Wednesday, 25 June 2025 · 4 h 50 min · 2 videos · 2021–2026 council
31st Ordinary Council Meeting
AI draft.Written by AI from the livestream and not yet checked by a person. Use the timestamps to check anything before you quote it.
- Governance and appointments
- Services, housing and development
- Other business (no topic tag)
- Procedure: roll call, apologies, breaks
- Decision (9)
- ◯Quorum count (2)
- ‖Adjourned or paused (4)
Chapters, decisions and procedure are AI drafts from the livestream; topic tags are AI judgments (a chapter with several shows its strongest). Services, housing and development covers water, electricity, roads, housing, waste, safety, health, planning and community facilities.
Summary
Council removed the Speaker, Cllr Nobuhle Mthembu, through a motion of no confidence carried by show of hands with 212 in favour, 48 against and no abstentions. 04:35:32 With the Speaker's post vacant, the Acting Speaker said the meeting could not continue, and the acting city manager was left to call a further council sitting. 04:46:50
A motion of no confidence in Executive Mayor Dada Morero, moved by Cllr Christians (DA), failed with 75 in favour, 144 against and 43 abstentions. 02:16:04 03:36:08 The ACDP backed the mayoral motion, while ActionSA, the ATM, IFP, PAC, GOOD, UDM, Al Jama-ah, AIC, EFF and ANC said they would not support it. 02:40:26 02:45:50 02:48:20 02:51:43 02:55:25 03:04:03 03:06:48 03:10:35 03:13:50 03:17:31 03:24:25 A motion of no confidence in the Whip of Council, Cllr Zungu, also failed, with 69 in favour, 179 against and 6 abstentions. 03:48:28 04:09:56
Before the mayoral debate, the Speaker refused a request to swap the motion's proposer and seconder, then agreed to refer her ruling to the Rules Committee after MMC Masuku challenged it. 02:12:30 02:14:34 02:22:54 Proceedings paused after an EFF councillor collapsed outside; the EFF Chief Whip later reported the councillor had been reached and was on a drip. 02:18:57 02:28:33
The sitting opened with 230 councillors present, quorum was confirmed at 231, and council approved the year planner and meeting schedule for July 2025 to June 2026. 00:19:49 00:21:45 02:03:30
AI draft from the record of this sitting (Claude Opus 5.5), checked against the chapters; every sentence links to the moment. Report an error
This week in council: Speaker Mthembu removed, 212 for to 48 against; Mayor Morero motion fails
In brief
Chapters
36What was discussed, in order. Click a time to watch.
- 00:19:49
Notice and opening of the 31st Ordinary Council Meeting
The meeting was formally notified and opened, and the chair welcomed office-bearers, officials and the media. The chair noted an urgent question from Cllr Jonker, citing a rule that does not exist in the Standing Rules.
1 unidentified
Report an error - 00:21:45
Quorum check
Councillors were given five minutes to sign the attendance register. After the break, 231 councillors were present, quorum was confirmed and the meeting continued.
1 unidentified
Report an error - 00:29:26
Applications for leave of absence
Whips from several parties tabled apologies and late arrivals, including bereavement, illness, exams and travel. MMC Kunene asked to leave early at 1:00. The chair noted the apologies.
MposulaActionSAAvant-SmithHarrisACDPMogapiEFFDammieANCSimonsePA
Report an error - 00:31:30
Official notices and birthdays
The chair moved to official notices and wished well the councillors who had birthdays in April, May and June.
1 unidentified
Report an error - 00:31:52
Statement by the Executive Mayor
Executive Mayor Morero opened with greetings and a call-and-response with the chamber. He spoke on the meaning of democracy, citing Parliament's definition, and said the council was present through a democratic process rather than because of the motion of no confidence. The recording then skips to later in the day.
Report an error - 02:01:44
Resumption after caucus break
Council resumed after a caucus break requested by Cllr Avant-Smith. The chair then moved to item six, recommendations to council.
Report an error - 02:02:51
Tabling of recommendations to council
The chair asked for the executive to table the report, and MMC Masuku tabled the recommendations to council. The Chair of Chairs tabled the legislature reports.
MasukuANCMaremaANC
Report an error - 02:03:30
Item 75: Year planner and schedule of meetings, July 2025 to June 2026
Cllr Suddaby (DA) welcomed that Finance Section 79 meetings would not be on Thursdays and that the mayor would answer oral questions quarterly. She asked that OCG and MPAC dates be treated as untouchable by officials. She criticised the nine extraordinary council meetings of 2024/25 for displacing MPAC meetings and wasting money. After the secretary read the item into the record, Cllr Marema asked council to approve it.
Also discussed: Item 89: Year Planner and schedule of meetings July 2026 to June 2027 (24 June 2026)
Report an error - 02:12:30
Item 7: Motion of no confidence in the Executive Mayor - proposer and seconder dispute
The chair moved to the first motion, of no confidence against Executive Mayor Morero, and called Cllr Christians as proposer. Cllr Christians said the names of the opener and second speaker had been referred to the secretariat. Cllr Harris asked that the names submitted be checked. The chair asked whether Cllr Christians wanted to be seconder with Cllr Niemand as proposer.
Report an error - 02:14:34
Ruling on swapping proposer and seconder
The Speaker refused a request to swap the proposer and seconder of the mayoral motion, saying both were present and legal advice allowed a swap only if one was absent. She ruled that the agenda would proceed as listed. Cllr Christians said the matter would go back to the Rules Committee.
Report an error - 02:16:04
Motion of no confidence in the Executive Mayor tabled
Cllr Christians moved a motion of no confidence in Executive Mayor Dada Morero under Rule 94(1), with a mayoral election to follow under the Structures Act. He said the motion was about saving Johannesburg and criticised the mayor's remarks on promises and delivery. He also criticised an MMC for attacking another party during a tribute to a murdered councillor. The house answered "No" when asked whether it agreed.
Report an error - 02:18:57
EFF request for a break after a councillor collapsed
The EFF Chief Whip asked for time because an EFF councillor had collapsed outside, and the Speaker granted a break. The ANC Chief Whip questioned the process, and the Speaker said she was giving the same allowance she gave the ANC caucus at the last sitting. Cllr Cook also raised that GOOD's speaker names had not been captured on the speakers' list.
MogapiEFFCookGOODMthembuActionSA1 unidentified
Report an error - 02:22:54
MMC Masuku refers the Speaker's ruling to the Rules Committee
MMC Masuku asked that the Speaker's ruling be referred to the Rules Committee, arguing Rule 91.1 does not say a swap is allowed only when one person is absent. The Speaker said it was a matter of interpretation and agreed to take it to the Rules Committee. She then adjourned for the EFF to check on their colleague.
MasukuANCMthembuActionSA
Report an error - 02:28:33
EFF report back and resumption
After the break the Speaker asked the EFF Chief Whip for feedback. Cllr Mogapi reported that the councillor had been reached and was on a drip, and would be taken back to the ambulances. The Speaker then called the seconder.
Report an error - 02:29:10
Seconder Niemand on the mayor's State of the City promises
Cllr Niemand began seconding the motion. The councillor said the mayor made bold promises in the 7 May State of the City address that were not reflected in the budget. The councillor used the fable of the emperor's new clothes to criticise oversight. The transcript has a gap after this point.
NiemandDA
Report an error - 02:40:26
ActionSA on the mayoral motion
Cllr Chuma said ActionSA would not defend Mayor Morero and would not be used as a pawn in what he called a DA stunt. He claimed Al Jama-ah had approached ActionSA on the DA's behalf, saying the DA had promised to restore Cllr Gwamanda as mayor. He said ActionSA would not support the motion.
Report an error - 02:45:50
ATM on the mayoral motion
Cllr Magwentshu called the motion frivolous and said the ATM backed Mayor Morero. He said the ATM had written to the mayor with its input and would vote against the motion.
Report an error - 02:48:20
ACDP supports the motion
Cllr Harris criticised the mayor over intermittent water, power failures, tariff increases, City Power's overdraft and the unilateral creation of a 'bomb squad'. He said the ACDP supported the motion of no confidence.
Report an error - 02:51:43
IFP opposes the motion
MMC Mabaso called the motion a regrettable distraction from stability and said the IFP would never support efforts to destabilise governance. He blamed the DA's leadership for rejecting stability proposals in 2022.
Report an error - 02:55:25
PAC opposes the motion
MMC Nkokou opposed the motion and said the mayor had stabilised the city and delivered a funded budget of over R80 billion. He accused parties on the right of resisting transformation. His time ran out and Cllr Raphadu donated two minutes of his own speaking time so he could finish.
Report an error - 03:04:03
GOOD rejects the motion but warns the mayor
Cllr Cook said GOOD had been critical of Mayor Morero but would not support the motion, as Johannesburg could not survive more instability. He called the vote a wake-up call and urged the mayor to restructure his executive and remove underperformers.
Report an error - 03:06:48
UDM opposes the motion
Cllr Zigebe called the motion a self-serving attempt at destabilisation and said abstaining was complicity. He criticised the DA's choice of mayoral candidate for 2026.
Report an error - 03:10:35
Al Jama-ah rejects the motion
Cllr Gwamanda responded to ActionSA's claims about him and said Al Jama-ah was protecting a collective decision of the Government of Local Unity. He said Al Jama-ah rejected the motion against Cllr Morero.
Report an error - 03:13:50
AIC rejects the motion
MMC Arnolds said the AIC rejected the motion as without merit. She said the mayor had brought stability and that the President's visit showed national confidence in him.
Report an error - 03:17:31
EFF rejects the motion
MMC Tshwaku said the EFF rejected the motion and put politics aside for service delivery. He pointed to a JMPD chief, a bylaw director, guns and vehicles as gains under this leadership. He criticised ActionSA and accused the DA of racism.
Report an error - 03:24:25
ANC rejects the motion
Cllr Raphadu said the motion was political grandstanding based on jealousy and that the debate had wasted 45 minutes. He said the DA and ActionSA had not supported the budget and read an email from Cllr Williams congratulating a member of the mayor's advisory group. He said the ANC rejected the motion.
Report an error - 03:31:16
Proposer's reply and points of order
Cllr Christians replied, saying residents lacked power and water and that parties voting against the motion were protecting positions. MMC Kunene raised a point of order over his use of a Zulu phrase, and Cllr Cook objected that GOOD was not part of the GLU. The Speaker ruled that the proposer could not be interrupted.
Report an error - 03:36:08
Vote on the motion of no confidence in the Executive Mayor
After a bell was rung for councillors to return, the Speaker took a show-of-hands vote on the mayoral motion. Cllrs Raphadu and Makapane were recognised during the procedure. The results were 75 in favour, 144 against and 43 abstentions, so the motion did not pass.
Report an error - 03:48:28
Motion of no confidence in the Whip of Council: proposer and seconder
Cllr Sifumba tabled a motion of no confidence in Whip of Council Cllr Zungu, saying he had failed to manage relations between parties. The house said No when asked whether it agreed. Cllr Crichton seconded, citing a lack of decorum and tick-box multi-party whippery meetings.
Also discussed: Motion 3: No confidence in Public Safety Chair Cllr Wissler (proposal and debate) (28 August 2025) · Motion 2: No confidence in Finance Committee Chair Cllr Edward (proposal and debate) (28 August 2025)
Report an error - 03:52:52
Debate on the Whip motion: IFP and ActionSA
Cllr Khanyile said the IFP would not support the motion and that council was functioning well. Cllr Coutriers said ActionSA did not support the motion either, calling it a DA trap.
Also discussed: DA withdraws from the whip election (2 September 2025)
Report an error - 04:00:13
Debate on the Whip motion: UDM, ATM, AIC and ANC
Cllr Zigebe said the UDM rejected the motion and defended the Chief Whip's fairness. Cllr Magwentshu called it frivolous and said the ATM would vote against it. MMC Arnolds said the AIC had full confidence in the Whip, and Cllr Xuma said the ANC rejected the motion.
ZigebeUDMMagwentshuATMArnoldsAICXumaANC
Report an error - 04:09:56
Proposer's reply and vote on the Whip motion
Cllr Sifumba closed the debate, saying the Chief Whip had broken trust and urging parties to vote their conscience. A show-of-hands vote followed. The results were 69 in favour, 179 against and 6 abstentions, so the motion did not pass.
Report an error - 04:21:00
Motion of no confidence in the Speaker: ActionSA debate and points of order
The third motion, against the Speaker, began, and the transcript picks up with Cllr Mokoka speaking against it for ActionSA. Cllrs Echeozonjoku and Da Rocha raised points of order, and the Acting Speaker made Cllr Mokoka withdraw a remark about dogs.
MokokaActionSAEcheozonjokuDADa RochaDA1 unidentified
Report an error - 04:27:23
ACDP and ANC debate the Speaker motion
Cllr Mkhonza spoke for the ACDP, calling the chamber childish. The Acting Speaker asked councillors to state the rule when raising points of order. Cllr Mposula raised a point of order over the 'DA-lite' remark, and Cllr Mmbengwa withdrew it. Cllr Mmbengwa said the ANC supported the Speaker's removal.
MkhonzaACDPMmbengwaANCMposulaActionSA
Report an error - 04:35:32
Closing of debate and vote on the motion against the Speaker
Cllr Gwamanda closed the debate on behalf of the GLU and asked council to support the motion against Cllr Mthembu. After a bell, Legal counted a show-of-hands vote. The results were 212 in favour, 48 against and no abstentions, so the motion was carried.
Report an error - 04:46:50
Speaker's seat vacant; meeting cannot proceed
The Acting Speaker said the Speaker's post was now vacant and the meeting could not continue. She said the acting city manager would act on the next steps. Cllr Sifumba then wished the DA a happy 25th birthday and invited councillors to eat the food outside.
SifumbaDA1 unidentified
Also discussed: Official notices and Acting Executive Mayor's statement (30 January 2025)
Report an error
Promises
2Commitments with a date, an amount or a 'we will'.
On 5 November 2026 (when this page was built): 0 overdue, 0 due in the next 30 days, 2 with no date. Overdue first; dates are AI readings of what was said; tap or hover a label for how. All promises.
No dateMargaret Nobuhle Mthembu · ActionSA
The Speaker agreed to refer her ruling on swapping the proposer and seconder to the Rules Committee.
Not raised again in 23 sitting days since; no City report.
Evidence: quote
“We can take it to the Rules Committee.”
No dateUnidentified councillor
04:47:18· by in due course· Report an error
Latest: Said done at a later sitting, 3 July 2025 (AI judgment)
Evidence: quote · 1 later sitting
“the city manager, in due course, will then call”
- Done, they sayResumption and Al Jama-ah request for extra caucus time · 3 July 2025 · and 2 more moments that day
Decisions
9What council approved, rejected or put off.
- 00:28:58
Quorumapproved
With 231 councillors present, quorum was confirmed and the meeting continued.
- 00:31:18
Applications for leave of absenceapproved
The chair asked whether the apologies were noted and moved on after receiving no objection.
- 02:12:24
Item 75: Year planner and schedule of meetings of Council and committees, July 2025 to June 2026approved
The chair asked whether the item was agreed to and council responded 'Agreed'.
- 02:15:50
Request to swap proposer and seconder of the mayoral no-confidence motionrejected
The Speaker ruled that the proposer and seconder could not be swapped because both were present, and the agenda would proceed as listed.
- 02:24:00
Referral of the Speaker's ruling to the Rules Committeereferred
The Speaker agreed to take the interpretation of Rule 91.1 on proposer and seconder substitution to the Rules Committee.
- 03:46:43
Motion of no confidence in the Executive Mayor, Cllr Dada Morerorejected
By show of hands: 75 in favour, 144 against, 43 abstentions; the motion did not pass.
- 04:19:55
Motion of no confidence in the Whip of Council, Cllr Zungurejected
By show of hands: 69 in favour, 179 against, 6 abstentions; the motion did not pass.
- 04:46:00
Motion of no confidence in the Speaker, Cllr Nobuhle Mthembuapproved
By show of hands: 212 in favour, 48 against, no abstentions; the motion was carried and the Speaker's position became vacant.
- 04:47:18
Remainder of the sitting after the Speaker's removaldeferred
The meeting could not proceed without a Speaker, and the acting city manager was left to arrange a further council sitting.
Attendance and conduct
19Who was away and why, as said in the chamber.
Apologies read out 10
- Bereavement (1)
- Unidentified councillor*
- No reason given (1)
- Bittkau
- Arriving late (2)
- Jacobs*, Hughes*
* Name as heard; not matched to exactly one councillor.
Warned or stopped by the chair 9
- 02:29:41
Mogapi: The chair asked Cllr Mogapi and the mayor to take their seats while the seconder was speaking.
- 03:34:04
Christians: The chair told the proposer to wrap up with 18 seconds left.
- 03:34:41
Cook: The chair did not allow Cllr Cook's objection, saying the proposer was still speaking.
- 04:22:16
Mokoka: The chair asked the speaker to sit while a point of order was heard.
- 04:23:11
Mokoka: The chair ordered the speaker to withdraw the 'dogs and fleas' remark.
- 04:25:25
Mokoka: The chair asked the speaker to sit for a second point of order.
- 04:26:48
Mokoka: The chair told the speaker to conclude.
- 04:32:04
Mmbengwa: The chair asked the speaker to debate the motion and avoid disorderly remarks.
- 04:32:45
Mmbengwa: The chair ordered the speaker to withdraw his allegations.
Transcript
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