talks about a state of disaster on crime, by-law enforcement. Madam Speaker, the mayor also mentioned the reinstatement of the IOC. We welcome this, but we want to ask, there was an IOC for quite some time. What happened to it? And while the mayor talks about long-term strategies,

02:51:37residents are facing daily service delivery failures: water shortages, prolonged power outages, uncollected waste, crumbling roads, and failing infrastructure. In electricity, Madam Speaker, let me just go through it bit by bit. The mayor said nothing tangible about the current crisis situation with electricity across the city and immediate interventions. Residents had 12 to 15 days outages in some cases. Councillors

02:52:08are completely ignored by entities like City Power. The reality is, there is no relief for residents struggling with constant outages. I can only imagine the plight of councillors across the city, yet the mayor has only mentioned relief for industrial customers. What an absolute disgrace that the residential customers are not even considered here. There's no relief for residents on the proposed tariff increases on electricity or water.

02:52:38We have proposals and we are happy to provide it to you. Madam Speaker, high-masts, high solar masts, is not only needed in informal settlements. It will assist on main roads that are prone to vandalism. Please consider these high solar masts for main roads that are prone to vandalism. Madam Speaker, former Mayor Gwamanda told us about 5,000

02:53:08cameras. What happened to all these cameras that he spoke about? Or does the cameras disappear every time there's a new mayor? What happened to the money that was spent to get these cameras? What happened to customers who pay their rates, not get services? What relief are they getting for staying in the darkness and driving in a war zone

02:53:39called Johannesburg? Madam Speaker, we are ready to provide proposals, as we have always done, but the mayor seems to be only an ANC mayor and not a mayor for all residents of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, Johannesburg is not a stage for political theatrics or one-man shows. It is a city in crisis. Our residents deserve solutions, not slogans. They deserve governance,

02:54:09not guesswork, and they deserve representation, not exclusion. In water and sewerage, Madam Speaker, the mayor mentioned nothing about reservoirs. He promised to give us an update by February 2025. He mentioned new ones. We heard that, but we want to know what happened to all those reservoirs he said he will give us an update. In some areas, residents are perpetually relying on water tankers

02:54:40with little end in sight. This is a basic human right. The Minister of Water and Sanitation had been with the mayor in Johannesburg, and has told us about the infrastructure grants that is available to municipalities. What stops the city from providing a clear plan to the ministry for reservoirs, like Hursthill Reservoir, that need urgent upgrade, and account for it properly?

02:55:10Is it because the city refuses to be transparent, to account once the money has come to the city? Madam Speaker, raw sewage are flooding our roads. Just this morning, I had a call from Mr Levine in Waverley, who had reported sewer leaks for the third time, with no help, asking you, Mr Mayor, to come and stand in the sewage in his yard, so you can see

02:55:39what he is going through and what his experience is on a weekly basis. Madam Speaker, it is unfortunate

02:55:46Councillors, councillors. Councillor Tefu.

02:55:53Am I protected, Madam Speaker?

02:55:54You are protected, councillor.

02:55:55Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

02:55:57Councillors, please.

02:56:01May I proceed? Madam Speaker, it is unfortunate that the mayor had said nothing about dealing with the sewage crisis that adds to the health hazard, and as I said, is a human rights violation as well. Madam Speaker, a DA government will ease the water burden for Joburg residents, and provide detailed, clear plans to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation to unlock these grants, adhere to the conditions

02:56:32of the grant, and report transparently to council and to the relevant sphere of government. I would suggest the mayor engage us on that so we can discuss it. Electrification of informal settlements. The mayor talked about the electrification of informal settlements, it's a noble idea, Madam Speaker, but let us call a spade a spade. I'm sure Councillor Mangena from Ward 114 will agree with me, and as the mayor has alluded to

02:57:03in previous media comment, informal settlements have lots of undocumented and illegal immigrants. Before electrifying informal settlements, I would suggest, Mr Mayor, and this is part of the solutions you asked us for, I would suggest you work with the Minister of Home Affairs, Minister Leon Schreiber, to enforce the laws of our country, and ensure that

02:57:33with the electrification comes accountability, so the city does not even lose more. Madam Speaker, how do you electrify informal settlements without formalising it first, to ensure that the city does not lose revenue? Madam Speaker, the mayor does not need a state of disaster to fix potholes. He needs a clear, rapid response plan, regular scheduled

02:58:03maintenance of our roads, like what is being done in Midvaal under Mayor Peter Teixeira, and the City of Cape Town under Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. Hijacked buildings, Madam Speaker. Every State of the City Address, the issue of hijacked buildings are mentioned, and it's an ad-hoc approach. An ad-hoc approach, Madam Speaker, will not help us.

02:58:34For as long as you only see the MMC of Public Safety raiding buildings, we are going nowhere. The silo approach of the city will cost us dearly. Madam Speaker, there have been reports of illegal immigrants being part of hijacking buildings. A silo approach will not help us. I would encourage the Executive Mayor to reach out, once again, to the Minister of Home Affairs,

02:59:05the Minister of Police, and the Minister of Public Works, if the provincial government is not assisting you, because this matter will never get fixed unless there is different spheres of government involved. Madam Speaker, there are recommendations that have never been implemented, and the mayor have no plan to hold officials accountable. There's also no plan to hold officials accountable

02:59:38for the loss of revenue from JPC, from buildings that are either not maintained or left to decay, with no clear plan either. Madam Speaker, it is a disgrace that councillors have to hear in the media that there was an instruction that revenue generated by JPC for outdoor advertising must now go into a service provider account

03:00:07with an alleged 25% tariff. When was that approved by council, Madam Speaker? What process was followed to appoint these lawyers, and how is it accounted for in this council? The Democratic Alliance rejects this waste of residents' money on tariffs. It lacks transparency. The city has a bank account. Money should go into the city bank account, and the 25% wasted on tariffs

03:00:38could rather be redirected to fix water pipes, fix potholes, and ensure working traffic lights, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the city does not have a revenue collection problem. The city has a governance and expenditure problem. Madam Speaker, the DA is very clear: we are committed to building a city that works,

03:01:10one where services are rendered, infrastructure is maintained, and where governance is clean, transparent, and accountable to the people we serve. That is why, Madam Speaker, we are once again proposing solutions, because the DA had proven where we govern, we govern better. Madam Speaker, the lack of a clear homeless shelter

03:01:42and a framework around it is extremely problematic, which leads to illegal invasion of public open spaces. Instead of allowing the city's immovable assets, properties, to stand empty, decay, or get illegally occupied, repurpose some of these buildings as skill centres, and ensure that there's at least one shelter per region. Cape Town not only has a record number of homeless shelters,

03:02:13but also safe spaces that provide dignity to the homeless. Repurpose one city-owned property per region. That is a suggestion you can take or leave. Repurpose one city-owned property per region, bring in professionals, work with the private sector, and give dignity to our people. In revenue, Madam Speaker, I agree: the mayor is correct. There must be collection. Everybody must pay their bills.

03:02:43The mayor failed to talk about the city losing revenue because by-laws are not enforced. The mayor failed to tell us how much money JPC generates for outdoor advertising, and from the city's immovable assets managed by JPC, which can bolster service delivery. Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor said nothing about the indigent register.

03:03:14An indigent register audit is a must. I would suggest, in the next 90 days, regional open days that is needed, so you can verify which people are not registered that should be registered, and should benefit from the city's Expanded Social Package. Municipal entities, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Executive Mayor,

03:03:46how many of these city entities generate money? And how many of them are running at a profit or a loss? Had the city ever done an analysis of the income generated from entities like the Joburg Property Company, Joburg Tourism Company, and are these reports that are coming to council a true reflection? Madam Speaker, the DA would advise the mayor to go back, reflect,

03:04:17engage all political parties in this council. He is reminded that each councillor here is elected by residents in the City of Johannesburg. We did not elect ourselves. All residents matter, and we are all here to serve the residents of this great city. We are not here for slogans. Madam Speaker, service delivery will only be bolstered

03:04:47if the right people are in the right positions to implement what needs to get done, to avoid loss of lives, fight corruption, and uphold the rule of law. All of these concerns raised, Madam Speaker, the governance concerns which will hamper service delivery, the lack of acknowledging all political parties' contribution, shows that you are indeed, Mr Mayor, not suitable to serve

03:05:20as Executive Mayor of the economic hub of the country. That is why we are going to bring a motion of no confidence in this house. In closing, Madam Speaker, let me be absolutely clear: the Democratic Alliance is not intimidated. We believe in the Constitution and the rule of law.

03:05:48We will not hesitate to take any matter that is unlawful, like the VIP protection without threat and risk analysis, unlawful appointments done in this house, we will take it to court and

03:06:02isiZuluasinalo uvalo.

03:06:10I want to use this opportunity, Madam Speaker, in closing, to tell the residents of Johannesburg: this is your city. You are not mere bystanders. Hold the city accountable. Submit PAIA requests, and demand how your money is being spent. And in 2026, vote for the Democratic Alliance. I thank you.

03:06:52Did you pay your rates?

EFF response: service delivery and township economy

03:07:01Thank you, councillor. EFF, Councillor Mkasi.

03:07:18Thank you very much, Speaker. Let me firstly acknowledge the Caucus Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, the Chief Whip, fellow councillors, members of the media, and most importantly, City of Johannesburg residents. Speaker, I think we need to clarify this before we can proceed with our debate.

03:07:47is that the Government of Local Unity is doing very well. The opposition must never get confused. We are still intact. The self-criticism is part of self-love. Executive Mayor, we couldn't help,

03:08:13but noticed your interest for Orlando Pirates. It is fantastic to see such passion for our local teams. However, let's not forget that we have two iconic clubs in Johannesburg, both the Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. Each team symbolises the unique spirit and culture of different communities that make our city vibrant and diverse.

03:08:42By celebrating one without mentioning the other, we risk sending an unintended message. Our leadership should express inclusivity and unity embracing the rich wall-hanging of our city's sports heritage. Let's celebrate both teams and the amazing spirit that they brings to Johannesburg.

03:09:10Speaker, we are tempted, man, to agree with the Executive Mayor regarding the accidental mayor. The accidental mayor was initially labeled as the EFF mayor solely because he was implementing motions put forth by the Economic Freedom Fighters, such as

03:09:37such as insourcing of security guards and a motion to reclaim hijacked buildings. The EFF is known for its pro-poor policies, which is why, Madam, was not pleased with the changes that were intended to improve the lives of our people. Speaker, since the accidental mayor turned green, he has never achieved

03:10:03anything tangible that can claim as his own. It is the Economic Freedom Fighters that must be acknowledged for the progress made during his tenure. Speaker, I rise this afternoon not just as a councillor, but as a voice of the accountability representing the working class, the unemployed youth, the displaced shack dwellers,

03:10:31the struggling business owners, and the forgotten poor of this city. Speaker, for those who lived realities are violently disconnected from the promises dressed in the ribbon cuttings ceremonies and media briefings. We listened to the Executive Mayor's State of the City Address. It was well written and it was hopeful. There is no need for concepts and what people want. The citizens of Johannesburg

03:10:59have told us what they want. They want to be safe, land, houses, clean city, water, and electricity. Most importantly, Speaker, they want jobs and more jobs. The Executive Mayor, indeed, we need to elevate by-law enforcement. The Department of Public Safety, through this collective of the GLU, have managed to stabilize the department by the appointment of Chief of Police

03:11:30and By-law Director, and it is in the advanced stages to appoint the Director for Technical Unit. There are lot of by-laws issues, and we're going to sort them out. We are aware of the crime in Eldorado Park, Westbury, Orange Farm, Diepsloot, and many other areas. Crime and drugs run rampant, gunshots are more common than police patrols, women and children fear their own neighbourhoods.

03:12:01We must ensure now that we have more boots on the ground and increase budget for public safety. Madam Speaker, allow me to address the glaring omission of the Executive Mayor's address. Executive Mayor, let us again elevate the gains that have been achieved in health and social development. In this period under review, the department responsible for primary health clinics, for sheltering the homeless, for fighting the gender-based violence,

03:12:32for caring for vulnerable children and older citizens. New clinics have been opened. The poor have been receiving food relief packages. There is more that still need to be done. Let us fast-track the implementation of e-Health. The pothole patrol is welcomed and noted, but let us start up the asphalt plant and insource our people. Note, the residents of Freedom Park, Rosettenville, and Kliptown continue to swerve for survival on the roads that resemble

03:13:02a minefields. Pikitup trucks are collapsing while the streets overflow with waste. Rubbish is becoming part of the urban landscape. Let's clean our city, Executive Mayor. The completion of mega projects such as Lehae, Lufhereng, Zandspruit, Lehae, and Vlakfontein. Our people have been waiting for houses for two decades. Many of those mega projects exist

03:13:33only on PowerPoint slides. Backyard dwellers and informal settlements continue to grow as the state's promises collapse. The Joburg Water's investment efforts are welcome, but water outages remain a regular occurrences. In Orange Farm, taps are dry. In Ivory Park, sewage flows freely. In Diepsloot, sanitation is a health crisis. Residents are expected to pay for services they don't receive.

03:14:03And when the poorest of the poor protest, they are labeled as unruly. On electricity, the city boasts about moving away from Eskom, yet large parts of Johannesburg go days without power. Substations are outdated, cable theft is on rampant, and illegal connections persist not because people choose them, but because they have no alternative. City Power is failing to electrify

03:14:33the most vulnerable. The speech touched on youth and township economies, but there was no mention of land access for township entrepreneurs, no real budget for youth cooperatives, and no implementation of procurement targets to support the township-owned businesses. The so-called township economy remains an academic slogan without support, without infrastructure, without impact. You referenced the Joburg Market R1 billion

03:15:03monthly turnover. Yet 90% of that money leaves the township economy, flowing to large commercial white-owned farms. That money, Executive Mayor, must be given to our people. There is no support for local growers, no land allocated for township farmers, and no access to financing. You have mentioned youth entrepreneurship

03:15:34and digital services, but where are the digital tools in Alexandra? Where are the business hubs in Riverlea? Where is the land for micro-farming in Soweto? Our youth are being asked to start businesses in shacks with no electricity, no Wi-Fi, and no hope. The Mayor acknowledged the city's financial instability, and yet continues propose flashy projects and international

03:16:03summits without accountability. There is a talk of selling the city's debtors book, but no talk of reducing unnecessary consultancy fees or eliminating bloated administrative structures. The so-called Bomb Squad is not necessary, Executive Mayor. Johannesburg needs clean governance, functioning system, and ethical leadership. What was presented is not a strategy. Let us do a comprehensive audit of all housing and infrastructure projects,

03:16:37particularly those incomplete or abandoned. Let us be transparent in the electrification of informal settlements with detailed plans, contractors, and also deadlines. Let us support the township economies, starting with land allocation, tool provision, and procurement quotas for small businesses. We call for an end to unqualified political appointments and the immediate review of all municipal entities

03:17:07that have become havens for patronage and mediocrity. This is not just about criticism. It is about the truth. The people of Johannesburg are not experiencing a world-class African city. They are experiencing a collapsing city held together by political spin and broken promises. Let us not sugarcoat reality. Let us not romanticize failures. Let us tell the truth, even if it makes

03:17:38the administration uncomfortable, because our people are not dying from lack of optimism. They are dying from lack of service delivery. Speaker, I thank you.

ANC response: support for the address and turnaround strategy

03:17:54isiZulu[no speech] Siyabonga, Councillor Mkasi. ANC Councillor Radebe. Councillor Radebe, angithi uyi-12 minutes suyi-11 wakho, Bhuti? Ungaqala.

03:18:22Thank you, Speaker.

03:18:24isiZuluHhayi, sizothi qaphu-qaphu.

03:18:27Greetings to you, Speaker, the Executive Mayor, Councillor Dada Morero, our Mayoral Committee, the Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Zungu, our Chair of Chairs, Councillor Marema, fellow councillors, and most importantly, the residents of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, maybe before I go deep into the speech,

03:18:55you know, I thought today we were coming to get comprehensive debate that was going to give us direction and solutions, that was going to be clear in terms of a workaround in us rebuilding a city that is workable. But instead, we are getting more and more prophets of doom who are just giving us, you know, a bleak future,

03:19:25who are taking Johannesburg backwards. This reminds me of something that was once said by Paul Kruger. I'm sure Councillor Boer might know this. In the early beginnings of this city, we had a gold rush and a big boom. Paul Kruger dismissed the city as just a mere mining town that will not survive beyond the gold rush. More than 150 years later, the city is still here.

03:19:56This is an indication that this is a city with resilience. This is a city that keeps on fighting, and it will always bounce back. Madam Speaker, I rise to give a vote of confidence to the State of the City Address delivered by the Executive Mayor. But I also rise to affirm that the city of former Mayor Moerane, Matongo, and Makhubo

03:20:26will once again take its rightful place in the galaxy of great cities of the world. The Executive Mayor gave us a speech that does not only account for the past, but also creates a clear, courageous vision for a city in recovery, a city that has known its collapse, and now it chooses to rise. Johannesburg is not merely bouncing back, but it is rebuilding, repurposing, and reclaiming its future. Speaker,

03:20:57at the heart of the address is a turnaround strategy that recognizes the scale of our crisis, but also responds with a scale-worthy ambition. It is about rebuilding governance capacity, restoring service delivery, repairing broken infrastructure, and reigniting the growth. It is not a wishful plan, as some are saying, but it is a practical plan that is centered around

03:21:28cleaning up governance, attracting investments, building fiscal credibility, and reigniting economic engines that have stalled for some time. And we all know what caused the stallation. Madam Speaker, we are witnessing, perhaps for the first time in a long time, a city administration that is not only working, but that is fighting to make Johannesburg work. The Executive Mayor's message was clear. Investment

03:21:58will not come to a city that cannot govern itself. And this is why a cleanup and rebuilding goes hand in hand with economic recovery. Across Johannesburg, we are seeing developments that are happening. The speech of the Executive Mayor gave us a light and an insight that in the inner city, commercial and residential developments are coming that are going to revive the dormant spaces and turn around the decay

03:22:28into economic density. In areas like your Fourways, Midrand, Diepsloot, the Southern Farms, we are witnessing a catalytic infrastructure programs that are aimed at attracting logistics, finance, and tech-based industries. So, Madam Speaker, we are on the right track. The work around the Corridors of Freedom, transit-oriented development is reconnecting our communities

03:22:57to economic opportunities. We know that for a very long time, our people were deprived of enjoying economic prosperity in this city, and we are ensuring that the development that comes, it links our people with the prosperity they deserve. These are not just some abstract policies. They are cranes in the sky and job on the ground that are aiming to rebuild our world-class African city as envisioned by former Mayor Parks Tau. Madam Speaker,

03:23:29we cannot also ignore the significance of the presidential support package of the City of Johannesburg. It is not just a charity, but it is a vote of confidence to the administration's capability and capacity to execute. The package brings with it the capital injection into urban infrastructure. It supports energy and water resilience program, and it makes an alignment with the national priorities and job creation, youth development, and township economic

03:24:01revitalization. Johannesburg is no longer just a city that wants to beg, but it is a city that wants to earn. For far too long, we have suffered under a low collection rate, faulty billing system, and shrinking rates base. That is changing, Madam Speaker. It is definitely coming to an end. The city is enhancing revenue system and modernizing platform to plug out the leakages that are in our revenue streams

03:24:31to restore confidence in the municipality services. And Madam Speaker, through our partnership with the President and also the national government, we will be able to see the release of public-private partnership, strategic rezoning, unlocking of new nodes, particularly in former industrial corridors and underutilized public lands. We are expanding the city's

03:25:02fiscal muscle, not by taxing, but by enabling the economic activity in our city. The growth is the only sustainable way forward. And there is no other way where we can be able to rebuild our city, but by ensuring that we fight for economic growth, we ensure that we enforce policies that will give our city a turnaround. And the turnaround plan that is as follows. We will ensure that

03:25:35clean governance is not an option, but it is mandatory. It is also a precondition for our recovery. This administration is putting in place the controls, the audits, and the consequence management needed to make sure that we plug out corruption and prioritize service delivery that will make sure we reward and we get forward with our city. We are rebuilding a city that will have a machinery to attend

03:26:07to everyone within our city. We're also witnessing that the turnaround strategy will also give us a high-impact team that will be responsible for the implementation of the strategy. This team will be known as the Bomb Squad. I heard Councillor Harris dismissing this team, but I would also like to liken this team with the Bomb Squad that we have in our Springbok team. Coach Rassie Erasmus realized that for you to have a high impact,

03:26:37you might have a team that works and inside the pitch, but at some point, you might need a Bomb Squad that will come through and push and give us efficiency. Johannesburg will definitely become more effective and an efficient city. This speech by the Executive Mayor captures more than just metrics and plans. It speaks to the new spirit, the city that is willing to confront its past and forge a path forward, a city that does not deny

03:27:08its failures, but refuses to be defined by them. Madam Speaker, we are rebuilding not only roads, but trust. We are not only attracting investments, but hope. We are creating not just jobs, but dignity. In closing, Madam Speaker, let us let us not underestimate what we are witnessing here, a city that is rising from its knees, a city that has been written off too many times,

03:27:41and we even heard in this house today. We are rewriting a story of a city that will be prosperous, a city where future generations will be proud of, a city where everyone that comes from that city will be proud to live in.

03:27:56isiZuluThina esiphuma ekasi,

03:27:58will one day look back and say, we are proud of the city that we have built. The Executive Mayor was correct. This is the only home we know. This is the only place we grew up in, and we'll make sure that we protect it. We fight for this city. We'll die for this city, and we'll make sure that

03:28:15no one takes an advantage of this city for the sake of grandstanding and wanting to be voted back.

03:28:22isiZulu44 sazi noma nisazoba yi-44.

03:28:32Let us all, regardless of our political stripes, be part of this turnaround strategy. Let us lend a hand to work to rebuild our city. Let us put our voices as messages of unity and our energy to fight for the City of Johannesburg, a city that will work, grow, and include everyone. Madam Speaker, the city is rising. Let us rise with it. Let us rise with our Jozi. Let us rise with our Mjipa. As the ANC caucus,

03:29:04we rise to say, we see the vision, we support the direction, Executive Mayor. We are ready to walk the journey. We are ready to walk street by street, ward by ward, region by region, issue by issue, up until no one is left behind. The City of Johannesburg will rise again. Thank you.

03:29:39isiZuluSiyabonga, Councillor Radebe. [no speech]

Executive Mayor's reply: opening and Afrikaans acknowledgement

03:29:52Councillors, we will now have the response by the Executive Mayor. Executive Mayor, Councillor Dada Sello Morero. [no speech]

03:30:50Zigebe, you are singing for your supper. Thank you.

03:30:59isiZuluAyikho right le. Hhayi, sizoyibamba. Ya.

03:31:09The Honourable Speaker of Council, Councillor Nobuhle Mthembu, the Honourable Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Sthembiso Zungu,

03:31:26isiZulunama-Aishi,

03:31:31members of the Mayoral Committee, council members, councillors of the City of Johannesburg, the residents of Johannesburg, good afternoon. Well, today is indeed a good day. It's a brand-new day in Jozi, and I hope everyone is well-rested as we enter into this debate and ready for the future,

03:32:14which will start today. I didn't want to be dragged into politicking today, but it is also important to correct what may be regarded as misinformation in this chamber. And to all Afrikaans-speaking councillors, Councillor Boer, we recognize your 100 years.

03:32:55I will try to speak Afrikaans in the better part of the response as a proud South African.

03:33:06AfrikaansOns erken jou.

03:33:10I hope I've spoken the right Afrikaans. Comrade Margaret, am I correct? I'm a proud South African precisely because when we took over in 1994, we adopted 11 official languages, conscious of the fact that we are a diverse nation, and we're in a project

03:33:45to build a nation. Therefore, we did hear and understand the input made this morning in Afrikaans. Councillor Harris, Exodus 1 says, I quote, "God appoints Moses to lead the people out of bondage, and Moses is God's spokesman."

03:34:20Close quote. We are the spokesperson of the people of Johannesburg as we are seated here. They appoint us to lead, and I'm glad that the majority of political parties heeded to the call of not punching holes, but rather focus on bringing voices from their constituencies to the debate. For this, I thank you.

Mayor explains how the State of the City Address was prepared

03:34:56Madam Speaker, let me take you through the process of crafting and drafting any State of the City Address. The drafting of the state address, the City State Address, started six months before it was delivered yesterday. We held a Mayoral Lekgotla in November as a Mayoral Committee together with administration. In that Lekgotla, we reimagined

03:35:29Johannesburg. That Lekgotla was attended, amongst others, by ministers of government, the Deputy Minister of Water, the Minister of DTI, the Minister of Human Settlements, and other government officials who attended that meeting and gave us insights and inputs into matters related to our city

03:36:00called Johannesburg. That Lekgotla was then followed by stakeholder engagements, where we brought external thoughts into the city planning and budgeting process. The mid-year SDBIP and budget adjustment was our first attempt to reposition the budget so that we can accelerate our performance. The IDP consultation

03:36:34process was a crucial part of the process, and management consolidated issues for consideration for SOCA in the IDP and budget. Now, the SOCA comes as a result of these steps that I've referred to. And in those steps, the discussions and the debates on the turnaround strategy took place.

03:37:11Now, before the SOCA was delivered, indeed, a process of consultation report was given to us to consolidate the SOCA. So SOCA did not come as a result of one sleeping somewhere and waking up and drafting a speech. It is informed of the IDP process. It is informed of the SDBIP. It is informed of the Lekgotla, the Mayoral Lekgotla that took place. It is informed of the budget

03:37:47budget adjustment council meeting that took place.

Presidential Support Package and turnaround strategy

03:37:58So this process is not easy. We need to fast and fast-track results because the people of Johannesburg kept raising concerns that we could not ignore. To mediate these difficulties we reached out to the president for the Presidential Support Package and we are lucky that we received a positive response from His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa.

03:38:33Cyril Ramaphosa is the President of the Republic of South Africa. Cilliers Dada Morero is the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg.

03:38:46And we have a responsibility as an organ of state through the District Development Model to engage other spheres of government in an attempt to ensure delivery in Johannesburg. The first task of the Presidential Support Package is to present society

03:39:13with the Johannesburg turnaround strategy. I too am a resident of Johannesburg, by the way, and I participate actively in the presidential process. Yesterday the President publicly said that he received my email.

03:39:40And he will be considering to make inputs into the proposal of the strategy that in fact was a process of the engagements that I've referred to earlier. Included amongst was a stakeholder consultation in the build up process. So the turnaround strategy will be published of course

03:40:10by the Presidential Task Team in due course. You too may make submissions to the turnaround strategy. The door is not closed. Perhaps I'm tempted also to clarify that a mayor is the elected head of a city or a town government,

03:40:42responsible for overseeing administration, managing the city's budget and ensuring the provision of essential services. The mayor, they also represent the city on a national level, promote economic development and act as a community leader. In many cases,

03:41:12the mayor has also the power to veto legislation passed by Council and appoint key city officials. It's an important part that we clarify this matter. Fellow councillors, our priority is to focus on bylaw enforcement,

Mayor responds on staff transfers, structure and council reports

03:41:41service delivery and service delivery is a critical step in the right direction. We are noting the progress made. It is the impact that we need to talk about. Joburgers are concerned about their city. We must respond to their concerns. We've been engaged in the IDP consultation process and we can see their frustrations.

03:42:13However, I appreciate that residents are not noting are noting the progress we are making. For us this should symbolise that we are on the right direction. Indeed, we are not going to ignore concerns as raised through the IDP consultation processes which are an important element of government's process to arrive

03:42:43at a budget. While local government is complex and requires complex solutions, I refer to councillors to the Local Government Municipal Staff Regulation as gazetted by the Minister of COGTA on the 20th of September 2021 which informs us

03:43:12that a staff member may be transferred for the operational requirements of the affected institution, including the transfers of staff members to address such requirements. Now, only the city manager is a section 57 employee. Let me remind you. All direct reports to the city manager

03:43:41are now permanent employees. They are now all regulated by the staff regulations as I have stated above. Secondly, the Municipal Structures Act 1998 117 section gives me executive authority to manage the Mayoral Committee.

03:44:11It's therefore a function bestowed to the Executive Mayor. Today this Council agrees that we are in difficult times, and difficult times require smart solutions. We come from a school of thought that says structure must follow strategy. We have a strategy and what is wrong in putting in place a structure

03:44:42that support that strategy? What is wrong?

03:44:53It is important to also note that council reports are the following. The Integrated Development Plan is a council report. The SDBIP budget reports, performance reports, spatial development plan, land reports, and MOUs

03:45:24are reports that would come to council. And we will not act outside of the regulations of council in terms of submitting reports to council. We have been consistent in bringing the reports that are required to come to council. I had given you an opportunity, Councillor

03:45:54Echeozonjoku, when the speaker gave you a chance to respond. Allow me therefore to also respond.

03:46:10Caucus leader.

Mayor on informal settlements, business feedback and the Bomb Squad

03:46:16Perhaps on a side show, in 2011 we accounted for 180 informal settlements in Johannesburg. We kept the informal settlements at 180 until 2016. Between 2016 and 2025,

03:46:46Johannesburg accounts In fact, between 2016 to 2021, Johannesburg now accounts for 319 informal settlements. It is important to note, by the way, that indeed there was mayoral change in 2016.

03:47:19And I leave it to you to decide. But between 2016 and 2021 our informal settlements ballooned from 180 to 319. I will leave it to this chamber to decide.

03:47:52Chief Whip of Council, SOCA made a call that we must focus on Johannesburg we want to see. Let us focus and respond to the people of Johannesburg. We need to go beyond our political interests and respond to the people of Johannesburg. Yesterday,

03:48:22business, government and civil society gave me feedback that they are in support of the direction presented in SOCA. For example, you can read BusinessTech today. BusinessTech today welcomes the Bomb Squad which will help us to defuse the ticking bomb in Johannesburg.

03:48:55I will try Councillor Radebe had helped me to define what a Bomb Squad is in simple terms from the rugby or Springbok point of view. Which in fact that's where I stole the concept, or borrowed. I can't say steal in Council because others will stand up and say, "Ja, they are known for stealing."

03:49:29Borrowed from Springbok. Which refers to the Springbok strategy of using a bench with a high number of forwards, often 7-1 split or seven forward, one back. And this tactic is designed to bring on a fresh, powerful pack of forwards

03:50:01in the closing stages of a match, creating an advantage in the scrum, line-out, and breakdown. And that's what a Bomb Squad is. Secondly, change is happening in Lanseria. We are informed

Mayor on Lanseria renaming and the Midrand mega housing project

03:50:33that the airport management is contemplating renaming the facility to more closely reflect and celebrate its connection to our city as part of the broader vision for its growth and identity. As the City, we support this initiative which we believe will strengthen the airport brand

03:51:04and foster a stronger sense of belonging. Tough choices must be made. While we make these choices, we must balance between servicing ourselves or serving the people of Johannesburg. And I think at the centre is servicing the people of Johannesburg. Councillor Mabaso, it's no accident

03:51:34that over the years we've been focused on mega projects to unlock housing opportunities for our people. We are proudly saying, for the first time in the history of South Africa, we'll unlock a mega project of 80 000 housing opportunities. It does not only

03:52:04contribute to housing opportunities, but it also contributes to economic growth. So watch the space in Midrand. Delivered proudly by the Government of Local Unity. Madam Speaker, before I might sit down,

Mayor on comparisons with Cape Town

03:52:34it is not in our interest to compare ourselves. We are in the business of benchmarking against the best in the world. It is not fair to constantly compare with what some say is where they govern. Because when the truth is then said about where they govern, they then frown.

03:53:07Madam Speaker, one city in South Africa with 4.8 million inhabitants accounts for two worlds. Those who come from an ethnic group represented by Councillor

03:53:39Why am I missing your name? No, it can't be Echeozonjoku. The councillor from the Zigebe would tell you that when we land in the airport they will ask you, you want a taxi to eKapa

03:54:04isiZulunoma e-Cape Town?

03:54:08Because it represents two worlds in one city.

03:54:17Yes, indeed you will not find a pothole in Cape Town. You will find multiple in eKapa. It is important that when we compare ourselves, and when the truth is told, people will start frowning because they've not been eKapa.

03:54:46They've been to Cape Town. Cape Town accounts for 800 informal settlements today. Cape Town spends the lowest in informal settlement grant today. Let's ask them a question,

03:55:17what does that mean? When you spend less on informal settlement grant. Let them respond and tell us why. I didn't want to sidetrack this debate, but sometimes it's important to raise these issues in Council.

Mayor on the budget and availability charge

03:55:47Indeed, we will be passing a budget soon. We will reflect on all the projects and concerns raised today through the budget speech. It will include, Councillor Tefu, the most worrying area in your ward, the Stjwetla.

03:56:17And we will respond through that budget. We will respond through the budget on how we are servicing areas in the suburbs and how we are servicing areas in the townships. It is not true that we ignored the issue in relation to the availability charge.

03:56:48We did announce in the adjustment budget that the availability charge will remain as is, and no increase will be effected. And in that availability charge, let's tell the truth to our people that 103 customers on our ESP who could not afford

03:57:18are exempted from paying the availability charge. So let's be truthful to our people. We've also said the availability charge on conventional customers will remain. Tactical choices also needs to be made when there are competing

03:57:50interests. It is not easy, Comrade Chief Whip, to make some of these decisions. But we do make decisions because we must forge ahead. A decision to consider the business and industries is an important decision because it supports our commitment to grow the economy of Johannesburg

03:58:20by at least an extra 1% so that we can increase our GDP to 3%. And in doing so it means we must be conscious of attracting industries into our city and provide incentives. We are balancing between industry and residential. Tough choices must be made,

Mayor's closing remarks and response to ActionSA

03:58:52and we will make these choices. And we must balance between servicing our people and servicing ourselves. Madam Speaker, thank you for your support. We are in agreement that transformation will happen in Johannesburg, brick by brick, street by street. Count me.

03:59:25Count me in this message and I'm getting from the debate as I'm getting out of the debate today. Count all the inputs made in this debate today as important elements towards building a vibrant City of Johannesburg. Let us tell the people that we are united

03:59:57as councillors of the city, and all our differing views will be processed as part of us turning around the city. We will never leave anyone out. Come make constructive contributions. Don't complain.

04:00:28Don't complain. Don't nag. Make constructive contributions so that all of us can change the face of Johannesburg. I've recognised former Mayor Mashaba and indeed he wrote a book and he said, The Accidental Mayor.

04:00:59I didn't make it up. And yes, it's true. He made a commitment to clean the City of Johannesburg. So I didn't make it up. It's the work that he has done and it's the book that he wrote. So it will be incorrect for you to suggest that the intention was to attack former Mayor Mashaba. No. And none of the mayors.

04:01:32And let me also say to you, ActionSA, the road ahead requires a collective effort. Contribute, challenge us, and when we invite you for contributions, do bring your contributions. It doesn't mean

04:01:58that your contributions are always right. You must therefore allow yourselves to also be engaged. I listened to your so-called State of the City Address. You did very well, and you looked very beautiful on screen. And I was saying to Margaret, "Don't be jealous. You don't have the cleavage."

04:02:30Let us tell the people of Johannesburg that we are united. United we stand, divided we fall. We have a lot to do. Let us get on with it and focus on serving the people of

04:03:12I'm clapping for myself.

04:03:21Hey! Thank you, Executive Mayor.

04:03:27Zigebe, you can start singing now.

04:03:35Uh councillors, we are now on announcements.

Announcements and adjournment for lunch

04:03:41Councillors, thank you very much, councillors, for your contributions and to the Executive Mayor for accordingly responding to issues that were raised by all the different political parties. Councillors, you'll advise me here. Remember we have a extraordinary council meeting that was scheduled to start at 14:30. Should we break for lunch and come back and start with that meeting, or should we

04:04:13adjourn this one and start with the extraordinary? You want lunch? Okay. Let's break for lunch and come back at 3:30, please.

04:04:32isiZuluOh, meeting adjourned. Angithi ukhulume kahle?