Transcript: 48th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting, Day 1

Opening, welcome and mock Council report

00:00:57[inaudible] in absentia. Councillor Sello Morero. Councillor Sello Morero, Whip of Council Whip of Council, Councillor Kazamula Chauke, Chair of Chairs, Thema, all political party leaders and Whips, members of the Mayoral Committee present, to the Deputy Executive Mayor,

00:01:26Councillor Loyiso Masuku, Chairpersons of Section 79 Committees, fellow Councillors, City Manager, Dr. Floyd Brink, Secretary to Council, Mr. Andile Gobinca, officials of the City of Johannesburg, residents of the City of Johannesburg, members of the of the media present, ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you all to the 48th Extraordinary Council meeting of the City of Johannesburg Municipality.

00:02:00Before we proceed with the business of today's sitting, I wish to briefly update Council on an important engagement that took place this past Friday, on the 7th of March. In partnership with the University of Johannesburg's School of Public Management and Governance, as well as its Government and Stakeholder Relations Unit, the Legislature hosted a mock Council sitting. This initiative brought together students from disciplines

00:02:30such as Law, Public Management and Governance. I, in particular, want to thank the Office of the City Manager, as well as GSPCR for being present at the event. Together, students from disciplines such as Law, Public Management and Governance, Politics and International Relations, the mock Council was held under the theme:

00:02:57Addressing Voter Apathy, Youth, Democracy and 2026 Local Government Elections. A theme that speaks directly to the challenges and responsibilities we carry as public representatives. The program was further enriched by the presence of of key stakeholders including the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Honorable Morakane Mosupyoe, as well as representatives from SALGA,

00:03:26the IEC and Public Service Commission. What made this engagement particularly meaningful was the opportunity it created to provide a platform for young people to engage directly with governance processes and structures. It was both encouraging and intriguing to witness students stepping into roles within Council, including that of the Speaker, Executive Mayor and other leadership positions.

00:03:55What was also very profound was the fact that they said to us, "You make rules, and your rules are so good, but you as Councillors don't follow those rules when we watch you and see you on Facebook." They engaged in robust, thoughtful debates on real issues affecting our communities. Their participation and the solutions they put forward demonstrated not only a keen understanding

00:04:25of governance, but also a strong desire to contribute meaningfully to the future of our democracy. I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the University of Johannesburg, all participating students, and our partners and stakeholders for making this initiative a success, and I know that some of them will be in the gallery today to once again watch how we perform in this Council

00:04:55sitting. They'll be here for the two days. At this point, colleagues, I will allow 10 minutes for the number of Councillors present in the chamber to be counted, and verification of the number of Councillors who have signed the register, so as to confirm the quorum. We will be back at, it's now 10:09, we will be back at 10:19. I thank you.

00:05:27Can we also ensure that we are seated, so that we can be counted?

00:08:13[inaudible] We have not yet started.

00:08:17We have not started counting you,

Apologies, late arrivals and early departures

00:13:34received the following apologies.

00:13:42Colleagues, I have patience uh for us to be seated uh whilst I am going to read out the apologies. I have all the patience, I will not scream and ask to go home early. We have Councillor J. Sekwaila, ill health. Councillor D. Ponsonby, a bereavement. Councillor F. Abdool, private business. Councillor Y. Zigebe, private business.

00:14:14Councillor M. Mpolobosho, private business. Councillor R. Harris, ill health. Councillor P. Smit, private business. Councillor L. Coogan, private business. Councillor N. Jonker, private business. Councillor M. Chabalala, private business. Councillor D. Brand, party business. Councillor H. Bodenstein, party business. Councillor R. Benjamin, party business.

00:14:44Councillor M. Koekemoer, party business. Councillor M. Mnisi, party business. Councillor V. Da Gama, party business. Councillor A. Christians, party business. Councillor F. Chame, party business. Councillor B. Campbell-Cloete, party business. Um these are the apologies that was written to us. Are there any other apologies? Can I see with a show of hands?

00:15:14Um we will go in this in this sequence: Councillor Louw will be number one, Councillor Ndlela will be number two, Councillor Smit will be number three, Councillor Boer will be number four, Councillor এক্সন এসএ Councillor, your name? Councillor Ntombela will be next.

00:15:44Councillor um Mogapi will then be next. Councillor Makhuba will then be after that. Councillor um Magwentshu will be next. Uh MMC Tshwaku, is your hand still up? You are covered. Okay, in that sequence, you know after who I mentioned you. So you'll just run after the other one. Thank you so much, Councillor Louw.

00:16:14Good morning, Madam Speaker, good morning to the house. Just two late arrivals: MMC Kenny Kunene and Councillor Deborah Wilskut. Thank you.claim

00:16:24Thank you so much, Councillor. Next.

00:16:27Uh thank you, Madam Speaker. Uh Councillor Nyembe is out of the province. Councillor Tshehlo, ill health. Councillor Francisco, late arrival. Councillor Mothopi to leave at 14:00. Uh Councillor Ndou Livhuwani to leave at 15:00. Councillor Xuma, late arrival. Councillor Kwapeng and Councillor Mashala, they had a puncture, but they are coming. Councillor Ngwenya and Councillor Khomongoe, uh political business. Uh MMC Masuku to leave at 12:00 if we are not done by that time.

00:17:00Councillor Shange, late arrival. Councillor Raphadu, family commitment. Executive Mayor to leave at 13:00. Uh MMC Zungu to leave at 14:00, and Councillor Hlatshwayo Melody, ill health. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

00:17:16Thank you so much, Councillor. The next Councillor.

00:17:19Thank you, Madam Speaker. Good morning, everybody. Um I've just got two to add for the full LOAs, and that's Councillor Roberts, private business, and Councillor Mphefo, ill health. Uh Councillor Brand is actually in the house until 1:00 p.m., and I'm leaving at uh 11:00. Thank you very much.

00:17:40Thank you so much, Councillor.

00:17:41For political business. Thank you.

00:17:44Councillors, Councillors, there's no debates on apologies for now. Next Councillor.

00:17:55AfrikaansMôre, Mevrou die Speaker.

00:17:56Uh morning, fellow Councillors. Um I trust we will be done by 11:00, right? Um Madam Speaker, there's another LOA, um I didn't hear the name of Councillor De Lange. He's also on private business today, but he will be here tomorrow. Thank you.

00:18:11Can you repeat which Councillor?

00:18:16Councillor Franco De Lange.

00:18:17Oh, okay. Thank you, Councillor. Next Councillor. Councillor Ndlela, we've seen your hand, but let's give others a chance, you had your opportunity. Yes, ma'am. Councillor Ntombela.

00:18:31Good morning, Madam Speaker. Thank you. Good morning, fellow Councillors. Um Action SA leave of absence: ill health, Councillor Nkomo. Party business, Councillor Wissler, Councillor Coutriers, Councillor Mokoka, Councillor Themba Mabunda, and private business, Councillor Richard Mabunda. Late arrival, Councillor Shumba, Councillor Munyayi, Councillor Zwane, Councillor Edward, Councillor Xulu, and Councillor Aphane.

00:19:03And um last one, Madam Speaker, early departure request from Councillor Christopher Mohlala to leave 14:00 if we're not done with the business of the day. Thank you, Speaker.

00:19:15Thank you so much, Councillor Ntombela. Councillor, please switch off your mics when you are done.

00:19:29Thank you, Speaker. Greeting Councillors. From the caucus, from the EFF caucus, it's Councillor Ngwenya, ill health, and Councillor Radebe, ill health. Late arrivals, it's Councillor Khonkhobe. Thank you. Oh, and uh the MMC Tshwaku will leave at 12:30.

00:19:46Thank you so much, Councillor Mogapi. The next hand.

00:19:51Thank you, Speaker. For the IFP, it's MMC Mabaso, party business. Councillor Khanyile, private business. Councillor Mkhize, private business, and Councillor Manganyi will arrive late. Thank you.

00:20:07Thank you so much. Was there any other hand that we missed? Councillor Ndlela. Oh, sorry. Sorry. Yes, Councillor.

00:20:17Thank you, Speaker. Uh Speaker, Councillor Gwamanda will be running late. Thank you.

00:20:22Thank you so much. Councillor Ndlela.

00:20:26Uh thank you, Madam Speaker. Uh Councillor Mnyameni is requesting to leave at 14:00, and Councillor Madiba and Councillor Tambani, late arrival. Thank you.claim

00:20:36Thank you so much, Councillors. Are these apologies noted? Thank you, Councillors.

Official notices

00:20:44We now move to official notices.

00:20:47Councillors, please join me in wishing well all Councillors who are celebrating their birthdays during the month of March. Congratulations to all of you for growing a year older. Thank you. Councillor Belinda.

00:21:07Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'd like this house to note uh the DA Regional Congress has happened over the weekend, and I'd like to congratulate Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba elected as the Deputy Regional Chairperson. Thank you.

00:21:22Thank you so much.

00:21:35Sifumba!

Statement by the Executive Mayor

00:21:41Councillors, we proceed with the statement by the Executive Mayor.

00:21:46Executive Mayor. MMC Zungu! MMC Zungu! We are having a statement from the Executive Mayor. Can you be seated, please? Oh, thank you.

00:22:02Thank you, Speaker of Council, Councillor Margaret Arnolds, the Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Kazamula Chauke, Chair of Chairs, Councillor Marema, leaders of political parties.

00:22:31And of course, congratulations to Nonhlanhla Sifumba from Orlando West Extension. You are congratulated. Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate one of the Councillors of the ANC,claim

00:23:03who also sits in this chamber, was elected the Chairperson of the ANC Youth League over the weekend. Allow me therefore, Madam Speaker, to place critical issues on our discussions as we navigate the challenges that continue to confront our city.

00:23:32Let us take this opportunity to also say, whilst we are faced with these challenges, there's also great things that continue to happen in our city. Amongst others, the Investment Conference to be hosted by the President of the Republic of South Africa tomorrow, and they made the decision to host this conference in Johannesburg, which is an indication that Johannesburg continues to be an economic hubclaim

00:24:05of our country and a gateway to South Africa. This Investment Conference hopes to raise billions of rands into our investment into the country, focusing primarily into infrastructure development. We welcome this decision by the President to bring this Investment Conference in Johannesburg.claim

00:24:36We also acknowledge that the City of Johannesburg has also been invited to form part of this conference. Once again, the Department of Human Settlements, together with SALGA, also hosted an important event on the 26th of March last week right here in Johannesburg in Modderfontein,claim

00:25:07and that meeting was to look at what are the key issues that we have to look into in terms of housing and human settlement largely in South Africa so that we can respond to the growing demand of houses, especially in metropolitan cities or in cities and towns. And this summit was able to make practical proposals, and one of the key issues that has emergedclaim

00:25:41from this conference is in relation to what is debated now, which is the Eviction Act, which is currently a bill that is debated in Parliament. And this is an attempt to try and amend some of the difficulties in that Act, which has made it difficult for local government to deal, amongst others, issues around hijacked buildings or bad buildings in our city.

00:26:12The amendments into this Act will then assist us and go a long way in the city's program to rejuvenate the City of Johannesburg. There was an article last week, Madam Speaker, in relation to the City of Johannesburg not being able to submit financials to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, which is currently holding our bonds.

00:26:43And it is important to put on record, Madam Speaker, that yes, there were delays in the final submissions, but the engagements with the JSE now have been to clarify the matters with them, and we will be duly submitting the financials. And this was as a result of a dispute that we had launched with the Auditor-General on particular issues, especially as it relates to assets.

00:27:15And once that matter has been concluded, we are just left with one of the three issues that were raised in the objection, and once those matters are completed, we should be able to submit to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Madam Speaker, the city is also undertaking a program or a process to raise investment into our water infrastructure, and part of the issues that we

00:27:49now almost finally debating and closing the discussion is in relation to ring-fencing particular percentages of the revenue of Joburg Water so that we can invest into the infrastructure of water. We are also looking at possibilities of raising just around 13 billion rands with an intention to deal with the sewer and the water infrastructure, targeting at least about 2,600 kilometers

00:28:20of the total that is currently affecting the city with pipes that are leaking. We hope to succeed in raising this capital to allow us to be able to deal with those matters. Madam Speaker, there may be disputes and disagreements in this Council in relation, of course, to the payment of the Politically Facilitated Agreement. I need to place it on record, Madam Speaker, that it's the responsibility of this Council,

00:28:53and this Council approved the report that moved all employees of the City of Johannesburg to level 10, which therefore means that part of that decision meant we should then allow for a mediation process between the employer and labor, which mediation process took place almost the entire 2025, and arriving at a conclusion and the recommendations in October 2025.

00:29:23The recommendations, amongst others, included a payment schedule so that we deal with this matter once and for all and close it. It is important to also note that governments post-2016 that led the City of Johannesburg contributed particular portions and payments to the PFA. Included at that is in 2017/2018,

00:29:54when Honorable Mr. Mashaba was the Mayor of Johannesburg, and the Mayor of

00:30:00of the Democratic Alliance, contributed particular percentages to the PFA.

00:30:09Of course, we also came in in government as the government of local unity,

00:30:15and at that time under the stewardship of the honorableclaim

00:30:20Mayor Gwamanda, who also contributed a particular percentage towards the PFA.

00:30:29And it is important to therefore note

00:30:32that all of us have a commitment, a responsibility to the employees of the city.

00:30:39But at the same time, the employees of the city has a responsibility towards

00:30:45the residents of Johannesburg, and of course, the employer, that they should also be willing to go a long way and an extra mile towards contributing towards service delivery, and serving the residents of the city of Johannesburg.

00:31:02Let us also congratulate this executive and this council for having made a decision to honor the PFA.

00:31:10And I say to the workers of the city of Johannesburg, we will honor the PFA right up to the end and deliver on that mandate.

00:31:24Madam Speaker, we want to congratulate all the parties that stood up in defense of the workers in our last special council.

00:31:35I want to congratulate all parties in the GLU.

00:31:41Yes, of course, it will push high our employee costs,

00:31:47but at a particular point, we'll be able to get out in the next three to four years and balance

00:31:56our budget much, much better, having dealt with this matter once and for all.

00:32:02We should not be scared to make bold decisions,

00:32:07bold decisions towards improving the quality of life for the citizens of this country and this city.

00:32:17Madam Speaker, decisions were made to insource security

00:32:23and cleaners in the city of Johannesburg, and that decision was made

00:32:27at a point that the mayor was the honorable Mr. Mashaba.

00:32:34At that time, there were a number of disagreements and contradictions in this council,

00:32:39but that decision was eventually made. At the point of making that decision, it meant that an additional 700 million will therefore be added into our employee costs.

00:32:53It took us a bit of time for us to recover since 2020, 2017, 2018,

00:33:00and only in the 2024, 2025 budget we seem to have recovered from that investment that uh almost uh crippled our finances, however, it added into our employee cost.

00:33:18So it is important to note that from time to time, Madam Speaker, we will have this type of challenges and issues,

00:33:25but we must be ready to make bold decisions in addressing issues that affect the city.

00:33:35Madam Speaker, I cannot announce on my behalf,

00:33:40I hope some of the speakers who will speak today will also announce

00:33:45that last week at the meeting of the United of the United Cities and Local Government Africa,

00:33:52UCLG Africa, I was duly nominated to represent

00:33:59the UCLG Africa into the international board called the United Cities and Local Government.

00:34:09We are playing a particular role, Madam Speaker, in the international space,

00:34:14and it's an important body that we must participate in, so that we can show the capacity of the cities that we come from, and be able to drive the agenda and architect of local government globally.

00:34:31So with all these issues being raised,

00:34:35we do acknowledge that residents of Roodepoort

00:34:40suffered for the last five, four days without electricity, as a result of the

00:34:47substation that burned down due to technical issues between our substation and the supply station

00:34:56of Eskom. We want to apologize to those residents, and indeed power was fully restored to the residents of the West,

00:35:06and we want to thank City Power and the technicians who were working 24 hours a day to resolve that problem.

00:35:14Madam Speaker, we will fight to end

00:35:18the challenges in Kensington in Ward 66 and Ward 118. We have had countless meetings, countless engagements with Joburg Water and Rand Water

00:35:30to find an everlasting solution in that area. And in the next council, we should be able to give a proper report that confirms that indeed we have resolved the issues of Kensington, Ward 118 and Ward 66.

00:35:46Thank you so much, Madam Speaker, for having awarded me this opportunity. Thank you.

00:35:53Thank you so much, Executive Mayor. Um, STC?

Confirmation of minutes

00:35:59Uh councilors, we proceed with confirmation of minutes, and these are minutes of the 10th special meeting held on the 26th of February 2026,

00:36:09read also with minutes of the 36th ordinary council meeting held on the 26th of February 2026, and also minutes of the 46th extraordinary uh council meeting held on the 12th of March 2026, and lastly, minutes of the 47th extraordinary council meeting held on the 20th of March 2026.

00:36:31Thank you so much, STC. Uh Councilor N. Mkhonza from the ACDP?

00:36:44Um, thank you, Madam Speaker. Shalom, shalom.

00:36:49Um, to you, Madam Speaker, the outgoing Executive Mayor,

00:36:56the Deputy Executive Mayor, the

00:37:05Councilor Mkhonza? Councilor Mkhonza?

00:37:10Yes, ma'am.

00:37:11Which outgoing Executive Mayor?

00:37:12isiZuluUtshelwe ubani?

00:37:14Okay, I withdraw.

00:37:16Thank you.

00:37:17isiZuluUyaphapha.

00:37:20Councilors on this side, it's okay. Thank you.

00:37:22I withdraw. I withdraw.

00:37:24Thank you, Councilor Mkhonza.

00:37:26Unconditionally withdraw.

00:37:27Thank you. Can we stick to the minutes?

00:37:29Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Um,

00:37:33Councilors, I've dealt with it. Thank you.

00:37:36Okay.

00:37:37Uh-uh, councilors.

00:37:41Uh-uh. Thank you, Councilor Mkhonza. You are protected.

00:37:46Yeah, thank you, Madam Speaker. Um, greetings to all the councilors,

00:37:52our beloved residents of the city of Johannesburg.

00:37:55Speak into the mic, please, councilor.

00:37:57Um, I greet you all in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

00:38:03Madam Speaker, I stand to confirm the minutes of the following dates, the 10th um special meeting of 26th February,

00:38:11um the 36th ordinary meeting of 26th February 2026,

00:38:19the 46th extraordinary meeting of 12th March, 47th extraordinary meeting of 20th March.

00:38:28Allow me to first quote from my guiding manual, the Holy Bible, as I dovetail

00:38:34um what you said about voter apathy and petty disagreements in council. When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters,

00:38:44for I saw things like a child, and I reasoned like a child.

00:38:50But the day came when I matured, I set aside my childish ways,

00:38:56according to 1 Corinthians 13:11.

00:39:01And congratulations to Councilor N. Sifumba, you are definitely not a token.

00:39:08You are a diligent, humble soul, and a matured public servant,

00:39:14meeting the requirements or the characteristics of Exodus 18:21, amongst the many, honesty.

00:39:25Um 26th February, Madam Speaker, page 9, paragraph 3,

00:39:30we replace "daemons", d-a-e-m-o-n-s, with "demons".

00:39:40Um the same page, okay, let me leave this one because maybe Councilor Boer um meant um to say Freedom Front Plus instead of EFF, let me leave that one. And then on the 26th of

00:39:59uh the 36th ordinary meeting, all in order. However, Madam Speaker, if it will make a difference, remove my name from the early departures, as I stayed until the last, but if not, leave it like that. Thank you, on page 9.

00:40:12And then the 12th March, 46th ordinary, um no comments because I was not present.

00:40:20Um the 20th March, 47th ordinary meeting, all in order, Madam Speaker. Shalom, shalom.

00:40:29Uh Councilor Fourie-Shawe?

00:40:34Thank you, Madam Speaker, no changes from the Democratic Alliance.

00:40:38Thank you so much, Councilor Fourie-Shawe. Um are the minutes confirmed?

00:40:47Thank you, councilors. Where's the hand?

00:40:54I can't see the hand from, yes, councilors, Councilor Louw, and then Councilor Mazibuko. Your names are not on the list, but I'm taking you.

Patriotic Alliance caucus break

00:41:07Um thank you, Madam Speaker, it's not to confirm minutes, um but the Patriotic Alliance is requesting for a 30-minute caucus break.

00:41:15Can we finish the item, councilor?

00:41:17Thank, noted.

00:41:18Please, ma'am. Councilor Mazibuko?

00:41:22Oh, good morning, Speaker, good morning, fellow councilors. Um there are no corrections on behalf of the ANC,

00:41:29but I think today, Speaker, we need the Holy Spirit.

00:41:34Yeah, no, we'll call the Holy Spirit. Thank you, councilors. Are the, the minutes are confirmed. We are going to uh the next item, but the PA has asked for a, is it 30 minutes?

00:41:49And can I ask that it be 30 minutes, and we come back at 5 past, 11:05.

00:42:04At quarter past, colleagues. Please, please.

01:10:06Come on, come on, come on, come on.

01:10:37Can we please take our seats? Can we all go back to our seats? Our time is up. Can we go back to our seats?

01:10:56It's 11:15. Can we get to our seats? Those that asked for the caucus, they've been here since 11:10. And we are just walking in.

01:11:13Councillor Louw, Simonse, you've asked for a 30-minute caucus. Can we get your report back?

01:11:22Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, we are conclude, we have concluded. We can proceed with business of the day. Thank you so much.

Written replies, tabling of recommendations and elevation of items

01:11:28Thank you. Uh, just before we start, STC, I want to welcome Solomon Musonza, Zintle Ngubesi, and Mbali Chabalala in the, um, o-

01:11:44up there in the gallery. They are the students from UJ. Thank you very much for being here.

01:11:56Uh, Councillors, we resume with Item 5, and those are questions for written reply, of which notice has been given in terms of Rule 105, subsection 2 of the Standing Rules and Orders of Council.

01:12:09Uh, in the absence of the Executive Mayor, we'll ask the Deputy Executive Mayor.

01:12:17Thank you, Speaker. The responses have been loaded on the drive.

01:12:22Thank you so much, um, Deputy Executive Mayor.

01:12:27We now proceed with, uh, recommendations to Council.

01:12:46Thank you so much, um, Executive Mayor.

01:12:56STC.

01:12:57Thank you, Speaker. I s- stand to table recommendations to Council for consideration. Thank you.

01:13:05Thank you. Chair of Chairs.

01:13:11Thank you very much, uh, Honourable Speaker. I rise to, uh, table the recommendations to Council for consideration on Legislature. Thank you.

01:13:21Thank you so much. Colleagues, I've received a request from the Executive to elevate Items 25 to 28, and I've acceded to that request. So, we will start with Items 25 to 28.

01:13:39Uh, Leader of Executive Business, uh, l- Madam, uh, Deputy Mayor.

01:13:44Apologies, Speaker. There is a further request to please, when we are done with that, we do Item 63, the appointment, the recruitment reports.

01:13:57So, it's Item 63 that you are also asking to elevate after 25 to 28. Am I right?

01:14:05Yes, ma'am.

01:14:06Thank you so much. Colleagues, um, I'm acceding to Item 63 as well. So, we'll start off with Item 25 to 28 and then go on to Item 63, and then we go back to our normal agenda for the day. I thank you. Thank you, colleagues.

Items 25-27: Group Finance and GICT second-quarter performance

01:14:28Councillors, elevated Item 25 is the Performance Assessment Report for Group Finance Department for the 2025/26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, also read with Item 26, which is the Performance Assessment Report for the Group Communication Group Information Communication Technology Department for the 2025/26 financial year for the period October to December 2025. And both items read together with Item 27. That is an oversight report of the Section 79 Finance Committee on the 2025/26 second quarter performance assessment report of the Group Finance Department and Group Information Communication Technology Department for the period October to December 2025.

01:15:10Thank you. Thank you so much, STC. Member in charge, Councillor M. Cook. I don't see Councillor M. Cook. Is there anyone in the, um, Section 79 Finance that will be in charge of the item for now?

01:15:36Can we get a Finance-

01:15:45Discipline, discipline, discipline, please, discipline. Councillor Cook, your item.

01:15:58Councillor Cook, we are tabling Item 25, 26 and 27. We need you to do your opening statements.

01:16:07Thank you, Madam Speaker. Speaker, I rise to table Item 25, the Performance Assessment Report for the Group Finance Department for the 2025/2026 financial year for the period October to December 2025, read with Item 26, Performance Assessment Report for the Group Inter- uh, Information Communication Technology Department for the 2025/2026 financial year for the period October to December 2025,claim

01:16:35and Item 27, the Oversight Report of the Section 79 Finance Committee on the 2025/2026 second quarter performance assessment reports of the Group Finance Department and Group Information Communication Technology Department for the period October to Defember December 2025.

01:16:53Thank you so much, Member in charge. ActionSA, Councillor S. Nkonyeni.

01:17:04I'm not sure if there's two Nkonyenis. I see another one standing up at the back. Thank you, Councillor Nkonyeni.

01:17:14Thank you. Thank you very much, Speaker. Uh, good morning to yourself. Uh, good morning to the house at large, our esteemed guests in the gallery, uh, the residents of City of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on Item 25, which tells us a story that the city is very good at billing, but very poor at collecting. Uh, Madam Speaker, based on the report, uh, we have some suggestions as ActionSA.claim

01:17:47We, we need to strengthen, uh, collection interventions to improve revenue performance. I think that goes without saying, Madam Speaker, and we've been saying it, uh, time and time again as ActionSA. We need to review and optimize the billing processes to reduce overruns. Uh, we need to focus on meeting the 90% collection target. Uh, we need to address the R3.4 billion shortfall, uh, and improve the call centre performance, uh, which is basically the, the average call waiting time. Um,

01:18:20we need to ensure that we enhance the customer engagement and the trust between, uh, our residents and the city. Uh, implement stricter collection policies. We need to review and adjust budget projections, uh, within, uh, r- reasonable, uh, fiscal, uh, with, with reasonable fiscal, uh, prudency. Review and, uh, oh, sorry, provide additional training for the call centre staff, which is very important because they are the fl- the front line of the city. Thank you, Speaker.

01:18:56Thank you, Councillor Nkonyeni. Councillor Boer from Freedom Front Plus.

01:19:03Good morning, Madam Speaker, to you again and to fellow councillors. I rise to speak on Item 25. I only got three minutes, and there's a lot to say, Madam Speaker. Um, if you look at the, uh, second quarter report of the Group Finance, the picture of the city is looking l- looking bleak. Um, and it seems to me there's no acknowledgment that we are heading for disaster. Um, it seems to me that the Government of Local Unity, they can't be bothered anymore. They know they are not going to be in, uh,

01:19:35in Council again next term, and they're not going to be there to answer the questions for this mess that we are finding ourselves in. Um, but the Freedom Front will be back, and we will be back in government to fix the city again. Madam Speaker, the figures are so dismal. Uh, the year-to-date profit for the city is standing at a minimal amount of R207 million. Uh, that is before, uh, transfers, against a budgeted figure of over R4.2 billion. What makes the situation even worse isclaim

01:20:09that our CAPEX spending up for the six months is standing at 26%. 74% of our CAPEX still has to be funded in the next six months up until the end of June. Where are we going to get the money from? Madam Speaker, this report should have been the basis for the adjustment budget, but unfortunately, it wasn't. And the figures are speaking for themselves. Our bulk purc- purchases are over budget by R642 million for the six months.claim

01:20:41No adjustment has been made in the adjustment budget. Our interest payments are already R252 million over budget. No adjustment has been made. No, sorry, Madam Speaker, there was an adjustment made, R1 million. Our employee cost for the six months were already over budget by R1.2 billion. We only made an adjustment of R1 billion for the PFA. This is not going to work. Our, our final, uh, report at the end of June of this year is again going to show usclaim

01:21:14stacks and stacks of unauthorized expenditure that is, that is, that is going to be, uh, reflected on our financial statements, if we get them one day. Madam Speaker, the concerning figure here is our water. Water is our city's biggest problem, and we can talk about ring-fencing.claim

01:21:3140 seconds, Councillor.claim

01:21:32Yes, Madam. There is nothing to ring-fence. Our water income is R334 million under budget. Our water expenses, R313 million over budget, and that shows us we're losing more and more water seeping into the ground. Madam Speaker, the s- the situation in the city is really critical. Our collection rate for January, apparently, was 72%. We are heading for disaster, and we need to act, and we have to act very, very quickly. Thank you, Madam Speaker.claim

01:22:00Thank you, Councillor Boer. Councillor J. Cherry from the PA.

01:22:10Councillor, can you take your seat? Just hold on. It's not a point of order on you because you haven't spoken. Councillor Belinda.

01:22:18Thanks, Madam Speaker. Please, can somebody look at the aircon? We are going to faint in here.

01:22:23Colleagues, um, I was going to say it after Councillor Cherry's, uh, spoken. We are busy dealing with them with the aircon. Um, they've asked us to give them 15 minutes. There was a trip last night, and remember, then everything goes off. So, we are dealing with it. Um, I'm just as hot here, colleagues. Um, it's, it's, it's, we can't take it.

01:22:53Me and that councillor. Councillor Cherry, can you carry on?

01:23:01Greetings, Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor, Ken- Councillor Kenny Kunene in his absentia, the Joburg 11 councillors, and the residents of the City of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Alliance notes the report with deep concern. I thank you.

01:23:19Thank you, Councillor Cherry. Uh, ACDP, Councillor Mkhonza.

01:23:28Um, yeah. Shalom, shalom once again, Madam Speaker. Um, greetings to the students from UJ. You are most welcome. Madam Speaker, allow me to first, um, quote from my guiding manual, the Bible, from the Book of 20 Matthew 23:26, reads as follows: "Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish,

01:23:57that the outside of them may be clean also." Madam Speaker, the ACDP believes that, um, we have to clean the cup inside first. We know that we have, um, low, what we refer to as low-hanging fruits, Madam Speaker. We've got councillors who are not paying, and we've got staff members who are not paying, and yet we expect our residents to pay.claim

01:24:29Now, if we do not clean the dish inside, the debtors' book will increase. We are sitting at R71 billion now because we just come here and shout and talk, but we are so immature. The ACDP welcomes the 86% year-to-date collection rate, which gives hope, um, despite the overall disturbing 57% overall departmental performance on the second quarter.claim

01:25:01The ACDP caucus continues, um, to believe that more needs to be done on these low-hanging fruits, as I alluded before, which includes government departments and our internal customers when it comes to debt management strategies, looking at the worrying, um, growing debtors' book. Let us continue to wash our dish, um, inside, Madam Speaker, as we also welcome Mr Lufuno Mashau, um, to the Finance team in an effort to deal with this stubbornly high debtors' book and revenue collection.claim

01:25:34In closing, Madam Speaker, God bless South Africa, especially the families of those who are affected by the plus-minus 70 people murdered daily in South Africa. The ACDP prays for those families because there's no war in South Africa,

01:25:5330 seconds left.claim

01:25:54but people die as if there's war in South Africa. We continue to pray for those people, and also pray for the people of Sudan and the people of Tanzania. The people of Tanzania are being suppressed, and the opposition leader has been arrested without trial for two years. I thank you, Madam Speaker. Shalom, shalom.

01:26:16Thank you, Councillor Mkhonza. Um, ActionSA, Councillor T. Shai, you have one and a half minutes. Is the councillor in the house? Thank you.

01:26:39Uh, firstly, I'd like to greet you in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Uh, greetings, Madam Speaker, uh, fellow councillors, members of the media, Fabulous 44, and the residents of Johannesburg. As ActionSA, we prioritize the basic service to ensure maintenance and repairs. Now, let's focus on the Item 26, performance, uh, Performance Report for Group Information, uh, Information Communication Technology,

01:27:10the department financial year period October to December 2025. This reveals a department in crisis. With 66.6% achievement rate, the department is failing to manage the digital backbone of a multi-billion rand metro. I want to highlight the three, uh, cri- critical failures that the cit- uh, this Council cannot simply note and move on from. The hardware, firstly, is a hardware crisis.claim

01:27:3830 seconds.

01:27:39The department is moving the, uh, is moving the, uh, goalposts by trying to divert the K- KPIs simply because they failed to procure basic laptop and, uh, basic laptops and desktop. Number two is the i- infrastructure's bottleneck. The 11 sites were connected to the new cable network, but only five had equipment installed with zero activation. We have, we have, we have ghost connection that pro-claim

01:28:18You had one- No, no. I gave him a warning. I gave him a warning at I gave him a warning at 40 seconds, and his time is up. Thank you so much. I even noted that he has one and a half minutes. Thank you. Councillor Santana from the Democratic Alliance.

01:28:38Uh, thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on the Performance Assessment Report for the Group Finance Department for the 25/26 financial year for the period October to December 2025. Madam Speaker, just to give you context of what I'm about to say, um, and it brings back to why we're not speaking intensely on this item, is because our reports are coming way too late. Again, the MFMA stipulates that the report must serve in Council 30 days after the quarter,claim

01:29:09which means the earliest it should have been here is February. The best would have been at the end of January. But, you know, again, we do everything back to front. We've done the adjustment budget. We've had the mid-term review. We've had, uh, this, the Section 71 reports, which I'm grateful for. And then you get the quarterly report after all of that's passed. It makes no logical sense in terms of how we deal with Council business. But be that as it may, hopefully, when we're in government, we will rectify that and put it in logical order. Madam Speaker,claim

01:29:40yes, obviously, what's not been said yet because it's been mentioned in the Section 71 reports is the fact that we, we utilized the Standard Bank facility of R3 billion, and yet our cash coverage was only still nine days' worth of cover. Um, the collection rate tanking in January to 78%, our col-claim

01:30:00collection rate for this quarter at 82%, we definitely do have a cash crisis and a cash crunch. Capital projects also stagnating and not moving forward. I see them on the ground. I see it with my own projects in my own ward where we are just not moving forward, and yet we are prioritizing other issues versus actually getting service delivery on the ground which is critical for our residents and critical for the city.claim

01:30:25Um of note all the while is the fact that the JSE, as the Mayor mentioned, suspending our bond in the biggest city of the country, our bonds are suspended. And it all boils down to the fact that we are coming to Council at lastminute.com presenting reports. Uh I've raised an issue to you um in writing regarding reporting to Council, and yet again last night we saw reports being loadedclaim

01:30:55at the last hour. Um yes, I understand it's probably for tabling and then is another loan item. Again I ask, why are we not being proactive? You've had the whole month to upload documents, you've had the whole month to provide Councillors sufficient time in dealing with issues and dealing with matters, but no, we get it last minute. Um again, I don't understand why. There is a timetable that's from National Treasury, from the from legislation that says we have to abide by certain timelines, and yet we try and bring them in in the last minute.claim

01:31:28Uh I do think like again, like I said, when we're in government we will deal with those issues and make sure they are timeously. Madam Speaker, also I have to speak on the GICT, the fact that our mSCOA compliance and our mSCOA rollout is being stagnated and it's coming to a grinding halt. And it all comes down to again, we are not spending money on where it's critical for the city to ensure that our systems are adequately put in place.claim

01:31:53So Madam Speaker, I don't know what to say. You know, you're sitting with a surplus before capital grants of 200 million and we are implementing items that we cannot afford, and the Mayor categorically says it will take us 3 to 4 years to rectify and financially stabilize the city again. It doesn't help when we are forwarding all those costs onto our residents, uh who are already strapped, who are already going to see an increase on Wednesday of over R10claim

01:32:23and R6 respectively in the fuel price, and we are then expected to still ensure that they pay our bills. Um, but be that as it may, we have to just shoulder on and put our residents first, put the city first, and I thank you, Speaker.

01:32:38Thank you, Councillor Santana. ActionSA, Councillor Edward, you have 1 and 1/2 minutes.

01:32:48Uh Madam Speaker, uh greetings to you. Uh from uh Councillor Edward as ActionSA we would like to donate 1,5 minutes to Councillor Shai.

01:33:00Councillor Shai?

01:33:02Yes, he will speak.

01:33:03Councillor Shai, can you come?

01:33:11Uh greeting once again Madam Speaker. I believe all protocol observed. Allow me to uh continue with my my previous speech. As I was on number three, uh about the compliance risk. A 68% rate for mSCOA is a legal liability that risk the adverse audit and National Treasury intervention. Therefore, as ActionSAclaim

01:33:41we propose the following: that clear the hardware backlog without abandoning the target, to set a deadline for the network activations, and a roadmap to reach 90% mSCOA compliance by the fourth quarter. In closing, one success in the Rea Vaya system cannot hide the crumbling foundations. Johannesburg cannot claim to be a smart city

01:34:0835 seconds left.

01:34:09when its basic system are not in track. Thank you, I note the report.

01:34:14Thank you, Councillor Shai. Economic Freedom Fighters, Councillor Nethamba.

01:34:28Thank you, Speaker. Greetings to the caucus leader of the EFF, Gcini Tshwaku. Greetings to the Chief Whip of the EFF, Thabiso Mogapi. Greetings to the 29th Battalion of the EFF. Uh greetings to all Councillors. Uh greetings to the City Manager, Dr. Floyd Brink. Greetings to the guests in the gallery.

01:34:57I greet you all in the name of economic freedom in our lifetime. Speaker, as the EFF, we want to encourage all the residents of Johannesburg to register to vote for the only party that will push the insourcing bill for all the residents. Uh Speaker, as the EFF, we note this report and we support all the residents of Johannesburg to register to vote for EFF.emotive

01:35:29Victory or death. I thank you.emotive

01:35:32Thank you, Councillor Nethamba. From the ANC, Councillor R. Maswazi. Maswazi. Maswazi.

01:35:44Thank you, Speaker. Um greetings to the Honourable Mayor, Executive Mayor, uh Councillor Dada Morero. Um greetings to the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Loyiso Masuku, uh members of Council, and our Chief Whip, Councillor Kazamula Chauke. Uh Speaker, we rise to engage with the financial and technological performance of the City of Johannesburg,

01:36:16uh two pillars that are fundamental to effective governance and service delivery. The financial report before us reflects a city under pressure, Speaker, and the revenue collection remains below targets and liquidity constraints persist, but we must approach this matter with both honesty and context. Johannesburg is a city shaped by inequality, unemployment, and economic hardships.

01:36:46Many residents struggle to meet their financial obligations not out of unwillingness, but due to limited means. However, Speaker, we must also confront the internal challenge within the City of Johannesburg: the billing inaccuracies, inefficiencies in revenue collection, and the delays in resolving customer queries undermining the public confidence and weaken our financial position.

01:37:17These are governance issues and they must be addressed decisively. On ICT, Speaker, we also see a similar pattern that there is progress, but it is not at the pace that is required. We cannot speak of the smart city while critical infrastructure remains incomplete. Technology must improve, the billing system must improve,

01:37:47and enhance our revenue collection, and also it must strengthen service delivery. Speaker, this is a narrative of collapse. This is not a narrative of collapse, I'm sorry. It is a call for improvement. We must strengthen revenue collection, particularly from those who can afford to pay. We must improve the billing accuracy and restore public trust. We must accelerate digital transformation so that it supports governance and efficiency.

01:38:21As the African National Congress, we remain committed to building a capable developmental state, one that balances financial sustainability with social justice. We support the noting of this report while calling for urgent and measurable improvements. Because the financial governance is not about numbers, it is about service delivery, dignity, and the future of our city. I thank you.

01:38:47Thank you, Councillor. Uh Deputy Mayor, MMC Masuku.

01:38:56A very good morning to you, uh Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor. Uh we congratulate you on your election um to the UCLG, which is an important uh body um that uh deals with cities' uh interest in local government. Um it shows that the City of Johannesburg's leadership is recognized internationally, and for that we appreciate your leadership in that regard. As you also lead in working hard to ensure that we stabilize

01:39:28um Joburg. And I want to link this uh starting point with what um Councillor um through you, Speaker, Councillor Nkonyeni and Councillor Boer and Councillor Santana including Councillor Mkhonza were speaking about.claim

01:39:43isiXhosaNgesiXhosa kuthwa kukhonkothwa ehambayo.

01:39:47You can't really translate Xhosa, but if you were to translate it in the literal, loose terms, is you bark uh the dog barks at a moving car because the car is moving. So there's work that we're doing, that is why we must be criticized and we take the criticism. Because if we were not doing anything, then there wouldn't be anything to say. And the reason why you have something to say is because there are actions that we are taking,claim

01:40:15and we are taking efforts to take the City of Johannesburg to stability, and we are clear in terms of our priorities. We are billing um on average 6 billion um a month. Yes, there are still challenges, but we are working to improve that, and we are going to be in Council, Councillor Boer, again next year. We are going to be back in government. We're going to work to leadclaim

01:40:44this Johannesburg collectively with every Councillor that wants to work with us. So we are not uh using your language of saying only you can do better. We believe we can do better collectively as this Council for the benefit of residents of Johannesburg. The CAPEX expenditure issue is really look, CAPEX expenditure is not linear, um through you, Speaker. It's based on milestones,claim

01:41:14um Councillor Boer. An example um is there: significant payments for Human Settlements are actually um going to be paid on the 31st of March, which is tomorrow, and that's based on the milestones that were signed. And to both Councillor Mkhonza um through you, Speaker, and Councillor Boer, we did say in the Section 79 that we are working on uh improving issue of revenue, and thank you for the acknowledgment, Councillor Mkhonza, because

01:41:43those are some of the conversations we had at the Section 79, um including how we are dealing with the issue of uh projects in the water environment, as we acknowledge that the backlog in the water uh environment um it needs us to bring partners uh onboard. And this is supported by National Treasury, by the way, as well as the Presidential uh Working Group. So we are working with them. On the issue of um ActionSA, I think

01:42:13I couldn't get much, but I think what I'm getting is that if we agree on a Council schedule, uh as well Councillor Santana, then as the executive we can't just change it. We are bringing the reports because this is the time that is on the Council calendar for us to bring these quarterly reports at this time. It therefore means we must change how we plan the Council calendar and approve it together. So it can't be that now the executive all of a sudden is blamed.

01:42:42We are bringing the reports timeously as it relates to how this Council schedule has actually been approved by all political parties, in line with all the systems, the cluster work, the EMT processes, the Mayoral Committee timetable, and then ultimately the Council table. So it's not a uh a timetable of uh the executive, it is a timetable of the entire Council that we approved. Um and by the way, just for information, in the

01:43:13uh Municipal Systems Act, Councils have to convene at least four times a year, but we convene more because of this transparency. We hold our Council meetings even more than any other Councils actually sit uh in particular municipalities. Yes, Councillor Maswazi, I agree with you. Urgent measures need to be put, measurable improvements need to be there, but we thank you for acknowledging that there is significant improvement and

01:43:42we aim to do that not just because uh we want reports to look good on the paper, but just because we want to make sure that we serve residents of Johannesburg. Um and we encourage you as Councillors to continue to hold us accountable. Don't bash us. Criticize constructively so that we can improve for the residents of Joburg. I thank you, Speaker, and we ask Council to note the report.

01:44:06Thank you so much, um MMC. Member in charge.

01:44:13Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you to all the speakers. Thank you to the MMC. Uh I ask Council to note the report.

01:44:25Thank you so much, colleagues. Um the recommendations are on pages 25.3, 26.3, 27.12 to 27.13. Are the items agreed to?

01:44:44Agreed.

01:44:46Thank you, colleagues. StC.

Items 28-29: Office of the City Manager and governance departments

01:44:50We move to the next elevated item. That's item 28, which is the Performance Assessment Report for the Office of the City Manager for the 2025/26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, read with item 29, which is the Oversight Report of the Governance Section 79 Committee on the Second Quarter Performance Assessment Report of the Office of the Chief Operations Officer, Office of the City Manager,

01:45:20uh Group Strategy, Policy Coordination and Relations, and Group uh Governance, uh Citizen Relations and Urban Management, Group Communication and Marketing, Group Legal and Contracts, Group Risk and Assurance Services, Group Forensic and Investigation Services for the period October to December 2025.

01:45:39Councillor Maswazi, can you switch off your mic? Thank you. Member in charge, Chair Magwentshu.

01:45:53Uh thank you, Speaker. Speaker, I rise to table item 28, read together with item 29 for Council consideration. Thank you.

01:46:05Thank you, member in charge. ACDP, Councillor Mkhonza.

01:46:13Yeah, shalom once again, uh Madam Speaker. Allow me to quote once again from my guiding manual, the Holy Bible, from the Book of Exodus 18:21. Reads as follows: "But you should also choose some of the people to be judges and leaders. Choose good men you can trust, men who respect God. Choose men who will not change their decisions for money." End quote. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on

01:46:43item 28, and the ACDP notes with concern the reported 6% decline in performance compared to the first quarter, which signals emerging instability within the critical administrative functions. Of particular concern are the challenges with GFIS and the Office of the COO, both of which are central to the coordination,claim

01:47:13oversight, and execution of the city's strategic priorities. These declines are not merely statistical; they reflect systemic issues that, if left unaddressed, will undermine service delivery, institutional credibility, and governance outcomes. The ACDP caucus further is troubled by what appears to be politically influenced administrative interference, including the imposition of individuals into key positions and the introduction of parallel structures such as

01:47:45the so-called Bomb Squad, which this Council has never formally adopted nor endorsed. Such actions risk eroding the professionalism of the administration and are sending a message that undermines the competence and authority of duly appointed officials. Further, Madam Speaker, while the ACDP supports the initiatives aimed at institutional learning and improvement, we caution that any benchmarking exercise

01:48:16must be approached with discernment and integrity. The city must draw lessons only from credible and well-governed municipalities, particularly

01:48:2440 seconds.

01:48:25particularly in the light of the concerning revelations emerging from forums such as the Madlanga Commission and the Ad Hoc Committee on SAPS. Benchmarking should not become a superficial exercise, but rather a strategic tool to strengthen governance, accountability, and performance. In this regard, the ACDP uh caucus seeks clarity on key matters: how far is the GSPCR in advancing the process of nominations, particularly with respect to intergovernmental relations? I thank you, Madam Speaker.

01:48:57Thank you, Councillor. Um IFP, Councillor M. Nyembe.

01:49:10Uh thank you, Speaker, Executive Mayor, uh all Councillors, IFP caucus leader in his absentia,

01:49:29isiZuluiva lethu ayikhona. Sanibonani.

01:49:35Uh Speaker, I rise to speak on item 28 and 29. The report highlights key issues identified pertaining to the performance of all departments reporting to the City Manager. The IFP notes achievements and challenges stated on the report for the second quarter of 2025 and 2026 financial year. A number of concerns were noted:

01:50:07no expenditure made on CAPEX budget by the Office of the COO; a number of departments overspend on employee-related services; others underspend on contracted services. These challenges have been recurring for the longest time. We hope the City Manager put measures in place to deal with these challenges.

01:50:39isiZuluNgiyabonga,

01:50:40Speaker.

01:50:42Thank you, Councillor Nyembe. Councillor A. Marais from the DA.

01:50:47Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, fellow Councillors, Council officials, ladies and gentlemen, there is a particular matter of concern which I need to bring to the attention of Council. The concern relates to the Group Legal and Contracts report, which intimates that the department is seeking to obtain the right for its legal advisors to represent the Council and its entities in court proceedings in a bid to reduce legal costs. This is a very bad idea.

01:51:18Apart from the fact that it is currently unlawful under the Legal Practice Act, there is also long-standing authority that only in exceptional circumstances will a court allow any person other than a practicing advocate or attorney with right of appearance in the High Court to represent a juristic person. A juristic person is a party other than a natural person, and the city and its entities are all juristic persons. This was encapsulated in the rule in the case of Battle versus

01:51:50Irish Art Promotion Centre, an Irish case which has been followed by our own courts, most recently in the matter of Investec Securities versus Cool Investments Holdings, a decision handed down in the Johannesburg High Court by Judge Wepener in 2022. It is noted that in the Irish case, the court held that lack of available funds to obtain legal representation does not constitute exceptional circumstances.

01:52:21Then there is the long-accepted practice in the High Courts of discouraging litigants to act in their own cause. Abraham Lincoln is reputed to have said that he who represents himself has a fool for a client. The reason is clear: litigation is complex, and an inexperienced person, even one who has a law degree or is admitted as a legal practitioner, may do more harm than good to a corporate or juristic litigant that he purports to assist.

01:52:52Indeed, most attorneys, despite being well-qualified and having years of general legal experience, choose not to represent their clients in court precisely because litigation skills take years of experience in the courts to develop fully. There is also no real saving for the city in using its own personnel to conduct litigation on its behalf. Preparing an opposed case for court takes many days of preparation and involves a number of role players. The time of the city's legal personnel taken up in conducting

01:53:24litigation would be significant. Moreover, to handle these matters, the city would have to employ experienced litigators who do not come cheap. Most importantly, the objectivity which external legal advisors can bring to bear in evaluating the merits of a claim or defense would be lost. The DA does not recommend that the city employ its own personnel to conduct litigation on its behalf. I thank you.

01:53:54Thank you, Councillor Marais. ActionSA, Councillor J. Aphane.

01:54:08Honourable Speaker, colleagues, members of public, all protocol observed. Uh greetings to you all. Madam Speaker, I rise uh on items 28 together with 29. Uh regarding the Citizen Relation and Urban Management, uh migration to uh ShareNow platform has created disruptions in call logging, leading to incomplete reporting and perceptions of underperformance. Resolution ratesclaim

01:54:38for JRA fell to 31%. So many potholes in the city, which leads to inconveniences, damages to residents' vehicles, and sometimes accidents. Water and sewage uh by Pikitup remains a challenge to the city. This drove um unresolved backlogs uh and eroded public confidence.claim

01:55:10Uh resource concentration on high-impact operations led to neglect in other regions, creating an uneven service delivery outcomes. Region A, where I come from, Madam Speaker, and Region G recorded weaker resolution rates, 55% and 61%, while Region D achieved full resolution, 100%. Balanced resource distribution remains a priority. The consolidated resolution rateclaim

01:55:42dropped from 53% in quarter one to 50% in quarter two. Persistent backlogs in JRA and City Parks weighed down the overall outcome despite strong performance from Joburg Water and uh Pikitup on that report. Uh ActionSA, if elected to power, Madam Speaker, will employ uh 500 JMPD members yearly.claim

01:56:14And ActionSA will create a unit to deal with hijacked buildings. ActionSA notes the report. I thank you.claim

01:56:23Thank you, Councillor Aphane. Um DA, Councillor K. Wax.

01:56:37Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to address item 28. So Madam Speaker, fellow Councillors, guests, and residents, all protocol observed. Madam Speaker, this report once again demonstrates that this city is being held back not by a lack of plans, but by a lack of execution, accountability, and urgency. While GSPCR, Group Governance, and Group Communications and Marketingclaim

01:57:11achieved all their KPIs, these successes are overshadowed by systemic failures that continue to cripple service delivery and erode public trust. Let us confront the facts. Firstly, a city failing to spend its own budgets. Several departments and entities recorded 0% CAPEX expenditure by the end of quarter two. These are Economic Development, Health, Social Development, Tourism,claim

01:57:43and even GFIS. Not a cent spent on infrastructure, clinics, social programs, or economic stimulation. This is not just underperformance; Madam Speaker, it is governance paralysis. We have continually sounded the warning: when a city cannot spend its grants, it risks losing them; when it cannot deliver capital projects, communities suffer. This is breathtaking considering we faceclaim

01:58:13a 300 billion infrastructure backlog. This is totally unacceptable. Secondly, Madam Speaker, a wage bill out of control. Across departments, employee-related costs are ballooning. CRUM overspent by 32.7 million, Group Governance by 10.6 million, and others show salary-to-OPEX ratios as high as 94%. Add to this the exorbitant 10.8 billion PFA agreement recently voted for,

01:58:45a decision that will come back to haunt this Council in one way or another. Madam Speaker, our position is clear in the DA. Yes, we do care about the workers in the city. However, when salaries consume the budget, service delivery becomes unsustainable, and it will eventually harm the well-being of the very city workers that we are trying to protect. We need leaner structures.

01:59:15We need to fill critical posts, and we need to ensure that there is performance linked to accountability, not runaway payrolls that deliver no value. Madam Speaker, thirdly, chronic underperformance in core departments, uh core functions. The Office of the Chief Operating Officer achieved only 63% of KPIs, the same as quarter one. Repairs and maintenance accounts for 39% of the annual budget, crippled by procurement delays,

01:59:46unsigned SLAs, and invoicing backlogs. This is why Joburg infrastructure

01:59:5145 seconds left.

01:59:52infrastructure is collapsing at such a rapid rate, because the systems meant to maintain it are stuck in administrative

02:00:00the quicksand. Madam Speaker, we are ready to help the city to restore itself. And we ask that you, we really all consider the state that we are in and that we need to work hard to fix these things. Thank you.

02:00:15Thank you, Councillor Wax. Councillor N. Radebe, EFF.

02:00:26Okay, thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I'm not Radebe. I'm Councillor Mbambala. Councillor Radebe, she's sick. Greetings to the 29 committed EFF battalions, caucus leader, Commissar Mgcini Tshwaku, EFF Whip, Thabiso Mogapi, MMC Ennie Makhafola, Chairperson Raseruthe Hospital.

02:00:50Fellow councillors, officials, and the residents of the City of Johannesburg whose lives are directly affected by the decision we take in this chamber. Speaker, they see the OCOO's achieved 12 KPIs from 19, which is 63% of the same question one reporting, not sure if it's still copy and paste as usual. Overspent on duplication by 345,000 in question two reporting.

02:01:20Total salary cost has increased in question two reporting without clear indication of whether there is more staff or maybe some overtime or has there been a significant change in headcount or workload that justified the increase. And total OpEx increased from 14 million in question one to 21 million, 21.9 million in question two reporting. That is 56% jump to OpEx with salary cost only increased by 2.6 million.

02:01:51What's driving the 7.9 million increase in OpEx? Operating expenditure has increased in most of the departments in this report without clear and tangible explanation, and trust me, it's definitely not service delivery to the residents of the City of Johannesburg. Speaker, the residents of Johannesburg are not interested in achieved KPIs that may be refined in future. They want to see grass being cut,

02:02:20the department potholes of Johannesburg being fixed, speed humps being installed next to the schools as per their request, electricity and water being present in their everyday lives. They want to see projects being completed, not stalling project from previous term. Functioning stormwater infrastructure during rainy days.

02:02:44Speaker, in Ward 108, we have a burst pipe located in Julies and Heriot Street that we reported previously, and till today nothing has happened to that burst pipe. And then we are running the ward without water for almost five months to six months. And in Queen Street, we have a big hole that one of our residents fell inside, and still JRA is doing nothing about that.

02:03:11The people of Johannesburg deserve clear service commitments, strictly accountability and a municipal administration that takes performance seriously.

02:03:20Councillor, can you take your seat? Chair.

02:03:28No, thanks Speaker. Speaker, can you check to your team so that they can able to flight the screen so we can see the speaker when he's speaking, because we are only seeing now, we're being abused, seeing only.

02:03:49You must

02:03:52Councillor, can you continue with your speech, Councillor?

02:04:01Chair of Ethics, can you take your seat? Thank you, Councillor, you can carry on.

02:04:09Oh, thank you, Madam Speaker. Because I think I must start over.

02:04:14No, no, no. Start where you ended.

02:04:16Yeah. I think I must start over because I was not being recorded.

02:04:19No, no, no. Your time is there. Start where you

02:04:20Okay, Speaker. Let me continue. The people of Johannesburg deserve clear service commitments, strict accountability and municipal administration that takes performance seriously. As the EFF, we note the report. And Speaker, I would like to wish myself a happy birthday today. Happy birthday to myself.

02:04:41I hope you are you yourself you're going to give us cake later. Thank you so much, Councillor. Councillor Mokwena from the ANC.

02:04:58Thanks, Speaker, and greetings to you, EM, DM, members of Mayoral Committee, fellow councillors, guests in the gallery, residents of City of Joburg, not forgetting the Chief Whip and Chair of Chairs. Speaker, we are noting the report. Let me start with CRUM. We are noting the report from CRUM that on KPIs out of sevenclaim

02:05:30out of out of seven, KPI, out of eight KPIs, they've reached seven. That indicates and reflects the department's operational and visible alignment with the city developmental priorities. We commend the exceeding integrated service delivery operation and citizen engagement program,claim

02:05:58which has already surpassed its annual target. This demonstrates the commitment and participatory governance where residents are active. However, Speaker, concern remains the decline in the city-wide resolution rate from 53 to 50%, driven by underperformance of entities such as JRA and City Parks. It is unacceptable for residents experiencing the city as one administrationclaim

02:06:30and in failure of one entity, it affects the whole city. Uneven regional performance, Speaker, particularly the sharp regression in Region D and Region E is equally concerning. A decline from 97 to 36% in Region D cannot be normalized.claim

02:06:58Financial position requires an urgent and operating expenditure at 108%, largely due to staff cost and unsustainable continuing cash flow challenges, delayed payments and stalled capital projects undermine service delivery and development. We nevertheless acknowledge the positive impact of programs such as Alexandra Water Warriorsclaim

02:07:30and Community Work Program. CRUM has shown that delivery is possible, where consistency and accountability and financial discipline are essential for sustainable impact. Speaker, I just want to alight on other departments and I'll skip others.claim

02:07:58Speaker, on Group Forensic Services, this department plays a critical role in combating fraud and corruption. However, the failure to fully implement its recommendation is deeply concerning and undermines its mandate. This requires an urgent intervention to ensure accountability and improve governance. On Group Governance, we commend the completion of governance oversightclaim

02:08:29across all 13 entities and timely appointment of governance structures. The department's clean audit records and 98% invoice payment that reflects strong financial discipline. Nevertheless, the operating budget at 120% of the year-to-dateclaim

02:08:59budget is unsustainable, and high vacancy rate, particularly in strategic positions, delays the report submission and infrastructure challenges. Threaten the effectiveness of oversight and must be urgently addressed. On Group Legal, we acknowledge the achievement of out of 14 KPIs to 12 KPIs,claim

02:09:28and we commend the strong performance in legal advisory, contract management, and legislative compliance, disciplinary process, and at 99.7% prosecution success in municipality courts. However, a vacancy rate of nearly 48% is unattainable and exposes the city to legal and financial risk. Delay in payments of legal invoices and compliance

02:10:00of city of accommodation and the failure to achieve unqualified audit due to contingency liability are a serious concern, and the implementation of the integrated legal management system must be prioritized. On Group Risk and Assurance, we welcome the overall performance of 91%.

02:10:33Commend the continued progress under the Operation Clean Audit. The regularization of write-off of 4.5 billion signals decisive action in addressing historical challenges. The strengthening of probity advisory service and rollout of integrated assurance software are important milestones.

02:11:03However, a 60% vacancy rate significantly undermines the department effectiveness, as it delays from the bid committee and the payment process. This issue must be addressed urgently. On Group Strategy and Policy Coordination, department achieved performance targets is noted.

02:11:30Progress in integrated planning, ward priority collection, intergovernmental collaboration, and resolving Auditor-General's finding is commendable. Concern remains regarding the operating expenditure budget, zero capital expenditure, and delays in key coordination processes, such as Mayoral Lekgotla, IGR nomination, DDM One Plan. These delays undermine the strategic alignment and the planning.

02:12:04On the Office of the Chief Operating Officer, achievement of 63.15% its target indicates progress, but also significant underperformance. We commend the achievement in infrastructure capital, PPP, development of Smart City initiative, inner-city regeneration, and recognition work of Engineering Centre of Excellence. However, underperformance in

02:12:36repairs and maintenance, with only 39% of the budget spent in the mid-year, is a serious service delivery failure. Weak revenue generation and delay in capital project preparation further threaten the financial sustainability. While the absence of unauthorized, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure is welcome,

02:13:06broader risks relate to financial sustainability, aging infrastructure, slow innovation integration, must be addressed decisively. But Speaker, in all these departments, KPIs, whatever that they've reached, doesn't reflect the service delivery on the ground. And we are urging the council to look at their KPIs so that service delivery can be seen on the ground, just because residents cannot

02:13:40only rely on us by making these speeches. Remember, as council and administration, we have signed a contract with residents based on service delivery. Our people want to see the reality, and that's the language that they understand. By so saying, Speaker, I note the report. Thank you.

02:13:59Thank you, Councillor Mokwena. Deputy Mayor Masuku.

02:14:07Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. All the concerns are noted and truly appreciated. We ask council to note the report.

02:14:15Thank you so much, Deputy Mayor. Member in charge. Chair Magwentshu.

02:14:22Thank you, Speaker. I ask council to note the report. Thank you.

02:14:26Thank you so much. Recommendations on pages 28.19 and 29.10. Are the items agreed to? Thank you.

Item 63: Executive Head for Social Development appointment debate

02:14:40We're now on item 62, which is the performance assessment report for [no speech]

02:15:00Sorry. Apologies, Councillors. Item 63 is the recruitment and appointment process of the Executive Head for Social Development.

02:15:12Thank you so much. You're only human, SDC. ACDP Councillor C. Rohlssen.

02:15:22Thank you very much, Honourable Speaker. I greet you all in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Greetings to you, Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor, Deputy Executive Mayor, MMCs, councillors, distinguished guests, and the residents of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, I rise on item 63, and now my computer has shut down.

02:15:52Apologies, Madam Speaker, this is not fair. Madam Speaker, I rise on item 63, the recruitment and appointment process of the Executive Head of Social Development. Madam Speaker, the ACDP supports the recruitment and appointment of the Executive Head of Social Development. We hope that the assessment panel has made the right decision. The ACDP furthermore hopes

02:16:22that this process has not facilitated cadre deployment, but is based on merit, experience, and expertise. We wish Mr. Lebea all the best and every blessing pending the due diligence by the City Manager and his team, and the acceptance of the contract.

02:16:52God bless the sovereign state of Israel. God bless South Africa. I thank you.

02:16:59Thank you, Councillor. Councillor D. Foley.

02:17:09It's pronounced Foley, Speaker, but that's fine.

02:17:12Apologies, Councillor Foley. Thank you.

02:17:14Yes, thank you very much. Madam Speaker, members of council, the residents of Joburg, all protocol observed. Good day to you all. I, Councillor David Foley, rise on item 63, which we are currently busy with. Speaker, please note the Democratic Alliance reject this selection process and appointment outright. We base this on the following. The panel interviews were held on the 9th of December 2025 at Sappi Building, 48 Ameshoff Street, 8th floor, Braamfontein.claim

02:17:45The third panel member listed as the external expert was Mr. Lesiba Arnold Malotana. In a press statement in July, on the 29th of July 2024, the Democratic Alliance, a member of the Provincial Legislature, Jack Bloom, wrote to the Public Protector requesting an urgent investigation into the suspicious appointment of Mr. Arnold Lesiba Malotana as the head of the Gauteng Health Department. Mr. Bloom stated he was concerned about the serious allegations regarding Malotana'sclaim

02:18:16involvement in corrupt activities. The Special Investigating Unit is reportedly investigating him and two other senior officials for their hand in a tender rigging scheme through which they allegedly scored millions of rands in kickbacks. Another allegation was that Malotana did not possess the necessary master's degree for the position at the time of his application, and his appointment was postponed until he obtained it. Mr. Malotana is criticized in the Public Protector's report for the irregularclaim

02:18:46appointment of Dr. Ashley Mthunzi as the CEO of Tembisa Hospital. He is said to have ignored material discrepancies and rubber-stamped Mthunzi's appointment. We all know the massive corruption and looting at the Tembisa Hospital currently being investigated. On the 14th of October 2025, the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, suspended head of Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness, Lesiba Arnold Malotana, with immediate effect, and the Democratic Alliance in Gauteng called for his axing. This is approximatelyclaim

02:19:16two months before he was part of the selection panel. How can this happen in the City of Joburg, a world-class African city? This is certainly not world-class in any way. We recommend the whole interview process be started from scratch, with new panel members vetted to ensure they are clear of any potential allegations, but I guess that will be difficult with the cloud that hangs over the cadre deployments across the country. We reserve our rights going forward on this item. My fellow councillors will elaborate on the candidate details. One thing is for sure, this will never happen under the mayorship of Helen Zille. Change is critical

02:19:49for the City of Joburg. End of 2026, 2027 is the year of DA governing with a majority. Ensure you are registered so you can vote out a failing government and vote DA on both ballots, the councillor and the party ballot, to take Joburg forward. I thank you, Speaker.

02:20:05Thank you, Councillor Foley. ActionSA Councillor A. Chuma.

02:20:16XitsongaSpeaker, ndzi pfumeleleni ndzi xeweta vakhanselara va ActionSA.

02:20:24ActionSA cannot support item 63, and we do so deliberately and firmly on the basis of the principles on governance of accountability.

02:20:36XitsongaNdza khensa.

02:20:39Thank you, Councillor Chuma. DA Councillor B. Jacobs.

02:20:53Executive Mayor, Madam Speaker, fellow councillors, especially officials, all protocol observed. I rise to speak on item 63. We wish to formally object to the recommendation before council regarding the appointment of the Executive Head for Social Development. Madam Speaker, let me be clear. This objection is not about any individual. It is about governance, fairness, and the credibility of the recruitment

02:21:23processes within the City of Johannesburg. The Social Development portfolio is not merely administrative. It oversees statutory social services for vulnerable communities and specialized development programs. The vacancy circular dated the 31st of October 2025 clearly requires a degree in social science, social work, or related field at NQF levelclaim

02:21:55seven, together with 12 years' experience, including five years at senior management level. However, the recommended candidate does not appear to hold a qualification in social development or social work, while other shortlisted candidates do. Council must therefore ask what definition of a relevant degree was applied during the shortlisting, and was the standard applied consistentlyclaim

02:22:25across all candidates? On experience, this report reflects candidate number two clearly has eight years senior management experience, while the recommended candidate's managerial experience remains vague. In addition, only the CV of the recommended candidate has been attached to the report. This does not align with good governance practice. Council cannot properly compare merit,claim

02:22:56assess fairness, or verify compliance without sight of all shortlisted candidates' credentials. Why were the other CVs not provided to enable an informed and transparent decision? The report further states that if the recommended candidate does not take up the post, the position must be re-advertised. However, there were four interviewed candidates. Three performed satisfactorily,

02:23:25and one ranked second with experience and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. On what basis does the panel propose a re-advertisement instead of considering the next ranked candidate? This creates the impression of a single-candidate process, which raises concerns. This is a clear procedural irregularity and does not meet governance, audit, or legal compliance standards.

02:23:55For these reasons, the Democratic Alliance has no alternative but to reject this report in its entirety and reserves its rights pertaining to this item. We remain committed to fairness, transparency, and an equal opportunity for all officials and residents in the City of Johannesburg. Approving this in council today says to our officials, "We do not care about your hard work. We do not care about your experience,

02:24:29but we will approve this because we approve political connections." I urge this council not to approve this report and consider our officials. Thank you.

02:24:44Thank you, Councillor. Councillor S. Nguse from the African National Congress. Is Councillor Nguse here? Oh, there you are.

02:25:01Yes, I am here, Speaker. Speaker, let me just rise on the established protocol. Speaker, we have read and understood the report as the African National Congress. However, we want to convey clear message to the administration that before everything is properly concluded, a proper due

02:25:31diligence must be conducted. However, we approve the report.

02:25:45MMC Zungu.

02:25:51Greetings, Speaker. Greetings to the Executive Mayor, greetings to the MMCs, greetings to the Chief Whip of Council, Chair of Chairs, fellow councillors, and guests. Speaker, we have noted all the comments, but however, it must be noted that some of the comments may at some point be misleading.claim

02:26:23I just want to state that in actual fact, it was five candidates that were shortlisted, not four. This position was advertised, Speaker, internally and externally, receiving 97 applications, and all of whom attended interviews by the approved selection panel. Therefore, council is requested, Speaker, to approve this appointment of Mr. Lebea, and he's duly qualified, Speaker.claim

02:26:54He holds a BA degree in Social Science, and I fail to understand that whenever, especially when it comes to black professionals, there's always this narrative that they are either not qualified or maybe they are thieves. It's just incorrect. I feel that I don't believe I don't I've never heard any

02:27:19Can you please take your seat, MMC?

02:27:20Okay.

02:27:22Councillor Belinda.

02:27:24Madam Speaker, I'd like to call a point of order on the MMC, with due respect. Firstly, he's misleading the house. He's talking about the fact that when it's

02:27:34What's the point of order?

02:27:35My point of order is that he's misleading the house. He talks about only black candidates. How many of those candidates are black? Are their races

02:27:49Colleagues, colleagues, colleagues. MMC, please continue.

02:27:56Thanks, Speaker. I'm not going to debate Councillor Echeozonjoku, but the fact remains, Speaker, that whenever our black brothers are trying to rise, there's always this one person who wants to put them down. Speaker, I believe that the appointment of Mr. Lebea

02:28:18Councillor, can you take your seat, please? Councillor Jacobs.

02:28:28Thank you, Speaker. Once again, I'd just like to reiterate, the honourable MMC is misleading the house. The matter is not about the candidate, but it's about the procedural deficiencies within the system and cadre deployment.

02:28:46MMC, can you continue?

02:28:50Well, Speaker, that's not a point of order, Speaker. Speaker, maybe just to not waste time, I will request this house to approve the report, Speaker. Thank you.

Item 63: vote and DA objection

02:28:59Thank you, MMC. Colleagues, the recommendations as on page 63.8. Is the item agreed to? [no speech]

02:29:36I'm going to put it again. Oh, colleagues, please. Please, colleagues. Can I restart? But please don't play in my mouth.

02:30:01The recommendations is on page 63.8. Is the item agreed to?

02:30:40The students are watching you. They are watching you, colleagues. There's no clear indication who has it. There's no clear indication who has it.

02:31:13Those who abstain, can we see? There is one at the back that abstains. ACDP abstains. Can you help me count please? Oh, they're counting. They've got abstain. Those who says no?

02:31:42isiZuluAi, why ingasebenzi?

02:31:45Speaker, can you please ring the bell?

02:31:51isiZuluUkuthi maningiphakamisisa bathi ngiphakamisa nabo.

02:31:57The voting process has started. I asked this morning that we are disciplined. We are having small caucuses outside without asking to have a caucus. We are ill-disciplined.

02:32:28And if you have just walked in, please don't lift your hand. Please don't lift your hand. You have no right to vote cuz you were outside. We are so ill-disciplined as public reps.

02:32:55Speaker. Speaker.

02:33:00Councillor Dladla, we are busy voting. Councillor Dladla, we are voting.

02:33:15Mposula is raising her hand and he just came in now. Your ruling is that those who

02:33:50Can you lower your hands? Can you lower your hands? Can you please lower your hands?

02:34:34Can the yeses raise their hands?

02:36:39You can lower your hands, colleagues.

02:37:20Okay, the people that abstained was two. Colleagues, those that those that said no was 85, and those who said yes, it's 107. The item is carried.

02:37:57Councillor Niemand.

02:38:01Yeah, thank you, Speaker. In terms of rule 84, please note the DA's opposition to this item and we reserve our rights. Thank you very much.

02:38:13Thank you so much, Councillor Niemand. Can we go back to our agenda?

Items 1-4: Community Development, City Parks and Zoo, Joburg City Theatres tabled

02:38:21Councillors, back to item one. Item one is the Performance Assessment Report for the Community Development Department for the 2025-26 financial year for the period October to December 2025.

02:38:35Now, can we see what's happening? An item is called into record, and we all decide to walk out. I think really we should not be complaining if people are not here when we vote. Thank you, STC.

02:38:53Once again, item one is the Performance Assessment Report for the Community Development Department for the 2025-26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, read with item two, which is the Performance Assessment Report for Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo for the 2025-26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, and lastly both items read with item three, which is the Performance Assessment Report for Joburg City Theatres for the 2025-26 financial year for the period October to December 2025.

02:39:27Thank you, STC. Councillor K, uh Member in charge, Councillor J. Mokome, Chair.

02:39:35Thank you, Madam Speaker and good day. Can I uphold the protocols that have been raised by the previous speaker speakers, Madam Speaker. I rise in this house to present items 1, 2, 3, as read into the record by the sec Secretary to Council for consideration. Thank you.

02:40:06Thank you so much um Councillor Mokome. Councillor L. Simonse from the Patriotic Alliance.

02:40:15Greetings, Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor, the Deputy Mayor in absentia, our Whip of Council, Patriotic Alliance Joburg 11, under the capable leadership um of MMC Kenny Kunene in his absentia, fellow councillors, and most importantly, the City of Johannesburg's residents. Um Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on item one to four. While these reports are essential for tracking processes,

02:40:43um they also highlight the equal important issue of shortcomings. Plans may look good on paper, but implementation still remains inconsistent in many areas. And that is where the real challenges lies, not in what we promise, but what we deliver. As the Patriotic Alliance, Madam Speaker, we note this report. Thank you.

02:41:06Thank you, Councillor Simonse. Councillor Munyayi, I'm not sure what those signs are. But I don't need you to get up. Thank you. Councillor Harris is not here.

02:41:23Uh Madam Speaker, I'll be speaking on behalf of Councillor Harris.

02:41:30Councillor, you're fine. You can carry on.

02:41:32Thank you very much.

02:41:33Councillor Mkhonza.

02:41:34Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Um I will I stand to speak on item 1, 2, 3, and 4. Um we already greeted everybody. Um the Community Development Department is one of the gems of the City of Johannesburg. Unfortunately, it is flying under the radar, um doing the bare essentials to get by. The report tick all the boxes,

02:42:03but there is so much left unsaid. One, Region B is arguably the most challenged region, especially the high density areas plagued by a raft of social ills. Yes, programs were offered and this um are not ongoing or geared for maximum impact in the lives of the children and the young um adults at risk. Two, it is a it is good to see 100% of operational library um libraries were open.claim

02:42:34There is no plan to deal with the non-operational libraries. The question is, did LIS really achieve full compliance when so many facilities are closed and the open facilities are crumbling? Percentage spent on repairs and maintenance is wholly inadequate. The target is 8% of operating expenditure. The regression of facilities is appalling. They are looking old and tired. Three, one of the primary mandates of the Joburg Theatre is one, to provide quality,claim

02:43:05well-managed and accessible theatre and live entertainment venues and proactively work to develop new audience and markets. The ACDP argues this department um urges this um department to do more to encourage the pursuit of creative and visual arts as visible career choices. Four, the 6 to 10 October school holiday program hosted in Westbury is simply not enough. A more sustainable plan is needed to draw alongside learners. Five,claim

02:43:35the Creative Native Vintage Motor Show and a um Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude Exhibition at the JAG are indicative of events launched to tick boxes, but not geared to showcasing the depth of facilities Joburg has to offer. Six, the Newclare swimming pool is closed for some time now. It is concerning that there were seemingly no plans to have all pools operational um during the peak um swimming season. Seven and lastly, Madam Speaker,claim

02:44:06the 77% reduction in wasteful and unauthorized expenditure must be commended. The ACDP notes these reports. I thank you.

ActionSA speech and dispute over 'outgoing' remark

02:44:14Thank you, Councillor Mkhonza. Councillor Shumba, ActionSA.

02:44:23Thank you, Speaker. Um greetings to you, Speaker,

02:44:29SetswanaMeyara le deputy ya gagwe ba ba tswang ka kgoro.

02:44:33Eh incoming mayor Herman Mashaba,

02:44:37SetswanaSamtseu re a go lebogisa. Eh Speaker, department ya ComDev e re beile

02:44:43Can you take your seat please, Councillor? Councillor. Thank thank you very much eh Speaker. Earlier on you ruled that eh one of the councillors to withdraw when eh they said the outgoing Executive Mayor. Now, she's repeating that in Setswana saying the Mayor and the Deputy Executive Mayor are outgoing. May she kindly withdraw unconditionally? Thank you very much.

02:45:15Councillor Shumba. Councillor Shumba.

02:45:19Speaker.

02:45:20You maybe you purposely did it in the language that you did it cuz I would not understand. Can you withdraw? There's no one that's outgoing. We are all outgoing. We are all going, so stop with that one. Stop that one. I've ruled and I'm not taking hands. I have ruled and I'm not taking hands. So withdraw, please.

02:45:48Can you withdraw?

02:45:50I with Speaker, it's fine. Speaker, it's fine, I can withdraw

02:45:55Setswanamara ke yo meyara o tswa ka kgoro, wa tswa o ya ko ntle.

02:46:08Councillor, I don't know what kgoro kgoro was, but withdraw. Withdraw and finish. Withdraw. Withdraw unconditionally so that we can carry on.

02:46:26AfrikaansEk weet nie wat het jy gesê nie, so kan jy aangaan asseblief?

02:46:33Can we please look at her mic? No, can we please look at her mic?

02:46:38Thank you, Speaker.

02:46:39SetswanaNe ke ra

02:46:40I just meant he's walking out. He was walking out,

02:46:42No, don't mislead the house. Don't mislead the house.

02:46:43but it's fine. I reserve it to I withdraw, Speaker.

02:46:49SetswanaMeyara ga tswi ka kgoro.

02:46:50I withdraw.

02:46:51Carry on with your speech.

02:46:52Thank you. As I said, Speaker, the department

02:46:57Setswanae re peintetse senepe se sentle.

02:47:0095.8% performance, over 3.2 million residents reached and more than a thousand jobs created.

02:47:06SetswanaJaaka ke buile, ke senepe fela se sentle.

02:47:09Programs across sports, recreation, arts and uh libraries are active and communities are benefiting. That is important.

02:47:16SetswanaRe a ba lebogisa ga go tshwane.

02:47:19But Speaker, performance must be tested against governance,

02:47:22Setswanamatlhodi a tshamekang mo gotlhe mo lefatsheng,

02:47:26and credibility because activities alone is not enough. Let me start by um Joburg City Theatres. The entity achieved around 94% of its targets, exceeding key indicators such as attendance, youth participation, and SMME support. This shows that the entity is capable of delivering programs that reach people. However, there is a serious governance concern. The report confirms that there has been no reduction in irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure despite a clear target to reduce it.

02:48:01SetswanaAkere ke buile gore senepe se kase se tshwantshiwa fela ka iPhone 17, ga se na boleng.

02:48:07Eh Speaker, can I be protected? Turning to Johannesburg City Zoo um City Parks and Zoo,

02:48:16Colleagues, can we stop? Can we stop, colleagues?

02:48:19SetswanaKe a leboga, Speaker.

02:48:20The entity reports a 93% per

02:48:28SetswanaO tima.

02:48:29Can you speak into the mic?

02:48:31Thank you, Speaker. I will do so. The entity reports a 93% performance achievement, but the issue here is not just performance, it is credibility. Only 53% required reporting information was submitted, and institutional compliance is at 67%.

02:48:48SetswanaLa e utlwa motswakwa ga ke e bua ka Sekgoa ka gore ka Setswana la lwala?

02:48:52This weakens oversight and This weakens oversight and raises

02:48:58Colleagues. Can you take your seat, Councillor? Chairperson of eth of Rules. Can you switch off your mic?

02:49:17Eh Chair, eh Speaker, you indicated to us this morning that we have students from the University of Johannesburg.

02:49:33And you see, Speaker, the other thing is that eh you see if we don't respect the decorum of this house, now tomorrow you'll want to speak and people are not going to respect you. Now I'm saying I'm speaking as a Chair

02:49:48Thank you, Councillor.

02:49:49I'm speaking as a Chairperson of the Rules. There's no point, there's no

02:50:10Can you be seated, Councillor Chair, please? Councillor. Councillor of ActionSA, Shumba. You have two minutes left. Can you carry on? Can you carry on?

02:50:32SetswanaKe a leboga, Speaker. Nna ga ke itse gore tota ke be ke rileng mo bathong mo.

02:50:37Eh the entity reports a 93% performance and achievement. Eh, but the issue here is not just performance, it is credibility. Only 53% of the required reporting information was submitted, and institutional compliance is at 67%,

02:50:52Setswanajaaka tlwaelo.

02:50:54This weakens oversight and raises a fundamental question. Can Council rely on performance that is not fully supported by proper reporting?

02:51:02SetswanaDipalo di a palelwa.

02:51:04Beyond the entities, there are broader financial concerns across the department. Revenue collection remains weak, spending is inconsistent with targets in some areas, and cost pressure, particularly in operation areas, are not being addressed decisively. What we are seeing here, Speaker, is a pattern,

02:51:22Setswanajaaka ke buile gore ke tlwaelo.

02:51:24Delivery is happening, but governance is lagging behind, and that is how institutions begin to fail. Not immediately,

02:51:33Setswanamara e tsaya pitsa ya mpe, ba re

02:51:35Afrikaansbietjie-bietjie maak meer, Speaker.

02:51:37When financial discipline and accountability are not enforced, as ActionSA we do not believe Johannesburg must choose between delivery and governance. That's why

02:51:47SetswanaSamtseu e tlo go nna meyara.

02:51:49We expect both. We expect clean financial management, credibility reporting, and service delivery that is sustainable. We will support this report because there is measurable progress,

02:52:01but we are equally clear that the current approach is not sufficient. And this is why change is necessary, because in 2026 residents will not just be voting on performance figures, they will be voting on whether the city is properly management. Operation Fix Johannesburg is about a new governance that will correct the weaknesses. A governance that um will enforce financial discipline, strengthen oversight and ensure that every report tabled in this Council can be trusted. Register to vote on IEC website and vote ActionSA.

02:52:31SetswanaVoutelang Samtseu, mosimane wa ko Tshwane. O tlo go nna meyara ya mo Gauteng

02:52:48AfrikaansRaadslid, baie dankie vir jou bydrae wat op sekere plekke onverstaanbaar was.

Items 1-4: EFF and ANC contributions

02:52:58Councillor Raholane from the EFF. I hope I didn't dissect your surname. Can you switch off your mic, Councillor?

02:53:10Thank you, Speaker. It's Raholane. In English, it's Regular.

02:53:20Thank you, Speaker. I rise to speak on item number 1, 2, 3, Community Development Department and its entities Mid-Year Performance Report 2025 and 26. Thank you, Speaker. Let me greet the leader of the EFF in Council, Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, the Caucus Whip, Councillor Thabiso Mogapi, fellow councillors, guests in the gallery, and most importantly, the residents of Johannesburg whose lives must improve as a result of the work we do in this Council. Speaker, when we look all these reports together, Community Development, Johannesburg Joburg sorry, Joburg City Theatres, Johannesburg City Parks, what becomes clear is that we are dealing with a department and entities that are functioning, but not transforming the lives of our people at the scale required. Yes, there is activity. Yes, there are programs,

02:54:24but the real question is, are residents feeling the impact? In many communities, the answer is no. Speaker, on the issue of City Parks, residents continue to live in areas where parks are not maintained, grass is overgrown, and public spaces are unsafe. These are not just aesthetic issues. They affect dignity, safety, and quality of life. When parks are neglected,

02:54:53communities lose safe spaces for children, for recreation, and for social life. On Joburg City Theatres, we are seeing an institution that is struggling to attract audience and generate revenue. Theatres are not reaching the working class communities of Johannesburg. They remain largely disconnected from townships and young people who should be who should be the future of the creative economy. This means infrastructure is underutilized while communities remain excluded.

02:55:25Speaker, across the department, another major concern is how performance is measured. There is too much focus on activities and compliances, and not enough focus on the real impact. We are told how many programs are implemented, but how many lives are changed? The EFF has always been clear, government must not measure success by reports, but by the lived experience of the people. Speaker, there are clear steps that must be taken to close these gaps.

02:55:56Firstly, the department must strengthen community-based programs, ensuring that services and cultural activities reach townships and underserved communities. Secondly, secondly, entities like City Parks must improve maintenance planning and responsiveness so that public spaces are safe, clean, and usable.

02:56:1950 seconds, Councillor.

02:56:20Thirdly, Joburg City Theatres must com Joburg City Theatres must implement a strong audience development strategies including taking theatre into communities and supporting local artists. Fourthly, performance indicators must be changed to focus on impact, not just activity. We must measure who's being reached, not just what is being done. Speaker, at the center of all this is principle. Public resources must serve the people. If parks are not maintained, if theatres are not accessible, and if programs are not reaching communities, then we are not fulfilling mandate. The residents of Johannesburg deserve a Community Development Department that is not only active,

02:57:05but visible, impactful, and responsive to their daily realities. That is the standard we must insist

02:57:17Thank you so much, Councillor. Councillor Mashinini from the African National Congress.

02:57:32No, thank you, Speaker. Uh greetings to the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor in absentia and all councillors in the house. I think firstly I must just correct one of my councillors who talked about the Mayor of Gauteng. There's no mayor in Gauteng of Mayor of Gauteng, it's a Premier. So I think that's one of the things we need to do. Uh the one of the things that we've seen there here, Speaker, is um we've seen improvement of 95%, 95.8% improvement, which is something thatclaim

02:58:01Speaker, can I be protected, Speaker? There are people who are making noise.claim

02:58:07Colleagues, it's your own councillor.

02:58:12Okay. So there's a there's an improvement of 95% or 95.8% of people who are going to the libraries and the museums. Uh but Speaker, one of the things that we need to highlight in these things is we are seeing a lot of that on paper, but in reality and the lived experience of the people, it's not really happening. We are seeing these numbers. I think the MMC we just need to go when we are doing our oversight to check those things in real time, cuz most of the services that they claim that they are happening, we even sometimes question the our flagship parks, cuz they say that they are flagship parks, but when you arrive there, it's just a recipe for disaster, which we need to assist, cuz we know that there are challenges, whether many challenges. We've seen again there are challenges, they're not problems, it's something that can be resolved in this time. Uh we are seeing that 18,000 trees have been planted trying to combat uh the global warming that is happening, 1,000 jobs are created. We need to give credit where it's due. Uhclaim

02:59:13however, I think one of the things that we I am hoping is one day to read the report and not come with however, cuz there are many good things that are happening, but there's many challenges that keep coming back and we are not dealing with that the way we should be dealing with. The African National Congress, the African National Congress firmly believes in the entities such as City Parks, City Parks and Zoo into uh City Parks and Zoo are central on building the livelihood and inclusive and environmental sustainable city. For the vision to realize, a performance must not only be reflected in reports, but be visible and tangible in our communities.claim

03:00:00Item 3. Uh, 95, it's 94% overall achievement in uh, 95%, 95, 94% uh, overall achievement in a clean audit track record of uh, surplus of 2.4, 2.5 million, uh, 2.4, 2.5 million. The programmes that Arts Alive, the school outreach initiatives and the major productions that ensured that the theatre remains accessible to the communities,

03:00:30not just the entertainment, but a tool for the education and the nation, national building. Speaker, uh, when we're speaking about the theatre in ComDev, it's one of the most performing ones, but I think we need to replicate this in all departments that are there. Cause it's not nice seeing only one, every time when we are reading this, we are only seeing one, and it's a challenge for all of us that we are seeing that the department is not performing the way we think it should be performing. Cause there are improvements

03:00:59since the, within the time that we're speaking about. But we need to see a lot of things happening in real time, and we need to be coming back, cause we know that when people see spaces that the grass is not cut, the public open spaces are dirty, it becomes an opportunity for some who dream about expropriating the land that belongs to the city. So we need to cut that, cut the cheques, cut those things and try to improve in the security, cause most of the departments and facilities owned by the city

03:01:28uh, of, uh, city and ComDev are under threat, cause there's a lack of security that is happening there. And we need to be looking at that. And, Speaker, I think we are going, we are, there's a turning point, we are seeing improvement from the last report that we saw at this time last year. So there's something that is happening. So I think we are driving to the right direction. We know that a lot of people will be standing up and trying to do some electioneering, not reading the reports to the latter,

03:01:58but I think if we work, if we work hard and continue like this, the MMC is on the right track, and I think we are working so hard, the Community Development Section 79 Committee is putting pressure, and with the pressure that they're putting, it's noticeable. And I think next time when we are coming through, there won't be a however, we'll be talking about the positives that people can see, cause ComDev is one department that you are able to see the changes that are happening in real time. Thank you, Speaker.

Items 1-4: MMC and member-in-charge responses; items agreed

03:02:24Thank you, Councillor Mashinini. Can we have the MMC of ComDev, uh MMC Amad?

03:02:34Thank you, thank you, Speaker. Uh good morning, Executive Mayor, the Chief Whip of Council, Chair of Chairs, uh Councillors, and the residents of the City of Johannesburg. Uh I was still waiting for uMazibuko, cause he's very passionate about what's happening in the department. So I don't see his name here. Mazibuko, you know that uh

03:02:57isiZuluabantu abafake izibuko

03:02:59they have a different way of seeing things. Um, sometimes

03:03:06isiZulubabonela izinto, khona ababonela kude, sometimes khona ababonela eduze.

03:03:11SepediAkere, Matšhoro?

03:03:12So it depends on how you interpret the report. However, uh the department has done a commendable work, um and we have noted the concerns from the councillors. Uh it's an area of development from our side, we will ensure that uh we sanction that. So I would like Council to note the report. Thank you, Speaker.

03:03:38Thank you, MMC. Um, member in charge, Chair Makome.

03:03:46Uh, thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, indeed, Madam Speaker, next time we won't be having the however cliché. Indeed, the Community Development is a stellar department, Madam Speaker, high-performing department. And with all things being considered, Madam Speaker, we don't need the cacophony,

03:04:15the pandemonium that we have endured during the presentations by earlier speakers. And from that end, Madam Speaker, we'll keep this flagship department running. I therefore recommend that Council approves, notes and approves the report. Thank you.

03:04:39Thank you, member in charge. Colleagues, the recommendations. Colleagues, the recommendations are on pages 1.36, 2.14, 3.20, and 4.20. Are the items agreed to?

03:04:59Agreed.

03:05:00Thank you so much. STC.

Items 5-6: Group Corporate and Shared Services introduced

03:05:05We now proceed with Item 5, and that is the Performance Assessment Report uh for the Group Corporate and Shared Services Department for the 2025/26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, read with Item 6, and that's the Oversight Report of the Section 79 Corporate and Shared Services Committee on the 2025/26 second quarter budget and performance assessment report of Group Corporate Shared Services for period October to December 2025.

Items 5 and 6: GCSS performance assessment – tabling and party debate

03:05:37Thank you, STC. Uh member in charge, Councillor T. Raphadu. In his absence, is there anybody from the Section 79? Yes, Councillor Nguse.

03:05:54No, thank you, Speaker. Uh I rise to table Item number 5, Item number 6, uh as read by the Secretary to Council. Thank you very much.

03:06:07Thank you, Councillor Nguse. From the PA, Councillor Z. May.

03:06:14Greetings, Madam Speaker, Executive Mayor, PA Caucus Leader, MMC Kenny Kunene in his absentia, esteemed guests, and most of all, our residents watching. Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Alliance notes this report with great concerns. Thank you.

03:06:38Thank you so much. Um, the IFP, Councillor D. Manganyi.

03:06:47Madam Speaker, allow me to stand on the protocol observed. I rise to speak on behalf of the IFP on Item 5 and 6. Speaker, the report before us shows that the city has achieved 87% performance in the second quarter. While this may appear positive, the IFP is concerned that this performance has declined from the previous quarter, and most importantly, does not fully reflect the realities on the ground. We acknowledge areas where the city is doing well.claim

03:07:17Labour stability has improved, vacancy rates are under control, disciplinary processes are functioning, and there are no audit findings. These are the important indicators of stable administration. However, Madam Speaker, stability alone is not enough. There are serious concerns regarding performance. The organisational redesign has stalled, not due to complexity, but due to delays in payment. Occupational health and safety compliance remains poor,

03:07:47putting workers at risk. There are ongoing delays in digitization and system modernisations. Skills development efforts are based on outdated assessments. There are early warning signs in financial management, including irregular and wasteful expenditure. These issues point a gap between what is reported and what is actually being delivered. Madam Speaker, the IFP believes that the city is administratively stable,

03:08:16but operationally underperforming. If these challenges are not addressed urgently, this decline in performance will continue. The IFP therefore calls for stronger accountability for non-performance, urgent improvement in health and safety compliance, acceleration of key reforms, especially, here is this word again, digitization, and a clear shift towards performance that is measured by real outcomes, not just reports.

03:08:45Madam Speaker, the people of Johannesburg expect a city that works, not only on paper, but in practice. The IFP supports the noting of this report, but calls for urgent corrective action to improve improvements. Ndolivhuwa, Speaker.

03:09:00Thank you so much, Councillor. Councillor D. Foley from the Foley, from the DA.

03:09:10That's it, Speaker.

03:09:11Foley, Foley.

03:09:15You got that right. Madam Speaker, members of Council, residents of Joburg, all protocol observed, good day to you all. Um, this is Item 5, the performance assessment on the GCSS team. Here are some of the important facts in relation to the report. The institutional review update. Uh, the transaction advisor who was appointed in January '25 was not paid, and as a result, the project stalled in September 2025. Um, I'm not sure if payment has been made yet for the project to continue.

03:09:45I'm sure the MMC can advise. Under the section health, safe and secure working environment, some departments reported as non-applicable under physical compliance. Reasons were not provided, for example, Group Legal and Contracts, Executive Mayor, and GCSS. If your building is broken, I guess it's not applicable. Change is coming. Economic Development building reported a 23% systems compliance and 24%

03:10:15physical compliance. Should staff even be using the building, you know? Reported deviations continue to reflect the detachment of senior management from ensuring compliance. Do the officials even care about their staff? Change is coming. Um, as far as the disabling incident frequency rate, it ranged from 2,654 to 3,196 in quarter two. So highest disabling injuries were in JMPD, Joburg Water, and Health.claim

03:10:47Others were in Community Development, JRA, City Power, and JOSCO. That is a lot of injured staff per quarter. What is actually going on? Um, skill development and interventions. The recovery of the Skills Development Levy has an annual target. In the second quarter, rebates were received, approximately 9 million. There was a 14%, 14.5% achievement of the implementation of skills audit interventions for the employee level 7 and 8claim

03:11:16against a target of 55%. Um, and of course, we've asked these questions, and the committee awaits a response to this. In the first quarter, memoranda were circulated to heads of departments on the revision of the disability quota from 2% to 3% on consultative meetings on people with disabilities representation in the workforce, as well as an memorandum to address gender parity at top management level. With the 2% not achieved previously, I doubt the 3% will be achieved.

03:11:46GCSS, luckily, as a department is leading with a 3.3% achievement. Right, concerns as a summary here: the city's poor compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, despite that it's a KPI on the scorecards of heads of departments; reported non-compliance of user departments in implementing SLAs, Service Level Agreements. This was pronounced as delays in the call, in payment of Telkom, as well as delays in the payment of the transaction advisor

03:12:15in the institutional review. Delays in the digitization of HR processes and the records management system by Group ICT. Um, this is critical to effective staff management. And then, of course, delayed implementation of interventions from the skills audit that was conducted in 2018. Are these interventions still relevant for the current needs to the, of the organisation is a question that may be asked. A point to mention is that the Chairperson of the Section 79 Committee

03:12:46on the 3rd of March 2026 was not available for the in-committee meeting or the main Section 79 GCSS monthly meeting. Many attempts were made to contact the Chairperson, to no avail. I then volunteered, as agreed by the legal representative and the other councillors, to continue with both meetings, else there would be no points uh or no items for GCSS this week, well, this month, sorry. Similarly, in the same meeting, is that the GCSS

03:13:16MMC, who was signed on twice in the meeting, online it was, when I requested to engage with a query, he did not respond. This means the MMC was logged on, but not really participating, which is very concerning. Joburg deserves better, which will happen if you register from now until June the 20th, 21st before the election is proclaimed, so that you can vote DA, Democratic Alliance, with Helen Zille becoming the mayor. Both ballots for the councillor and the party ballot must be marked DA!

03:13:45We are tired of non-effectual management and with no consequence management. I thank you, Speaker.

03:13:51Thank you, Councillor. Councillor J. Sondag from ActionSA.

03:14:07Uh, Madam Speaker, fabulous 44 councillors of ActionSA, esteemed guests in the gallery, all protocol observed. I rise to speak on Item 5 and 6. Madam Speaker, the report must not only be received, but it must also be confronted with honesty. An overall performance of 87%, with 13 out of 15 KPIs achieved, may appear acceptable on the surface,claim

03:14:37but when we compare it to the 93% achieved in quarter one, it becomes clear that the city is moving in the wrong direction. 6% decline is not just a number. It is a warning sign, and we cannot afford to ignore warning signs. The regression in performance is not accidental. It is the result of avoidable failures.claim

03:15:05Madam Speaker, the delay in the organisational redesign is deeply concerning. A critical reform process has been brought to a standstill, not because of complexity, but because the city has failed to meet its own financial obligation. This is not just an administrative issue. It is a failure of governance and accountability. The continued rise in the disabling incident frequency rate isclaim

03:15:35unacceptable. Workers in this city are being exposed to unsafe conditions, while those responsible for enforcing compliance are failing to act decisively. Occupational health and safety is not optional. It is a legal, moral obligation. Madam Speaker, this financial performance in our city paints a serious, troubled picture.claim

03:16:04The department has only received 35.88% of its year-to-date revenue. This is not a minor shortfall. It is a serious underperformance driven by failures in Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases, COID, billing. At the same time, expenditure sits at 34.81%, presenting a misleading picture of control. ActionSA would like to be clearclaim

03:16:35on this one: there is nothing efficient about controlling spending while failing to collect what is owed. This is outright mismanagement. Madam Speaker, furthermore, the underspending on corporate printing, alongside proposed 10 million budget cuts, reveals poor planning and weak oversight. The issue before us is clear, Madam Speaker: delayed transformation and stalled reform,

03:17:05ongoing safety risk for workers, weak revenue collection system, poor alignment between budgets and actual needs. These are not technical glitches. They are governance failures. Madam Speaker, it cannot be business as usual. We must act decisively. Firstly, all contractual obligations must be honoured without delay. Service providers cannot be expected to deliver when the city fails to pay.

03:17:36If there are failures, there must be consequence. Secondly, occupational health and safety compliance must be enforced with urgency. Departments that fail to protect workers must be held accountable, firmly and without exception. Thirdly, the collection of revenue must be strengthened immediately. Billing inefficiencies cannot continue to undermine the city's financial position. We must modernise

03:18:08systems, improve accordingly, and close gaps that allow revenue to slip through the cracks. Fourthly, Madam Speaker, if we are serious about becoming a smart city, then we must move beyond talk. Lastly, but not least, budget must reflect reality. Over-budgeting and underspending are symptoms of poor planning, and they weaken public trust.

03:18:37Every cent must be planned properly and spent accordingly. Madam Speaker, the residents of Johannesburg expect a government that delivers and that takes accountability seriously. I thank you.

03:18:50Thank you, Councillor Sondag. Um, Councillor P. Nhlapo from the EFF.

03:19:06Greetings to the Speaker, the Mayor, the EFF Caucus Leader in absentia, the EFF Chief Whip, the MMC of the EFF, and all councillors in the house. Speaker, I rise on Item 5 and 6. As the EFF, we strongly believe to once more pronounce our concern that performance does not match the budget that was approved. Too many targets

03:19:36are not met while money continues to be spent. This shows weak accountability and poor planning. Key services like Human Resources, ICT, and administrative support must work properly, because they affect the whole municipality. When these departments fail, service delivery to our people also fails. We also note the delays in filling critical vacancies and slow progress in improving systems. This cannot continue. Our communities expect a capable

03:20:06and responsive administration. We call for strict consequence management for underperformance, better monitoring of spending, and faster implementation of plans. The city must use public funds wisely. The EFF notes the report. Thank you.

03:20:20Thank you so much, Councillor. Um, Councillor P. Shange from the African National Congress.

03:20:35isiZuluMangibonge, uh Somlomo, ngibingelele, ngiphinde ngibingelele uSodolobha, uMeya, nesekela lakhe, ngibingelele kuWhip nesekela lakhe, ngibingelele wonke ama-MMCs, ngibese ngibingelela wonke amakhansela akhona ngaphakathi kulenkundla, kakhulukazi amakhansela akamdala uTambo, inhlangano engisuka kuyona, kakhulukazi amakhansela a-lead-isha ama-wards, uh Speaker, okwamakhansela a-face-ana nobuhlungu ngazo zonke izikhathi.

03:21:11isiZuluNgibingelele kumphakathi wethu waseGoli, ngibingelele kuzihambeli zethu ezikhona la, ngibingelele wonke ama-official we-City of Johannesburg. Ngithathe lelithuba ngibingelele bonke abasebenzi be-City of Johannesburg nama-shop steward ka-SAMWU ngokuphelela kwawo. Speaker, ngifuna ukusho ukuthi

03:21:30as the African National Congress, we see the performance has declined, and we want to make sure that we request from the side of the City Manager to assist in terms of making sure that the departments' managers do comply in terms of health and safety issues. Because if they don't do so, Speaker, we will have many problems. But we are also saying, Speaker, as the African National Congress, as much as we note this report,

03:22:01we request that as councillors, we need to do our work. Remember, for us to receive 6% decline, Speaker, at times it is because of the oversight that we do, we are not doing it properly so that we come back and make sure that this work happens. Our duty is to whip as councillors and make sure that these key performance indicators that are set by ourselves are achievable, Speaker. And if we don't do so,

03:22:31it means we are failing ourselves. And coming here, Speaker, blaming anyone for making sure that contractors are not paid, this is not happening, meanwhile, when the time for budget arrives, people distance themselves from voting for the budget. How must I pay, and who must pay that, from which pocket? As much as we're speaking of collection of the revenue, Speaker, it is our duty as councillors sitting here to stop playing

03:23:01too much politics, but do our work as expected by residents of Johannesburg. Because we are expected, Speaker, as councillors here to make sure that we do represent our constituency more than political parties. Because our political parties are the ones that have sent us here, but people that are voting are people of Johannesburg, not looking at what we are doing in this chamber.

03:23:31Speaker, we are noting, as the African National Congress, that there is a decline, and we are saying in our Section 79 committees, let's go back and do this work and make sure that we achieve moving forward. And, Speaker, we are hoping that the City Manager can play a bigger role in making sure that these managers do perform, they do bring reports that are proper, so that when we sit in the committee, we get also reports that are proper. Speaker, we understand it is 2026,

03:24:02a very silly year, that everybody wants to be seen doing work, meanwhile it's just an issue of pictures, it's just an issue of making noise. But we are saying, as councillors, let's go back to our committees at Section 79 and do our work, and in so doing, we'll make sure that we are saying we are serving the City of Johannesburg residents, because those residents are a priority more than anything. And I want to take this opportunity and thank all colleagues that made sure

03:24:33that the budget is approved, so that we are able to pay these contractors that people are speaking about, but do not care about those contractors. And the African National Congress notes the report, uh Speaker.

Items 5 and 6: MMC response and adoption

03:24:46Thank you, Councillor Shange. MMC Zungu.

03:25:03isiZuluUh Speaker, angibingelele futhi kuwe, ngiphinde ngibingelele uSodolobha waseGoli, nawonke nje amakhansela alomkhandlu waseGoli, Speaker.

03:25:14Speaker, um I have noted all the comments, and specifically maybe, Councillor Foley, I might have maybe missed that moment when you requested a comment from myself. I do attend meetings and I sit in meetings. I respect the committee, and really, I apologise if maybe there was some misunderstanding,claim

03:25:44but I would like to address this maybe outside this meeting. Uh Speaker, this report complies with Section 41 of the Systems Act, which requires regular performance reporting to Council. It is basically a report that outlines overall performance of the department. Between the period of October to December 2025, the department achieved the overall performance of 87%,claim

03:26:15with 13 out of 15 quarterly KPIs achieved, two not achieved, and two annual KPIs. This reflects a slight decline from 93% achieved in quarter one. KPIs not achieved are the implementation of organisational redesign and the disabling incident frequency rate. Rectifying measures have been put in place, Speaker, to address these challenges and improve performance in the next quarter.claim

03:26:47Council is therefore, Speaker, requested to note this report. I therefore ask Council to note this report, Speaker. Thank you.claim

03:26:55Thank you so much, MMC. Member in charge, Councillor Nguse.

03:27:03Thank you, Speaker. Speaker, I think it is critical that we speak the appropriate language in this Council, at least because we have visitors, kids from the University of Johannesburg. I'm raising this, Speaker, precisely because the speaker from the Economic Freedom Fighters greeted the EFF

03:27:33MMC, and we do not have such. And at least the kids must leave here understanding that we only have Members of Mayoral Committee, but we do not have MMCs of political parties when we are in Council. But however, I ask the Council to approve the reports. Thank you.

03:27:55Thank you, member in charge. Colleagues, the recommendations are on page 5.6, 6.8, and 6.9. Are the items agreed to?

03:28:09Agreed.

03:28:11Thank you. STC.

Items 7 to 9: Development Planning and JDA – tabling and first speakers

03:28:13Item 7 is the Performance Assessment Report for the Development Planning Department for the 2025/26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, also read with Item 8, which is the Performance Assessment Report for Johannesburg Development Agency for 2025/26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, and both items lastly read with Item 9, and that's your Oversight Report of the Development Planning Section 79 Committee on the 2025/26

03:28:44second quarter budget and performance assessment report of the Development Planning Department and Johannesburg Development Agency for the period October to December 2025.

03:28:55Thank you so much, STC. Member in charge, uh Chair Kaldine.

03:29:04Thank you, Madam Speaker. Speaker, I rise to table Item 7, Performance Assessment Report for the Department of Development Planning; Item 8, Performance Assessment Report for the Johannesburg Development Agency; Item 9, Oversight Report for the Development Planning Section 79 Committee on the 2025/2026 second quarter budget performance assessment reports for the Department of Development Planning and JDA. Thank you.

03:29:28Thank you, member in charge. ACDP, Councillor N. Mkhonza.

03:29:34Yes, shalom, shalom once again, Madam Speaker. Um, kindly remind me as soon as I hit one and a half minutes, because I have combined these two items, 7 and 8. So as soon as I hit um the halfway, please remind me so that I jump to the next one. Madam Speaker, at the outset, the ACDP wishes to acknowledge and commend the department for achieving an overall performanceclaim

03:30:00is of 84.5 and with all S, SLAs are met during this reporting quarter on the development planning. This reflects a level of commitment and administration capability that must be recognized. However, Madam Speaker, while we commend the performance on paper, our role as council is to interrogateclaim

03:30:27sustainability, efficiency, and impact. In this regard, the ACDP Caucus remains concerned about key financial indicators. The reported figures for operational expenditure at 41%, revenue collection at 35%, and capital expenditure at 47%, present a worrying trend. These figures suggest potential inefficiencies in spending, challenges in revenue generation, and delays our underperformance in capital project implementation.claim

03:30:56If not urgently addressed, Madam Speaker, the weaknesses may undermine the department's ability to translate plans into tangible developmental outcomes for our communities. Furthermore, Madam Speaker, the ISDP, which is intended to integrate systems and significantly enhance analysis, reporting and decision-making for both internal and external stakeholders was officially launched on 28 August 2025.claim

03:31:26Yet to date, members of council have not been able to access or utilize this platform. This concern was raised in the previous quarter without any resolution of feedback, Madam Speaker.claim

03:31:36You have one minute so you can jump to the next one.

03:31:39One minute left. Okay, thank you, Madam Speaker. Then item eight, the JDA,

03:31:51You have 44 seconds left.

03:31:53Yeah, no problem, Madam Speaker, it just jumped, it's fine. That's fine, I'll just summarize, quickly summarize. Okay, the JDA, the ACDP notes with serious concern that JDA continues to underperform, particularly in relation to capital expenditure. For this reporting quarter, Capex performance stands at a mere 37%, reflecting an 8% regression when compared to the same period in the previous financial year.

03:32:20This continued decline is deeply troubling, especially in the absence of clear, credible, and satisfactory mitigating factors from the entity. Capex is not merely a financial metric.

03:32:41I've just done what you've asked me, Councillor. IFP, Councillor M. Nyembe.

03:32:50isiZuluHhayi indlovu isendlini. Angiphinde ngibonge Speaker.

03:32:58I rise to speak on item 7, 8, 9. The purpose of this report is to assess the first quarter performance of the development, development planning department and its related entities. The department has 19 KPIs and has achieved 16 in this quarter. We note that the department increased its performance.claim

03:33:28As we note the improvement in performance, we agree with the committee that the department should submit to the committee a recovery plan to improve grant revenue performance. Also report on the operational process, processes and procedures of the illegal outdoor advertising operation,

03:33:59operations establish, established during the reviewed period.

03:34:06isiZuluSengivala Speaker. Niyabezwa amaqembu abhizi aphikisana ngomeya ozongena nonjani. Ngifuna ukutshela abahlali base City of Johannesburg ukuthi the IFP is a solution and we are more than ready.emotive

03:34:25Thank you, Councillor Nyembe. Can we have Councillor Stewart from the DA?

03:34:47Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to speak on the development planning core department and the JDA. The latest quarterlies have delivered some expected results and we once again find ourselves having to highlight a set of issues that seem to be left in a state of perpetual limbo. Issues that seem

03:35:06Councillor Stewart, just hold on. Legal is just showing me that on my left-hand side at the back there's a lot of movement. And we expect people to listen to us. Please, colleagues, and you don't just come with moving with your feet, but you are also moving with your mouth. So it makes a noise. Thank you, Councillor Stewart. We've stopped your one minute that we took.

03:35:35So I'm starting afresh, Madam Speaker.

03:35:37No, no, no. You can carry on.

03:35:39Okay, thank you, Speaker. I rise to speak on the development planning core department and the JDA. The latest quarterlies have delivered some expected results and we once again find ourselves having to highlight a set of issues that seem to be left in a state of perpetual limbo, issues that seem to be stuffed in a can and kicked down the road repeatedly. As members of the oversight committee, we are left only to wince at the sound of tin clinking on the tarmac. In the DA, we raise these issues repeatedly not to simply score points,

03:36:07points, but because we know that in a matter of months the problems of the department and the city will be ours. We will be the inheritors of the true state of the department and the city, and we have to own the legacy of lethargy, corruption, and indifference. And so it is within that context that I briefly lay down some new points of objective concern regarding the department, and I can only appeal to the MMC and senior officials to take the criticism in the spirit which it is represented.

03:36:34Beginning with the core department, firstly, the LIS and TAS system failures brought statutory planning functions to a standstill for over two months. However, the quarterly report does not reflect that downtime in its reported target achievements, which presents us with undeniable evidence that the practice of copying and pasting whole sections of previous quarterly reports and possibly thumb-sucking other figures is still alive and well. It does not need to be stressed that disinformation in quarterly reports is serious, and it's high time that the MMC and the Executive Director take these matters seriously,

03:37:05so that we as councillors can at least pretend that there is a sense of professional ownership of the reports that are sent to Section 79 and to council. It is on this note that the DA must insist on a stability plan for all of the digital platforms, especially the LIS, TAS, and CPMS systems to be presented to the Section 79 in our next formal sitting. Secondly, in response to questions surrounding actions taken against repeat or habitual offenders in the outdoor advertising industry,

03:37:35we were subjected to an insulting response. In effect, we were nonchalantly told that the outdoor advertising industry is a bit like construction, and if you're currently involved in an illegal development, that does not bar your company from applying for re-zonings or building plans on other properties. Likewise, outdoor advertising, you can be caught erecting numerous illegal billboards, but it has no bearing on your ability to continue to apply for new billboard sites, nor does it tarnish your reputation with the city. Not only is there no credible

03:38:06mechanism in place to rectify illegal unethical operators' behavior, but the department has no inclination or desire to put its thinking cap on or to simply Google what other cities do with regards to illegal billboard operators. Thirdly, the department needs to develop a sense of urgency regarding the planning archives, not only their digitization and safe storage, but access to them as well. Just recently, the MMC's office in response to a formal written question submitted to council requesting access to

03:38:36approved parking plans for a site development stated that they needed to source them from archives. Now, six months later after numerous follow-ups, the parking plans have still not been made available. It shouldn't take more than 48 hours to access these archives. Again, between the MMC and the Executive Director, this doesn't seem to be a matter of any particular importance. It would seem that the decline has now become so pronounced that honoring commitments in official questions to council is considered optional at best. Moving on to the JDA,

03:39:07firstly, the CEO is currently under investigation on a range of charges centered around possible fraud and financial mismanagement. Yes, people are innocent until proven guilty. However, it is both ethical and customary to remove a person under investigation until such time as their name is cleared or they are charged. Not doing this is simply opening up the door for potential interference in an ongoing investigation. The DA urges the department to place the JDA CEO under temporary suspension,

03:39:37with pay, of course, until the investigation has been concluded. Secondly, the broader financial state of the city has forced JDA to mothball a significant number of projects in its pipeline. On the surface of things, this can be blamed entirely on financial necessity, but stripping Capex funding for construction projects is not the straightforward exercise that many people in the city think it is. Projects need to be analyzed in terms of where they are in the pipeline and whether they are the kinds of projects that can be safely mothballed and picked up

03:40:07again at a later stage without needing additional funding or without progress to date being undermined or completely nullified. And this type of approach to stripping the JDA Capex budget has not been universally applied and it leaves councillors on the Section 79 with a strong view that many JDA projects have been defunded in such a way that in subsequent financial years these projects will either have to be started afresh or will require large additional capital to compensate for non-existing site security, neglect, and decay.

03:40:40The above concerns are related to a broader and more systemic concern. In a climate where departments have little capital for projects, they are left only to focus on operational matters and day-to-day service delivery. This should then be an area where the department and the city in general choose to demonstrate their worth. You may not be able to change the Capex situation, but you can compensate by raising your game on operational matters. That's unfortunately hasn't been the case. Rather, the financial state of the city is being used as a crutch or a smokescreen. As DA councillors on the oversight committee,

03:41:10we are increasingly subjected to shoulder shrugging, the passing of the buck, and technically ignorant responses to simple questions. The culture of a lack of individual accountability and consequence management is now in our faces more than ever. The department is on autopilot and the DA finds itself in a precarious situation where we can only attempt to quantify the true nature of the beast that we will have to tame after November this year. The DA would urge both the MMC and the Executive Director of Development Planning to introduce an immediate strategy to salvage the next two financial quarters

03:41:41and beef up the quality of reporting and transparency so that you stand at least some chance of being able to provide the incoming DA administration with a handover that can be delivered with a sense of dignity and professionalism. I thank you.

Items 7 to 9: Rule 30 reminder and further debate

03:41:55Thank you, Councillor Stewart. Before we go to the next speaker, I would ask that we go home and we read, or right now, you are supposed to have your rule book with you. Can we all read Rule 30? All of us, can we read Rule 30 so that we can understand the code of conduct? We are having councillors

03:42:25that are bending over other councillors and that are speaking while we have people that are on the podium. Can we please go and read Rule 30? Councillor, you can't call a point of order on me on that. I'm going to the next councillor. Councillor Mabunda, ActionSA. Rule 30, Rule 30. Councillor Mabunda.

03:42:57SesothoKe Councillor Sehoai, Madam Speaker. Ke emetse Councillor Mabunda. Ha ke lebohe motsamaisi wa mosebetsi,

03:43:13Just hold on, Councillor. MMC Tshwaku and MMC Zungu. Please, please, MMCs, please. Councillor, you can carry on.

03:43:31SesothoKe a leboha, Speaker. Ha ke lebohe motsamaisi wa mosebetsi, ke lebohe basebetsi mmoho le nna, baeti ba rona ba kgethehileng. Nka lebala jwang ba bohlale ba botjabela,

03:43:47the 44 fabulous councillors of ActionSA. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on item seven and eight, but with a strong emphasis on JDA, which is the performance assessment report

03:44:05Councillor, please just hold on. I'll let them keep your time. MMC Tshwaku. Please, MMC. No, no, no. There's time for caucuses. We can ask for a caucus. I'm also a party leader. Councillor, please. Councillor, you can carry on.

03:44:33SesothoKe boele ke phetse hape motsamaisi wa mosebetsi, ke re ke o lebohe, ke lebohe basebetsi mmoho le nna, baeti ba rona ba kgethehileng. Nka lebala jwang ba bohlale ba botjabela,

03:44:43the 44 fabulous councillors of ActionSA. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on item seven and eight, but with a strong emphasis on JDA, which is the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Development Agency for 2025/2026 financial year, for the period of October to December 2025. As ActionSA,

03:45:10one of our priorities to fix Johannesburg, we are saying bring back jobs and investment. Certainly, this cannot happen with a weak and unsustainable JDA. Johannesburg doesn't need more slogans or empty promises. It needs strong leadership, experience, and a clear plan, and that's none other than Operation Fix Johannesburg under Herman Mashaba.

03:45:44Madam Speaker, while we welcome 147 EPWP jobs that were created during this period under review, we believe more could have been done, and a JDA that is working can contribute to more sustainable jobs and everlasting economic development in the city. We are tired of JDA that is always facing budgetary constraints,

03:46:15severe cash flow problems, late payment of invoices leading to the collapse of the SMMEs, and incomplete projects affecting key service delivery areas. We believe this important agency of the city can survive with a complete overhaul, highly skilled personnel, and a new business model.

03:46:44With those words, Madam Speaker, we note this report with concerns

03:46:50Sesothoand we say, ha e ne pula ya Mashaba, ha e ne!

03:46:54Thank you, Councillor. Councillor V. Tefu from the ANC. Councillor V. Tefu. Oh, sorry, sorry, Councillor Mosehla, apologies. Johannes Mosehla.

03:47:24Thank you, Speaker. Greetings to yourself. Greetings to both mayors, the EFF party leader, EFF party whip, EFF deployed MMC Makhafola, EFF deployed MPAC Chair, Sepetlele Raseruthe, EFF Caucus, fellow councillors, Joburgers, UJ students, and

03:47:50the City Manager of the City of Joburg, Dr. Brink. Speaker, as the EFF, we note the reported performance of 84.2% with 16 out of 19 KPIs achieved. This reflects improvement from the previous quarter and it confirms that there is indeed institutional capacity in the department. We further commend the finalization of the long outstanding GISclaim

03:48:20maintenance contract. This is a critical intervention that will enhance spatial planning coordination and data-driven decision-making across the city. We also acknowledge the enforcement action taken against illegal outdoor advertising with 18 structures removed. This is a necessary step in restoring compliance and protecting the integrity of our urban environment. However, Speaker,claim

03:48:50these achievements cannot overshadow the serious governance and operational failures reflected in this report. The prolonged downtime of the LIS/TAS system from mid-September to December represents a collapse of core administrative function. During this period, applications could not be properly processed, tracked, or managed. We must ask, Speaker, who is being held accountable for this failure?claim

03:49:21What is the value of delayed investment during this period, and what measures are in place to ensure that such breakdown never happens again? The introduction of manual process, while necessary, has created a backlog that the department itself admits may result in errors and audit queries. Speaker, this council must not ignore this warning. This is how irregular expenditure and audit findings are born.claim

03:49:50The department has spent only 41% of its budget against 50% target. This underspending attributed to procurement delays and slow invoice processing reflects institutional inefficiency. Speaker, underspending is a failure to deliver services to our people. Even more concerning is the negative expenditure reported under contracted services. This raises serious red flags about financial controls andclaim

03:50:21accounting practices. This council must demand a detailed explanation. We note that the entity achieved 89% of its KPIs in the JDA, which, although commendable, reflects a slight decline from previous year's 93%. We further note the creation of 174 EPWP work opportunities, which is a positive step.claim

03:50:51We must ask whether these workers are going to be insourced in future or not. The entity has spent only 37% of its KPI against 40%. More alarming is the reported operation deficits and extreme escalation in extreme expenses. The report also highlights ongoing cash flow challenges resulting in service providers not being paid within 30 days. Failure to pay service providers on time not only undermines trust,claim

03:51:24it destroys

03:51:31Thank you, Councillor Mosehla. Councillor V. Tefu. Is Councillor Tefu in the house? Thank you.

03:51:46Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

03:51:52isiNdebeleNja, mangilotjhise ngoba umuntu nomuntu unesikhabo vani umuntu alotjhise ngesikhabo, vani sizwe abanye bakhuluma isikhuwa thina simaNdebele. Ngizakuthoma ngokulotjhisa iNgwenyama yekhethu uMabhoko wesithathu sithokoze ngokuthi ingoma iyaphuma unyaka lo ukhulumile umlomo ongathathi amanga wathi bobaba abakhulule abentwana nizibambe ngambili. Sithi Mabhoko esindweni umhlaba unethuli mhlazana kunganathuli kuzakuliwa.emotive

03:52:21isiNdebeleIsigenge eside sakoNomagenge elizipho libuhobobo. Ngumfazi amabele amade owamunyisa abarholi abangaphetjheya kweLigwa neLigwana. Wena Mabhoko owawisa ubukhosi bakoSomtshatshana sele bungamele ngemlanjeni. Ingathana akusi ubukhosi bakoSomtshatshana ngasibukhomba ngemlanjeni ngasibukhomba ngesikhundla. Awohho Mabhoko Ngwenyama. Awohho zinyane likaNyumbabo.emotive

03:52:52Madam Speaker, Whip of Council, Councillor Kazamula Chauke, Chair of Chairs, Councillor Bonani Marema, Executive Mayor, Councillor Dada Sello Morero. I'm not sure if he's still in the house. And the Deputy Executive Mayor, Councillor Loyiso Masuku, members of the Mayoral Committee,

03:53:21visitors in the gallery, residents of the City of Johannesburg, fellow councillors. Madam Speaker, I rise on item seven, eight, and nine, the performance assessment report for the Department of Development Planning for the 2025/2026 financial year, for the period October to December 2025.

03:53:51The performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Development Agency for the 2025/2026 financial year, for the period October to December 2025, as well as the oversight report for the Development Planning Section 79 Committee on the 2025/2026 second quarter budget and performance assessment report of the Development Planning Department and the Johannesburg Development Agency, JDA, for the period October to December 2025.

03:54:25Madam Speaker, the performance summary shows that the department, I mean, the report is part of a scientific method used by the department to measure performance in a comprehensive manner in accordance with relevant legislative framework as indicated herein. We therefore appreciate the correctness of numbers through which we can put scrutiny on both the achievements, as well as the shortcomings by the department in aclaim

03:54:57transparent manner. The performance summary shows that the department has 19 KPIs which are applicable for reporting in the period under review. Out of the 19 KPIs applicable for reporting, 16 KPIs were achieved while three were not achieved, which gives the department an overall percentage of 84.2%. A proportional target of 50%, which the department had initially set for itself,

03:55:27was not achieved on operating expenditure. Instead, only 41% was achieved, and this is attributed to low expenditure on contracted services and general expenses due to delays in the appointment of service providers. This area requires some tightening of bolts and nuts to improve through better results in the future. The Capex performance in quarter two

03:55:56indicates a moderate level of expenditure against planned targets with variations across funding sources. By the end of quarter two, year-to-date expenditure amounted to 18.6 million compared to year-to-date targets of 22.1 million, resulting in an achievement of 42%, which shows a slight underperformance against the initial spending plan, which is another area of concern. On external loans, a budget

03:56:26of 35.7 million was approved, out of which year-to-date expenditure reached 19.1 million, exceeding the target of 17.8 million, thus translating into a performance of 54% with which we are pleased as the committee. We welcome the progress made towards implementing some of the departmental strategic programs responding to city priorities

03:56:57as indicated in the executive summary, which include the following: contribute to climate change commitment, improve customer care services, which is the area that affects most of councillors due to lack of interaction between residents and service providers in a consistent manner. The Smart City Project, the implementation of deprivation areas, under which we take serious noting

03:57:27on the early childhood development centers compliance program, as well as the spaza shop compliance program and the capital project implemented in deprivation areas. And on the spaza shop registration program, we also welcome the turnaround time that which is going to see the process being worked on timeously and dealing with the backlog. Madam Speaker,

03:57:57we do acknowledge challenges that were experienced by the department and its entities during the quarter under review, just as much as we equally take cognizance of the mitigation efforts that the department brought about in response thereto. We encourage them to jack up in fixing the mess that was inherited from the 2016 disaster under Mayor Mashaba and the DA. And as the African National Congress, we approve the report. I thank you.

Items 7 to 9: MMC response and adoption

03:58:29Thank you, Councillor Tefu. MMC Mgcina.

03:58:40Greetings, Madam Speaker, acknowledgements and greetings to the Executive Mayor, to fellow MMCs, to the Chief Whip of Council, the Chair of Chairs, and all councillors that are present in this gathering or in this chamber, residents and guests, I greet you all.

03:59:10I think let me just take this opportunity to thank councillors for the points that they've raised in their submissions and indicate that they are all noted, and we are committed to address concerns that have been raised. And I want to also acknowledge the fact that you are also, councillors, acknowledging the challenges that we are faced with

03:59:40in the department. The issue of the CEO, JDA, I think it's a matter that is in court. The court is very clear on how we approach such matters. I don't think we have to say anything until there is an outcome.

04:00:00of court and then we will take it from there. I think as to other issues that have been raised, we are happy to attend to them, but also happy to provide section 79 with any report that they might want from us as to address the issue of transparency that was raised by Councillor Stewart. Reporting and transparency,

04:00:30we're always willing to respond and give reports when they are needed by section 79. Otherwise, I note all the comments. Thank you.

04:00:39Thank you, MMC Mgcina. Member in charge, Councillor Kaldine.

04:00:48Thank you, Madam Speaker. As the section 79 committee, we request that council note and approve the report. Thank you.

04:00:55Thank you so much. Colleagues, recommendations are on pages 7.6, 8.5, and 9.12. Are the items agreed to?

04:01:05Agreed.

Lunch adjournment

04:01:08Thank you so much, colleagues. We are now going to break for lunch. It is 14:05. We'll be back at 15:05, sharp 15:05. Thank you.

04:01:37Chair of Chairs, and [inaudible].

Youth voter apathy programme: provincial Speaker's closing remarks and housekeeping

04:09:48say Speaker Arnolds you were there with me. Participation of young people was very encouraging here. But we have to follow up on it and I think it's something that we have to share with you going forward to analyze for us and give us your thoughts around that. The second one was at the West Rand Active, Healthy and Responsible Citizens games. The third one was a football weekend held at Westonaria, Simunye Sports Centre. And the fourth one was entertainment courtesy of youth,

04:10:18cultural clap and tap groups, pantsula, sports commentators, praise singers and fine art. As you can see we tried to reach out to young people where they are. But like I said, this is not everything that needs to be done. We still need your thoughts and advice on what else needs to be done. So all these programs have been posted on all social media platforms where our young people are found.

04:10:47I am tempted to ask a question, have you seen any of them? But I will not do that, I'm constrained for time. Today's youth are digital beings and therefore there can be no successful program aimed at targeting them without being posted on social media. We assume, neh? That's the route that I would encourage all stakeholders to follow if we are to

04:11:16turn the corner on the question of youth voter apathy. It's one of the solutions that we think there is, we need more. As I conclude I think we have to start voter education at elementary school. That's something for you to discuss, tell us if we're crazy, if you think we are. Tell us why you say we are crazy, if we shouldn't take it to elementary school. If you think it's a good idea, then give us also ideas on how we can approach it.

04:11:45Should it be part of the curriculum or, I don't know. You will advise us in that regard. So, we are thinking about this because we believe that it can shape the outlook of the children in life whilst they are still young, while they're still in a developmental stage. This may entrench the culture of embracing fundamental democratic principles such as voting. I don't know if anyone of you have ever

04:12:15been exposed to the program that Japan and China has about their elementary school programs. One of the things that they do is to teach their children at that stage from the first three years of their education life, they are taught about their culture, their democracy, the importance of why they have to participate in their government. So I think that's one of the ideas that we need to explore, maybe not necessarily in this meeting because you already have an agenda,

04:12:45but think about it going forward and please give us feedback in that regard. So we believe that this will lessen the burden on us of having to educate the young people, to educate them rather in their teens and early 20s when ideas have already been formulated in their minds. So we know that it's a mammoth task, but it has to be done. So with those few words, I would like to wish you a fruitful engagement. I will be here,

04:13:14watching the proceedings and making a lot of notes, with the idea of coming back to yourselves for further engagement. Thank you very much for the opportunity.

04:13:31Thank you, can you please give our honorable Speaker another round of applause. I think the provincial Speaker touched on some of the most important things that we need to ponder about. The idea of elementary school, the idea of ensuring that we promote active citizenry at an early age. The idea that politics or democracy is not only linked to the ballot. How do we ensure and how do we promote active citizenry outside of election cycles?

04:14:01Those are some of the things that we need to ponder about, those are some of the solutions that need to come out of this room. And I'm glad that the honorable Speaker touched on that as part of setting the tone. I'm just going to, some housekeeping rules. There are name, yeah those things, can you please put them in front of the screen in front of you? Those name in the screen in front of you, those who are seated can you please remove them. Number two, a few housekeeping rules,

04:14:30you are councilors today. Councilor Morero and Councilor Masuku there. So no eating inside the chamber, no taking photos inside the chamber. You will get some of those photo opportunities, but for the full simulation of council, we need to carry ourselves in the way that actual council works. Without further waste of time we are going to call the people who are custodians of local government, the South African Local Government Association, some of you may have heard that. Mr. Abel

Youth voter apathy programme: SALGA and IEC presentations

04:15:00Mahlatse who's the Senior Advisor for Intergovernmental Relations and Governance in the Gauteng Province, to take us through the role of the organization in strengthening municipal governance in the upcoming elections. Can we please give Ntate Mahlatse a huge round of applause.

04:15:30Good morning. Good morning honorable councilors. How are you guys doing today? Good, good, good. Greetings to the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, the Speaker of the Council Chamber, greetings to the Secretary of the City of Johannesburg, greetings to

04:16:00all esteemed guests and most importantly greetings to yourselves as honorable councilors. It is indeed a privilege to be standing here today admiring the energy that young people have and the interest that they have when it comes to learning about issues of governance and oversight when it comes to matters of municipal operations et cetera in the City of Johannesburg.

04:16:30My name is Abel Mahlatse, I'm a Senior Advisor for Governance and Intergovernmental Relations at SALGA for the Gauteng Province. I myself used to be, well I'm an alumni of the University of Johannesburg. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to come here to speak to young people and sort of speak to them about the prospect of the future. Especially coming from university and

04:17:00the fact that government is such a big organization you don't know where to go. And I was very privileged and glad to be here because we were able to prove that there's even opportunities in local government because a lot of young people only know government as being national government. They don't know that there's municipalities, they don't know that there's local government. So I'm here to give a presentation about the role of SALGA when it comes to issues of governance and capacity building

04:17:30with regards to municipality. So SALGA stands for South African Local Government Association, and SALGA was established in 1996, and was officially recognized in 1998 under the Organized Local Government Act. SALGA represents all 257 municipalities in the country. It's basically an organization of municipalities that come together to speak in one voice.

04:18:00We are a schedule 3A public entity and we represent all municipalities in all provinces in South Africa. So SALGA is a voice, a partner and a catalyst for developmental local government. Our core mandate is to represent local government interests, support municipalities in governance and administration, influence policy and legislation to the benefit of municipalities. Remember I said

04:18:30we are the voice of local government. So we make sure that we represent the interests of municipalities and we promote cooperative governance to make sure that other spheres of government, provincial and national government invite us to the table, ask us our opinions, so that we can be able to work together as different spheres of government because we are one government, although we're having different spheres, but it's important that they also listen

04:19:00to local government. Which is very important because the most important sphere of government is local government. Because when you wake up in the morning you switch on your light, electricity, local government. When you open your tap to pour water in your kettle to make coffee, water, municipalities. When you drive out, the road, municipalities.

04:19:30The robot up the road from your house, municipalities. That is why it's very important that there's cooperation between the spheres and local government is invited, so that the closest government to the people, which is local government, is invited and they contribute to the discussions, to the planning and the budgeting of the government as a whole. And like I've indicated we do policy and advocacy

04:20:00for local government, we engage national policy processes, we provide inputs into laws, particularly those that are affecting municipalities, we advocate for the increase of funding for municipalities particularly given the fact that municipalities are the implementing agents of policy and service delivery, given the fact that they are the sphere that's closest to the people. That is why it's very important that funding

04:20:30of municipalities be prioritized because they are the implementing agents of policy. Ourselves as SALGA, we promote the implementation of the Municipal Systems Act, the IGR Framework Act, the Municipal Structures Act, the White Paper on Local Government, the Municipal Finance Management Act, the Public Finance Management Act. So our key role as well is to provide capacity building

04:21:00to municipalities. You know in order to be able to implement legislation and policy you need to be capacitated to be able to do it. So what we do, we provide training, we provide workshops, we undertake seminars, we do research on behalf of municipalities and we generally provide support to municipalities so that they can be able to better implement policy and legislation.

04:21:30You know, it is very important to sort of diversify your source of knowledge and your source of capacity. That is why municipalities such as the City of Johannesburg for an example, they come to us when there's issues to say there's this particular issue, can you please come and support us. Can you please come and provide advice to us in order for us to be able to make the best decision ever.

04:22:00For an example, when it comes to issues of oversight, I specialize on issues of oversight, so in a municipality there's oversight committees. One example is the Municipal Public Accounts Committee. They undertake oversight over council and the executive to make sure that there's ethical governance, there's good governance, and there's good decisions that are being made in the municipality.

04:22:30So we provide capacity in the sense that we remind them of their roles, number one. Number two, we do research on their behalf. For an example, if there's a legislative change, the city comes to us and say, what is the impact going to be on our affairs? So we do research, we provide capacity and advice to say in the interest of good governance and best practice we advise that you take this particular decision.

04:23:00So we basically an advisor, capacity builder of municipalities, a representer of municipalities in order to make sure that local government is as strong as possible to be able to implement policy and legislation in the most effective and efficient manner possible. So I am very privileged to have stood here before you today and I'd like to encourage you to participate. You know when I was

04:23:30your age, we didn't have these platforms. So that's why I'm glad that there's at least change that's taking place to make sure that you learn about governance and how local government operates from a young age. So please do not be shy to express your opinions. As the Speaker of the Provincial Legislature indicated, don't hold back. But do it in a constructive way, in a respectful way so that there's

04:24:00a good outcome out of that. So you're very welcome. I'm very excited to interact with a couple of you, and if you need more information with regards to SALGA, please do not be hesitant to speak to me, I can share more information, I can provide advice to say what are the career prospects et cetera, et cetera. So thank you very much Chairperson, I'm going to end there.

04:24:55Can you please give Ntate Mahlatse another round of applause. I think the most important thing that he said, I think a truth that we have all come to accept that indeed local government is the closest form of governance to the people. It affects the lived experiences of our lives. It affects bread and butter issues, it affects how we drive on the road and how we bath. So it's very important that

04:25:25we understand the critical function of local government. And I want to stress that point Ntate Mahlatse, because more often than not when it comes to local government, there's been a lack of enthusiasm from the people as opposed to the general elections. And it's very important to emphasize those points. And speaking of elections, I'm not sure why the mood is so somber unless most of councilors here support Kaizer Chiefs like myself. So

04:25:55we are in a, so you need to be lively, you are councilors, you are young people, unless of course you are like me, you support Kaizer Chiefs, so I understand your pain. So speaking of elections we are heading into the local government elections. We are still waiting on the Minister of COGTA to proclaim, obviously in consultation with the President. We are heading into the final voter registration weekend in mid-June. Who here is registered to vote?

04:26:25All of you? At least some of you are honest. And Ntate Pitso I'll ask to confirm if they are telling the truth. But can we please now welcome Ntate Moses Pitso who's from the provincial office of the Electoral Commission, Communications and Outreach, who's going to now speak to us from a technical point of view, from an elections point of view, about the role of the IEC in addressing voter apathy, democratic consolidation. Can we please welcome Ntate Pitso with a round of applause.

04:27:00Thank you Program Director and a good morning everyone. Madam Speaker, in the interest of time, please allow me to stand here on the protocols already observed. A short introduction of the IEC. We are established according to Chapter 9 of the Constitution to administer elections for all spheres of government, to ensure that those elections are free and fair,

04:27:30and to provide an election results within seven days. The Constitution says within a reasonable time, but legislation says seven days. That's really what we are about as the IEC. However, I've been requested here to speak on two issues, electoral integrity and youth voter participation and what the IEC is doing to address both. I'll speak first on youth voter participation.

04:28:00The Stats SA or Statistics South Africa population estimate report indicates that in the voting age persons category of 18 to 19, there is over 1.5 million youth of which the IEC has only registered 400,000. So it shows you that we're having a difficulty in that age category to register youth, because remember in the country, you are allowed to register

04:28:30from the age of 16, but you can only vote at the age of 18, because it's a right that is given to adults in this country. 16 year olds are not adults. Now in the next category of ages 20 to 29, more than people have been recorded by Stats SA and the IEC has only 4 million on the voters roll. Which is really where you are, you feature

04:29:00in that age category, but some of you may be in the age category 19 to 20, but we're having difficulties. Now in response, the IEC has undertaken three projects countrywide, two at educational institutions and one within communities. In communities we have employed municipal outreach officers to provide voter education, but also to provide voter registration across the country. One of the main stakeholders

04:29:30are the youth not in schools and the youth not in employment. These are the youth that in some quarters they are referred to as, they are doing kasi management. So as the IEC we have employed staff to engage with these people in the townships that are not working, to try and engage them on their rights and responsibilities in our democracy, but also for them to register as voters. At tertiary institutions

04:30:00institutions we have a campaign currently running. Here we employ students as staff to register other students in on campuses, but also in the residences to register them as voters. We employ students to register other students. So since the beginning of the of March, more than 20,000 students have been registered across universities and TVET colleges only in this province.

04:30:27This is a countrywide project, but in this province we have registered more than 20,000 students across campuses and TVET colleges. And a similar project was taken undertaken in September last year and over a period of three weeks which we because we were piloting it, we registered 15,000 more than 15,000 students at TVET colleges and and universities. Now,

04:30:54ordinarily over throughout the year the IEC deploys its staff separately to register and provide voter education at universities and TVET colleges just to buttress this project that we undertaking at

04:31:14universities now. At schools, the IEC has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Basic Education which ends at the end of 2030 to provide voter education and voter registration in schools. IEC staff is currently deployed to undertake these activities on a daily basis. And as we stand right now, the project the

04:31:41project has registered more than 4,000, okay, given civic education and registered more than 4,000 learners at schools to ensure that these people are on the voters roll. Now, regarding the second issue that I was asked to speak to, electoral integrity.

04:32:04As you are aware, the IEC is a creature of statute. We are established in terms of the constitution, but our activities and powers are contained in the in legislation, one of which is the Electoral Commission Act, but the others are the legislation that provide us authority to undertake elections at national, provincial, and local sphere of government. This year we will be using the Municipal Structures Act, but also using the Municipal Electoral Act.

04:32:33Now, noting that nothing we do as the IEC is discretionary. So the IEC also works with political parties and independent candidates through structures such as political liaison committees, and these are established at the three spheres of government, at municipalities, at the provincial level, and also at the national level. At voting stations,

04:32:58party parties and independent candidates are allowed to have people representing them. These people are called agents. These people represent the interest of parties or independent candidates during voting to make sure that as we undertake our activities there, their interests are are protected. These agents have the right to object if they notice that our staff are not carrying out their duties in terms of the law

04:33:26and in terms of the set procedures. And lastly, there is also electoral justice, which provides for parties and independent candidates to appeal against any decision of the IEC in relation to the outcome of elections. These appeals can go up to the Constitutional Court. Now, parties also, as we we we undertake the counting of votes, parties are represented

04:33:54to observe how we count votes and how we capture the votes on the system or the results system of the IEC. If they have issues with what we've captured on the system, parties are allowed to also object to that. And if they're not happy with what we do as the IEC, they can take the matter to the Electoral Court up up to the the Constitutional Court. Now, in conclusion, the electoral edifice in the country provides for voter participation both by candidates and political parties,

04:34:22but more importantly, for ordinary citizens to participate in their democracy. The IEC is at the coalface of ensuring that. I thank you.

04:34:40Can we please give Ntate Pitso another round of applause? The the IEC are the custodians of elections of our democracy in this country. They make sure that our elections are free and fair. I always implore people to say, you know, go to the IEC website. In my opinion, they've got one of the most advanced election agencies website in the world where you can even go as far as checking into a ward,

04:35:07how many votes, you know, were cast in a particular voting station. So, you know, they they really work hard in ensuring that South Africa's electoral democracy is sustained and is safeguarded. I think as far back as about five years ago or so, they even introduced the idea of registering from the comfort of your own home where you don't even need to go to a particular voting station to register to vote. You can do it in your phones. Right now, if you're not registered to vote,

04:35:37because I saw some of you were raising your hands and I don't believe you. So if you are not registered to vote, you can go to the IEC website now at the comfort of your own phone and register to vote. That's how much the Electoral Commission is working to ensure that, you know, it promotes active citizenry. It, you know, addresses the idea of voter apathy, the fact that we've got over 10 million people who are eligible to vote, but they are not on the voters roll. It is a cause for concern.

04:36:06So I also, you know, I'm a big fan of elections of democracy because they are the cornerstone. A lot of people died, you know, paid with their lives. The road to democracy was carved with people's bodies for us to be able to sit here. So, you know, it's it's an honor, it's a privilege for us to be able to occupy some of these spaces. I got the privilege Ntate Pitso of being invited by the IEC in KZN on Tuesday. It was the Thought Leadership Seminar and

04:36:34I was asked to speak on the voters roll, you know, and Ntate Aphane said something that is quite quite profound that the voters roll is the heartbeat of the Electoral Commission, right? Their voters roll obviously, you know, is derived from the National Population Register. And my input there was very simple that South Africa's voters roll is secured because it is derived from the National Population Register, unlike other countries,

04:37:04you know, biometrics only confirm, you know, what the Department of Home Affairs already has. That's how advanced, you know, institutions like the IEC is, you know, and we pride ourselves as South Africans to have an Electoral Commission that works impartially election in, election out. So thank you so much Ntate Pitso. I don't want you to be so somber, you know, we're here to debate, to engage. We are now going to go to

Youth voter apathy programme: Speaker of Council's keynote address

04:37:34the person who invited us here today, the the owner of the house, mastende of the house, the the person who's in charge. We are now going to hear and receive the keynote address by the City of Johannesburg Speaker of Council, Councillor Margaret Arnolds. Can we please give her a round of applause?

04:38:13While the Speaker is coming, I'd like to also acknowledge Ntate Siya Ndou from the Office of the City Manager, he's here with us. I would also like to acknowledge the Group Head for GSPCR, he's also here with us. So yeah, thank you so much for for for being with us.

04:38:38Check it out.

04:38:43No, this mic is not right for me.

04:38:57Good morning, everybody. Good morning to the program director, Mr. Vusi Gumbi, and I know there's another program director as well, to the Honorable Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Mme Morakane Mosupyoe, to Dr. Husain Cvardia, Vice-Dean at the College of Business and Economics at the University of Johannesburg, Mr. Abel Matlhatsi, Senior Advisor,

04:39:27Intergovernmental Relations and Governance at the at the South African Local Government Association, Mr. Moses Pitso, Outreach and Communication at the Independent Electoral Commission, to the Office of the City Manager present, Mr. Siya Ndou, to the Integrity Commissioner present, to Mr. Zaid Ebrahim present, Mme Nancy Ngwenya from the Public Service Commission,

04:39:56esteemed guests, colleagues, and young leaders gathered in this chamber today. I am disappointed to see that there are still young people that are not registered to vote. Before I start my actual speech, I want to say that if you are not registered to vote and you don't vote, you have no mandate to tell any government official that has been elected

04:40:26that they need to do their work because you did not give us a mandate. You need to give us a mandate and then you can talk. Normally the people that burn the roads, that damage our infrastructure are the guys that don't pay rates and taxes. And the one that pays his rates and taxes sits at home and doesn't make a noise, but complains via a letter or the proper

04:40:53ways of doing things. I just thought I wanted to bring that to your attention. It is both a privilege and a profound responsibility to stand before you in this council chamber, a space where decisions are taken, where voices are heard, and where the everyday realities of our people are meant to find expression through democratic processes. Today, however, this chamber takes on an even greater significance.

04:41:24It becomes a classroom, a platform, and a mirror reflecting both the promise and the challenges of our democracy. We are gathered under a theme that could not be more urgent or more relevant, Addressing Voter Apathy, Youth, Democracy, and the 2026 Local Government Elections. In advancing this important theme, I wish to extend our sincere appreciation

04:41:57to the University of Johannesburg, a leading institution of higher learning, for partnering with the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in hosting this impactful initiative. We also acknowledge the invaluable contribution of the School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, as well as the university's Government and Stakeholder Relations Unit, whose collaboration

04:42:28has made this engagement possible. Partnerships of this nature are essential in bridging the gap between academia and governance and in shaping a generation of active, informed, and engaged citizens. You need to be active, you need to engage, you need to register, you need to give us a mandate. This theme is not abstract.

04:42:58It is not theoretical. It speaks directly to the lived realities of our country at this moment in time. South Africa's democratic story is one of extraordinary courage and sacrifice. It is a story written by generations who believed even in the darkest of times that a different future was possible. We served, we suffered, and we sacrificed.

04:43:28It is a story of people who refused to accept exclusion, who rejected injustice, and who insisted on dignity, equality, and representation. But perhaps most importantly, it is it's a story in which young people played a defining role. I'm going to repeat. It's a story in which young people played a defining role.

04:43:59Young people were not passive observers of history. They were its drivers. They organized, they mobilized, they challenged authorities, and they reshaped the political landscape of this very country. They understood that democracy was not something to be waited for. It was something to be fought for. And when this democracy finally came, it brought with one of the most powerful tools any citizen

04:44:29can possess, the right to vote. Yet today, more than three decades into our democracy, we are confronted with a difficult and an uncomfortable truth. Participation in elections is declining. And it is declining more sharply among the youth. This reality forces us to ask

04:45:00hard questions, not about whether young people care, but about whether our systems, our institutions, and our leadership are creating the conditions that makes participation meaningful. Because voter apathy is rarely about indifference. It is often about disillusionment. It is about distance. It is about growing sense

04:45:30amongst many that their voices are not heard, that their votes do not translate into tangible change, and that the institutions meant to serve them are too far removed from their daily struggles.

04:45:52This is precisely why today matters. This mock council sitting is not just an academic exercise. It is an intentional act of democratic engagement. It is an opportunity to bring young people into the very heart of governance, into the processes, the debates, and the responsibility that define public leadership. Here in this council chamber of the City of Johannesburg

04:46:25Metropolitan Municipality, democracy is not observed from a distance. It's been experienced, it's been interrogated, and it is being practiced. Local government is where democracy becomes tangible. It is where policies are translated into services, where budgets are transferred into infrastructure, and where leadership is tested against the lived realities

04:46:56of communities. Local government is the only sector of government where you know where your councillor lives. You don't know where your MPs live. You don't know where your MPLs live. But when anything goes wrong, it is the local councillor. You don't refer to your MP, and you might have an MP living next door to you. But because you never see them, they are never on the ground, they only come

04:47:27when it's elections. And we go through exactly what you go through. When you don't have electricity, we don't have a switch at the bottom of our beds that we can just switch on and have electricity. When you don't have water, we don't have water. When you don't bath in the morning, we also don't bath. We also bath in a cup so that we only clean where it has to be clean and come to work,

04:47:58and spray all the sprays and you smell we smell good, but we also didn't bath. We don't talk to you because we also haven't brushed our teeth. We go through exactly the same things. We pull out our cars and we also get into a pothole. So we have exactly the same experiences that you have. It's also where the consequence

04:48:27of failure and more immediate are most immediate and most visible. When local government works, communities feel it. When it does not, communities also feel it, often in ways that directly affect their dignity and quality of life. And so when young people disengage from local government, it's not a minor concern. It is a fundamental challenge to the legitimacy,

04:48:57the effectiveness, and the future of our democratic system. We must therefore confront voter apathy not as a peripheral issue, but as a central democratic challenge. We must ask ourselves, are we building institutions that are trusted? Are we creating platforms that are accessible? Are we demonstrating leadership that's accountable and responsive? Because democracy

04:49:27cannot be sustained by systems alone. It must be sustained by belief. Believe that participation matters, that voices count, and that change is possible. Today's program reflects a collective effort to address these questions. We have heard from institutions that form the backbone of our democracy, the IEC, which safeguards the integrity of our elections. We've heard from SALGA,

04:49:58which strengthens the capacity and effectiveness of municipalities, the Provincial Legislature, which ensures oversight and accountability. We will later hear from the university, which plays a critical role in shaping informed, active citizens. Each of these institutions carries a piece of the democratic project, but none can succeed in isolation. Democracy

04:50:30requires partnership between institutions, between government and society, and critically between the present and the next generation. It is in this context that the role of young people become not just important, but it becomes essential. Young people are often described as the future, but in truth, they are also the present. They are thinkers,

04:51:00innovators, activists, and leaders. They are already shaping discourse, challenging norms, and redefining what participation looks like in a modern democracy. The challenge is not whether young people are willing to engage. The challenge is whether we are willing to listen, include, and respond. Elections remain one of the most important

04:51:31mechanisms through which citizens can exercise power. They provide a platform for choice, accountability, and renewal. But elections are not alone and they are not enough. For democracy to thrive, participation must extend beyond the ballot box. It must be continuous, it must be informed, it must be meaningful. This is why the debate you will engage

04:52:01in today is important. You will consider whether the proportional representation electoral system remains fit to purpose in addressing the challenge of voter apathy, particularly among young people. Some of you will argue for reform, others will argue for retention. Both positions are valid within a democratic frame. What matters is not what you agree, but what you engage. Because democracy

04:52:31is not strengthened by silence. It is strengthened by participation. It is strengthened by debate and by the willingness to confront difficult questions. As you take on your roles in this mock council, I encourage you to do so with seriousness, with curiosity, and with a sense of responsibility. Engage the issues, challenge

04:53:01assumptions, listen to one another, and most importantly, recognize that the skills you develop here, the ability to think critically, to articulate clearly, and to engage respectfully, are the very skills that democracy requires. To the young people in this chamber, I want to say your voice matters, your participation

04:53:31matters, your vote matters. Do not allow frustration to turn into disintegration. If you believe the system must change, then engage in changing it. If you believe leadership must improve, then hold it accountable, because democracy does not belong to institutions alone. It belongs to you. We cannot afford disengagement. We must choose participation.

04:54:03And we must choose to build a democracy that is inclusive, responsive, and worthy of the trust of our people. In closing, let us remember that democracy is not a destination. It's a continuous journey, one that requires vigilance, commitment, and renewal. Today in this chamber, we take a step forward in that journey, and it is my hope that each of you

04:54:34leave here not only with knowledge, but with a renewed sense of purpose, a commitment to participate, to engage, and to shape the future of our democracy. You are the leaders, not in the future, but today. I thank you.

Youth voter apathy programme: University of Johannesburg address

04:55:01Thank you to the Speaker of Council for that keynote address. The reason why there was a slight change is because as much as you are in a mock council, but you are also students. Some of you at PhD level, some of you at master's level, honors level, others undergraduate. So we felt it prudent that before you take up this mock council, you know, you need an academic who's going to also come. So that's why we made a slight change

04:55:31into the program so that the last speaker is our representative from the University of Johannesburg. I am hopeful that some of you know him, the Vice-Dean of the College of Business and Economics. The reason why we did is this is because the reason why we changed it in this manner is because as students, while the Speaker, the Speakers, while our colleagues from the IEC, our colleagues from SALGA spoke from a governance and technical point of view, we also need that academic point of view

04:56:01to be instilled as you prepare to take up your seats and engage in this mock council. Without any further waste of time, we are going to welcome our last speaker in this session, representing the great University of Johannesburg, Dr. Husain Cvardia, the Vice-Dean of the College of Business and Economics.

04:56:27isiZuluSanibonani.

04:56:28SesothoDumelang.

04:56:29Good morning. I would like to acknowledge the Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature, Honorable Morakane Mosupyoe, Speaker of the City of Johannesburg Municipality, Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Secretary to the Council, Mr. Andile, representation from SALGA, Mr. Matlhatsi, the IEC Executive and Electoral Integrity and Voter Participation, Mr. Pitso, the Public Service Commission, Miss Nancy Ngwenya,

04:56:59UJ Faculty, HODs, esteemed students. As we say at UJ, all excellence observed. It gives me a great pleasure to address you on this auspicious occasion where our students, you sitting in front of us today, will gain valuable and necessary practical experience of a municipal council sitting. I would like to acknowledge and convey before I start my speech, apologies from our Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mpedi, and our Executive Dean,

04:57:30Prof. Moloi, who are unable to be with us here today, but have given their best wishes for such an event. Today marks a landmark moment, providing our students with the opportunity to engage in conversation of national importance, as we've heard from many of the other speakers. It also reflects a significant step in strengthening the relationship between the university and the city, building on many collaborative initiatives and projects between our two institutions.

04:58:00The mock council aims to engage students in the democratic process, enhance their understanding of local governance, and develop key skills in debating, negotiation, and public speaking. This experiential learning simulates the workings of a council meeting, allowing participants to deliberate, debate, and pass legislation while fostering active citizenship and leadership. So the key objectives

04:58:31for today's discussion, what we would like to see from a university's perspective is enhancing the understanding of public governance by providing practical insight into council operations, decision-making processes, and the role of local government in communities. Developing critical thinking skills, such an important aspect with regards to public speaking, teamwork, negotiation, and conflict resolution. In today's world, I think that is really important.

04:59:01Promoting civic engagement by encouraging students to take an active interest in governance and the role citizens play in shaping their communities. And lastly, fostering networking opportunities between students, the faculty that's present, professionals in government, and those that work with public policy. Furthermore, this initiative also contributes to the excellence in teaching and learning at the University of Johannesburg, that's bringing bridging the gap between theory

04:59:31and real world policy formulation, encouraging research and data-driven analysis, promoting interdisciplinary engagement across many fields such as economics, law, political science, and strengthening the institution's role in developing future policy makers and critical thinkers. For our students, this exercise provides an invaluable opportunity to develop comprehensive skills in policy analysis, negotiation, leadership, and

05:00:00and collaboration. These are essential skills for careers in public administration, governance, policy, development, and civic leadership. A central goal of this initiative is to encourage active participation. Democracy functions best when citizens are informed, engaged, and willing to contribute to shaping their communities. Through this experience, students take an important step towards becoming responsible and active civic leaders.

05:00:29And at the same time, this initiative creates a dynamic and impactful learning environment that ensures graduates are equipped with both theoretical and practical governance experience. So, the university remains committed to enhancing youth employability. And this initiative right here today provides a meaningful insight in the municipal functionings that equip students with a practical experience that will support their transition into the workplace,

05:00:58such an important aspect. We are proud of our strong employability trajectory and aim to sustain it. And we hope that initiatives such as this will contribute to future opportunities, including potential roles within local government. So in closing, today's mock council sitting is more than a simulation. It reflects what can be achieved when academia, government, and young leaders, like those sitting in front of me, collaborate with shared purpose.

05:01:27It underscores our commitment to developing graduates who are knowledgeable, ethical, and engaged. So, to our students sitting in front of me here, approach this experience with seriousness and curiosity. The debate you engage in and the discussions you make mirror real life governance challenges. Use this opportunity to strengthen your voice and deepen your understanding from a public service perspective. To our partners from the City of Johannesburg and all other stakeholders,

05:01:57we extend our sincere appreciation for your collaboration and commitment to bridging theory and practice. These partnerships enable meaningful, high-impact learning experiences for our students. As the University of Johannesburg, we remain steadfast in enhancing excellence in teaching and learning, enhancing student employability, and contributing to society in meaningful ways. Initiatives such as this affirm our role in shaping the leaders and policy makers of tomorrow.

05:02:26Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizing partners from both the different institutions, the office of the government and stakeholder relations at UJ, led by the senior manager, Mr. Rudy Pietersen, Dr. Lesedi from the Department of Public Governance, Public Management, and Public Policy for coordinating student participation, Dr. Nkensani from the city's Department of Group Communications and Marketing for overseeing the communication and outreach, and Mr. Vusi Gumbi

05:02:55from the city's speaker's office together with colleagues who ensured a smooth running of this event. I thank you, and I wish you well through the deliberations on this mock council sitting.

05:03:05isiZuluEnkosi, siyabonga.

05:03:06AfrikaansBaie dankie.

05:03:13Can you please give Dr. Coovadia another round of applause?

05:03:20I I I also feel important. I was acknowledged in the speech. Thank you, Dr. Coovadia. On a serious note, we are at the end of our first program. We will have an opportunity for you guys to have a photo opportunity.

Items 10 to 19: Economic Development cluster read and tabled

05:08:165 and it's now 15:12. STC, can we start?

05:08:27Welcome back, councilors. We resume with item 10. And that is the performance assessment report for the Economic Development Department for the 2025-26 financial year for the period July to September 2025, also read with item 11, which is the performance assessment report for the Johannesburg Property Company for the 2025-26 financial year for the period July to September 2025, also read with item 12, which is the performance assessment report for Johannesburg Tourism Company

05:08:57for the 2025-26 financial year for the period July to September 2025, also read with item 13, and that's the performance assessment report for Joburg Market for the 2025-26 financial year for the period July to September 2025, and the above items are read together with item 14, which is the oversight report of the Economic Development Section 79 Committee on the 2025-26 first quarter performance report of the Department of Economic Development,

05:09:27Johannesburg Property Company, Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market, and Johannesburg Tourism Company for the period July to September 2025. Also tabled is item 15, which is the performance assessment report for Economic Development Department for the 2025-26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, also read with item 16, and that's the performance assessment report for Johannesburg Tourism Company for the 2025-26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, also read with item 17,

05:09:57which is the performance assessment report for Johannesburg Property Company for the 2025-26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, also read with item 18, which is performance assessment report for Johannesburg Market for the 2025-26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, and lastly read with item 19, and that's the oversight report of the Economic Development Section 79 Committee on the 2025-26 first quarter performance report of the Department of Economic Development,

05:10:27Johannesburg Property Company, Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market, and Johannesburg Tourism Company for the period July to September 2025.

05:10:37Thank you so much, STC. In the absence of the member in charge, is there anybody from economic development section 79 that's standing in? Can we see who that is? Yes, councilor. You may go.

05:10:57Greetings, speaker. I would like to table item 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 as presented by the secretary to council. I thank you.

Items 10 to 19: DA on Johannesburg Property Company KPIs

05:11:15Thank you so much, councilor. Councilor D. Dewes, DA.

05:11:25Thank you, madam speaker. I rise to speak on the performance of Johannesburg Property Company first and second quarter reports, all protocol observed. Today, I want to focus on just one single issue, key performance indicators or KPIs. When KPI performance drops from 73% in the first quarter to 58% in the second quarter in any institution,claim

05:11:54this should ring serious alarm bells. Especially, madam speaker, the Johannesburg Property Company manages a property portfolio worth over 10 billion rand. Surely, madam speaker, when critical KPIs such as investment attracted or facilitated within the City of Johannesburg, properties leased or social economic leases, including servitudes and sales, or revenue generatedclaim

05:12:24from outdoor advertising are not achieved, this has a direct and damaging impact on the revenue generated for the city. In turn, this affects our already strained cash flows and ultimately undermines service delivery to our residents. Surely, madam speaker, this is not rocket science. We desperately need to provide JPC with the funding and the mandate to conduct

05:12:53a road show in every single region across Johannesburg to advertise our vacant properties, inviting everybody in the property sector as well as NGOs, NPOs, and community organizations seeking land for real economic opportunities. Large To Let JPC boards must go up like mushrooms across the city. From the young entrepreneur looking for a piece of land to start a car wash to the NPO wanting to renovate

05:13:23a derelict, unused building to a major property developer, all will be shocked to discover, many of them for the first time, the unbelievable opportunities lying dormant at their doorsteps. Madam speaker, we need the political will, the competence, and the vision to turn around this complete

05:13:4540 seconds.

05:13:46lack of accountability in JPC and transform it into a major revenue generating for the city instead of the limping 58% entity trapped by a coalition stuck in archaic social socialist ideology that kills jobs and is delusional when thinking that only the state can implement instead of the state playing the critical role as a mere facilitator. And let us be clear,

05:14:1515 seconds.

05:14:16nobody can call themselves caring or responsible with a 58% pass rate. Therefore, it's becoming blatantly obvious that only the DA have the best performing municipalities,

Items 10 to 19: ActionSA on Economic Development

05:14:49Councilor from ActionSA, I'm going to try to pronounce the surname, Moticoe. Councilor, I see your hand. You may You may speak, but not on the item. Let's hear what are you saying.

05:15:17Yeah, no. No, I'm not going to speak on the item, speaker. Since I'm I'm also here, I'm going to donate my 2.5 minutes to Councilor Moticoe. Thank you, speaker.

05:15:30Thank you, Councilor Mohlala. Councilor Moticoe.

05:15:47Madam speaker, greetings to the speaker, fellow councilors, members of media, guests in the gallery, importantly, residents of Johannesburg. Madam speaker, I rise to speak on item 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. Madam speaker, the Department of Economic Development

05:16:19sits at the heart of Johannesburg's future. It carries the responsibility

05:16:25Can you just hold on, councilor? On my right-hand side, please, councilors, let's respect. I don't know whether we've read rule 30. Thank you, councilor.

05:16:43It carries responsibilities of driving growth, unlocking opportunities, responding to the crisis of unemployment to our residents facing daily. But the reality confronting us today is that the department is not moving with urgency, coordination, or impact required

05:17:14to meet that responsibility. What we are seeing is a pattern, not of a department that is failing on paper, but that is failing in execution. Programs exist, plans exist, strategy exists, but lived lived experience of of residents

05:17:44tells a different story. Small businesses still struggling to to access meaningful report. Informal traders remain trapped in systems that are slow and inaccessible. Young people are still waiting for pathways into the economy. This is not because the city lacks ideas. It is because the city lacks

05:18:14decisive implementation. And this is where the concern lies. Economic development cannot function in silos. It cannot be delayed by internal inefficiencies. It cannot be treated as a compliance exercise. It must be a high impact

05:18:45result-driven formation function, sorry, function that reaches communities directly and consistently because because every delay in this department is not administrative. It is human. It is a missed opportunity for someone

05:19:14to earn income, to grow a business, or to participate in the economy. We have seen what it looks like when the department is led with purpose. Under Herman Mashaba,

05:19:34there was a clear shift towards

05:19:41there was a clear shift

05:19:47Under Under Herman Mashaba, there was a clear

05:19:52Sorry, councilor. Councilors, please. Can we allow the councilor to finish her speech? Thank you, councilor. You're protected.

05:20:09Okay. Under Herman Mashaba, there was a clear shift towards enabling entrepreneurs, cutting unnecessary red tapes, and making city more responsive to those trying to build livelihood. Economic development was approached with urgency and intent. And even in the more recent leadership through Nkululeko Mbundu,

05:20:39former MMC of ActionSA,

05:20:47there were deliberate efforts to repositioning the department as an enabler, one that actively supports informal traders, strengthens partnership, and brings service closer to the people. That

05:21:05Councilor, 20 seconds left.

05:21:07That benchmark

05:21:08SesothoA ko bue sentle.

05:21:10That benchmark we were seeing now falls short, that falls short of that standard. Madam speaker, Johannesburg cannot afford a slow economic

05:21:31Thank you, councilor.

Items 10 to 19: PA, ACDP and DA contributions

05:21:38Councilor Wilskut. Councilor Wilskut from the PA.

05:21:48Thank you, councilors. Councilor Wilskut from the Patriotic Alliance.

05:21:54Greetings, madam speaker, executive mayor.

05:21:57Please switch off your mic, councilor. Apologies for this, Councilor Wilskut. Thank you. Colleagues!

05:22:08Greetings, madam speaker, executive mayor, Mr. Dada Morero, in his absentia,

05:22:14Can you just hold on, Councilor Wilskut? Councilors, please.

05:22:22Please. Please read rule 30. Thank you, councilor.

05:22:29Thank you, speaker. Executive mayor, in his absentia, Joburg 11 councilors under the capable leadership of MMC Kenny Kunene, in his absentia, all councilors, and distinguished guests in the gallery, and fellow citizens in the City of Johannesburg. Speaker, as the Patriotic Alliance, we note the report with great concerns.

05:23:00Thank you, Councilor Wilskut. Councilor Mkhonza, ACDP.

05:23:09Yes, shalom, shalom, speaker, madam speaker. I stand to speak on item 15, 17, and 18, and then I'll manage my own time this time. The Joburg Market continues to distinguish itself as one of the city's strongest performing entities, consistently demonstrating operational resilience and sound management. While we note the 6.6 underperformance against the budgeted turnover,claim

05:23:36Councilor, move slightly away from the mic. Thank you.

05:23:40All right. Let me do this. Ah, but you see you're taking my time now, madam speaker. Yes. It is important to to contextualize this within the broader market conditions, which may include fluctuations in supply chains, seasonal variations, and shifting economic pressures. Nonetheless, the entity's overall performance trajectory remains commendable

05:24:10and reflective of a well-run institution that continues to contribute meaningfully to the city's economic ecosystem. Furthermore, madam speaker, the ACDP caucus wishes to particularly commend the Joburg Market for achieving 100% for compliance in paying suppliers within 30 days. This is not a small achievement, especially within the broader municipal environment, where delays in supplier payments often hinder small businesses substantially and economic growth. This level of financial discipline

05:24:40speaks to strong governance, effective internal controls, and a clear commitment to supporting local enterprises. We encourage the entity to sustain to sustain and build on this standard while also focusing on strategies to close the turnover gap and enhance revenue generation, ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Item 17, JPC. Madam speaker, the ACDP caucus is deeply concerned about this continued underperformance, downward trajectory in JPC.

05:25:13The entity's persistent underperformance raises serious questions about its operational effectiveness, strategic direction, and its inability to fulfill the mandate. As it stands, the inefficiencies within the JPC are undermining Joburg's ability to position itself as an attractive investment destination, and this cannot be cannot be allowed to continue unaddressed.

05:25:3840 seconds left.

05:25:40Now speaking on the last item, item 15, the economic development. The ACDP welcomes the progress made in strengthening governance, particularly the improved resolution of Auditor-General's findings and the reduction in UIFWs. This development signal a positive shift towards better financial discipline, enhanced internal controls, and a commitment to accountability foundations.

05:26:0810 seconds.

05:26:10Thank you. And then, madam speaker, however, these gains are overshadowed by the serious concerns regarding the performance

05:26:24Councilor V. Reddy from the DA. Councilor Mkhonza, please switch off your mic.

05:26:37Good day, madam speaker. All protocols observed. I rise today to speak on item 17, primarily Metro Centre and office space optimization.

05:26:46Please speak into the mic. There's a councilor at the back there that's speaking very loud.

05:26:54Okay, I'm starting again.

05:26:56Can we just stop that, please? Councilor Reddy, you may continue.claim

05:27:01Thank you. Metro Centre has been decanted over the last three years, and despite assurances that this process would be completed by April 2025, the building is still not empty. The print shop remains, along with files, furniture, and fittings, all left behind during the move. The so-called emergency evacuation was, in my view, unnecessary, leaving the building abandoned, unprotected, and now exposed to vandalism, theft, and ongoing decay.

05:27:31Office space optimization, a rather fantastical term, is said to aim at consolidating city departments into an efficient, compliant, and sustainable precinct while maximizing financial sustainability by moving away from costly leases towards sweating city-owned assets. Newtown Junction, we are told, is a city co-owned asset, effectively suggesting that we are paying rent to ourselves. In reality,

05:28:01the city owns the land, while a private developer owns the long-term lease. This means we're, in fact, paying rent to a private entity. That raises a simple question: How does this achieve cost savings and asset optimization? This situation may well have been avoided had Metro Centre been refurbished from the outset. But instead, we now sit with a near derelict building while the redevelopment remains unresolved. The transactional advisor

05:28:32was only appointed in September, with his contract signed in December. We are told that he'll make a determination whether the redevelopment of Metro House will be city-funded or public-private partnership, and that will only be presented to us in the third quarter of this year, with public participation expected to be in the first quarter of 2027. This is a significant undertaking, and my concern lies with the independence

05:29:02of the process. The transactional advisor appointed initially we were thought to have been appointed by National Treasury is meant to be independent. Yet, we now see a project steering committee made up of city officials appointing a project manager who is an employee of the city to oversee the process. So one must ask, where is the independence and how credible will the outcome be? We are told that this process will be transparent and in the best interest

05:29:33of the city. Let us hope that it is indeed the case because ultimately, decisions of this magnitude must serve the residents of the city and not in the interest of a select few. I, for one, remain concerned and hope that the transactional advisor can act independently and without undue influence.

05:29:53Councilor, your time is up.

05:29:55Thank you.

05:29:55Apologies, I didn't I didn't warn you, but apologies.

05:30:00Your time is up.

Items 10 to 19: EFF on unpaid security officers; DA on Joburg Market court judgment

05:30:08Councillor D. Dladla from the EFF.

05:30:14Speaker, caucus leader of the EFF, MMC Tshwaku, chairperson of HSD and our whip, Councillor Mogapi in absentia, and councillors of the EFF, councillors in general, and also our visitors from UJ.

05:30:33I rise to note item 10 to 19 with the following observations. We note the reduction of the UIFWs, 100% resolution of AG findings, and invoices paid within 30 days. We, however, also for this reporting period, note the underperforming in the following KPIs: the issuing of informal traders permits,

05:31:00the spending on repairs and maintenance, and OPEX spending. Speaker, having said the above, I think it is also important to note the following, that here outside, Speaker, there are security officers who are employed by Mabutwane Security. These officers are also guarding this facility we are in. Coming here and going out with our cars after this meeting, we will be passing through them.

05:31:29But these officers have not, to date, have not been paid. They are paid when they are paid. They spend months without payments. The last pay they received was on the 12th of February 2026. That was their November, December salaries. And that was the last money that they received this year, Speaker. We humbly request your intervention. But also, Speaker, what is surprising is that

05:31:58these guards were employed without the knowledge of the office of the MMC of Public Safety, who is the custodian of the safety and security in the city. We have been saying this all along, that all these privately employed officers must all be insourced and proper budget be made available to the department for it to be able to get proper tools of trade.

05:32:20Because this department knows the situation is embarrassing, that our people are being enslaved, and the political head of this department knows nothing about it. It can't be that these entities like JOSHCO are allowed to do as they please, put and abuse security officers in our city, which has one safety department. It is precisely this confusing of responsibilities that this is causing us problems.

05:32:51When the EFF proposed insourcing and passed, it was not for JOSHCO and others to hide private security under them, but the resolution was to cover the whole city and its entities. Speaker, again, it cannot be. We cannot accept this. Please, urgently intervene. No worker and their families must be subjected to this ill-treatment

05:33:20anywhere in the city or anywhere in this facility, worse, where we are working.

05:33:2650 seconds.

05:33:27Let's put a stop to this abuse. Speaker, again, you know full well that the EFF has a serious sympathy and very sensitive and important issue regarding the employment condition of security officers in the city. Thank you very much.

05:33:45Thank you so much, Councillor. Councillor M. Louw from the DA.

05:34:00Speaker, don't start the time yet, please. I'm going to be speaking on item 13, which is the first quarterly report for Joburg Market. Now we can start the timer. All protocol observed.

05:34:11You have two minutes.

05:34:12I know. So in a high court judgment given on 29 September 2025 in the matter of the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa, or IMASA, and the City of Joburg, COJ, as the first respondent, and the Joburg Market, JM, as the second respondent, together with seven other respondents, the court pronounced in favour of the reasons why IMASA instituted legal action.

05:34:39Such amounts to, in brief: one, to provide IMASA with a precinct plan in respect of the Joburg Market, which shall include a risk assessment and recovery plan or report within the stated period. Two, to implement such plan within a specified period in relation to: A, repairs and maintenance to cold rooms; B, fire safety; C, electrical systems; and D, security, lifts and sanitation facilities. Three,

05:35:05for Joburg Market to allocate and ring-fence an additional 20 million to implement such plan. And lastly, four, to adopt and implement an immediate code of conduct or codes of good practice.

05:35:1755 seconds.

05:35:19The agents on whose behalf the action was brought form an integral part in the effective working of the Joburg Market, and that such action was promulgated by such a body in the first instance is indicative of a failure by JM and the COJ to provide necessary and basic functions for and good management in the flourishing endeavour, which is the cash cow for COJ, Joburg Market. In Joburg Market's possible defence, the management knows what is required, but is somewhat hamstrung by the inability to finance the necessary budget to realize this.

05:35:49As whatever profits are made are stripped away by the city

05:35:5218 seconds.

05:35:53to supplement finances of those entities and departments which are underperforming and overspending. For already having spent four million, this matter now wants to be appealed by Joburg Market, and that might be throwing good money after bad. In a DA government, this would not be happening.

Items 10 to 19: ANC on economic development, tourism, Joburg Market and JPC

05:36:13Thank you, Councillor Louw. Councillor Bolani from the ANC.

05:36:21Greetings, Madam Speaker. Greetings to the Executive Mayor in absentia. Greetings to the Deputy Executive Mayor in absentia, and greetings to the Chief Whip of Council, and greetings to all councillors present, and greetings to the community out there. Madam Speaker, we rise to engage with the Economic Development cluster, covering items 10 to 19,

05:36:49a cluster that sits on the very center of the City of Johannesburg mandate to transform, to grow and to create opportunity for its people. At the heart of this discussion lies a fundamental question: Is the city doing enough to change the economic realities of its residents? Madam Speaker, the report before us reflects a mixed picture. There are areas of progress, and these must be acknowledged.

05:37:17The overall performance of the Economic Development remains below what is required. Programs are not delivering impact on scale. Coordination between entities is weak. Capital budgets are not being fully utilized. And most importantly, job creation remains a pipe dream. We wouldn't be doing justice if this lived reality will be treated like just a technical issue.

05:37:46In communities where majority are facing the economic exclusion, it is not theoretical. It is a daily experience. Here we speak of Bram Fischerville, Doornkop, Orange Farm, Diepsloot, inner city, Ivory Park, Soweto, and other areas. Small business struggle to access markets, funding, infrastructure.

05:38:11Madam Speaker, township economic revitalization should be used as a catalyst in transforming the impoverished communities of the City of Johannesburg. Madam Speaker, and when economic development programs underperform, it is the communities that feel the impact most. We must step beyond compliance and reporting. We must move towards impact. We must ensure that economic development is not measured by plans and presentation,

05:38:40but by jobs created, business supported, livelihoods improved and transformed. As the African National Congress, we believe in a developmental state, a state that actively intervenes in the economy to correct historical injustice and create opportunity for all, in particular the impoverished. This means we must strengthen support for SMMEs, particularly in townships and informal settlements.

05:39:11Madam Speaker, we must confront the issue of coordination. Economic development does not happen in isolation. It requires alignment between infrastructure, transport, finance, and spatial planning. Without this coordination, even the best programs will fail. To those who always argue that the city is failing, we say this: We acknowledge the challenges. We do not deny them,

05:39:39but we are committed to fixing them. As the great revolutionary Amílcar Cabral would say, quote, "Tell no lies, claim no easy victories," close quote. Because the work of economic transformation is complex, long-term, requires sustainable effort. Madam Speaker, the task before us is clear. We must improve implementation, strengthen accountability, focus on high-impact programs, ensure that every rand spent delivers value.

05:40:11Because ultimately, economic development is not about policy, it's about the people. It is not about whether a young person in Soweto can find work. It is about whether a small business in Alexandra can grow. It is about whether our city can become a place of opportunity for all. Because the future of Johannesburg depends on our ability to build an inclusive, growing and transformed economy.

05:40:38Madam Speaker, let me go on Tourism. Tourism is one of the most underutilized economic drivers in the City of Johannesburg. It has potential to create jobs, attract investment and position our city as a global destination. Johannesburg is not just an economic hub. It is a city rich in history, culture and diversity. From Vilakazi Street in Soweto to inner city heritage sites, to our cultural festivals and creative industries, the potential is immense.

05:41:07However, Madam Speaker, the report before us reflects that this potential is not being fully realized. Visitors growth remains limited. Economic impact below expectations. Global competitiveness remains a challenge. We must ask ourselves why. Part of the answer lies in coordination. Tourism does not exist in isolation. It depends on safety, infrastructure, transport, clean and functional public spaces.

05:41:36If these are not in place, tourism cannot thrive. We must also strengthen marketing and positioning. Johannesburg must be promoted not only as a business destination, but as a cultural and experiential destination. We must support local tourism, encouraging residents to explore and invest in their own city. We must empower small business in the tourism value chain. As African National Congress, we believe in inclusive economic growth. Tourism must benefit communities, not just large operators.

05:42:09We therefore call for stronger marketing strategies, improved coordination across departments, investment in tourism infrastructure, support for township tourism. Madam Speaker, tourism is not about visitors. It's about jobs, livelihoods and opportunity. We must unlock its full potential. We support this report while calling for stronger implementation impact. Joburg Market. Joburg Market stands as one of the most successful entities within the City of Johannesburg.

05:42:39It is a critical economic asset that supports food security, agricultural value chains, and economic activity. It is a critical economic asset that supports food security, agricultural value chains and economic... With significant turnover and strong operational performance, it demonstrates what is possible when governance, systems and operations align. While revenue performance remains strong, capital investment remains low.

05:43:07This presents a risk of long-term sustainability. Infrastructure must be maintained. Facility must be modernized. Capacity must be expanded. In a growing city, demands for food distribution and logistics will only increase. We must ensure that Joburg Market remains competitive, efficient and capable of meeting future demand. We must also recognize its role in supporting emerging farmers and small business.

05:43:44Hey, what's happening now? Okay, thanks, Madam Speaker. And Madam Speaker, Joburg must play a central role. Because as African National Congress, we are committed to food security, economic inclusion and sustainable development. We therefore call for increased capital investment,

05:44:10modernization of infrastructure, strengthened support for emerging producers, expansion of market access. Madam Speaker, on JPC. Joburg Property Company as an entity holds one of the most powerful tools available to the city: land and property. Land is not neutral. Land is power.

05:44:37Land is opportunity. And in a city like Johannesburg shaped by spatial inequality, how we use land determines whether we transform or reproduce inequality. We are dealing with a property portfolio that could unlock affordable houses, economic development, inner city revitalization, township economic hubs.

05:45:03Yet, Madam Speaker, we must acknowledge the performance has declined. Asset utilization remains suboptimal. Revenue potential is not fully realized. Projects are not moving at the pace required. This is not just an operational issue. It's a missed opportunity for transformation. In areas such as the inner city, we continue to see buildings that could be repurposed for housing and economic activity standing underutilized.

05:45:32In townships, land that could support small businesses and local economic development remains underdeveloped.

05:45:3745 seconds left, Councillor.

05:45:40As African National Congress, we believe using state assets strategically to drive development, reduce inequality. Johannesburg Property Company must become a catalyst for transformation, not just a custodian of assets. And in conclusion, Madam Speaker, as the ANC, we support the reports. And also,

05:46:04we are not going to speak about people who failed when they were in charge of this Economic Development. It's even painful when we hear people glory worship one MMC who never attended meetings of Economic Development. He only attended only virtual meetings. I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Items 10 to 19: MMC Mnisi's response and dispute over security guards

05:46:28MMC Mnisi.

05:46:38Good afternoon, Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg in absentia, Councillor Dada Morero, the Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Chauke, the Chair of Chairs, MMCs, and our distinguished guests in the gallery. Madam Speaker, I must correct the perception that suggests that the city lacks decisive implementation,

05:47:06which overlooks the very evidence of action happening across our municipality daily. Decisive implementation is about planning, prioritization, and accountability. And on all those fronts, this administration has shown the results. We have rolled out critical programs, ensured service delivery projects stay on track,

05:47:36and intervened in areas that previously were stalled. Where challenges existed, we do not shy away. We address them directly, learn, and improve our systems. Implementation, Madam Speaker, is a process, but make no mistake, it is happening, and it is guided by clear targets and oversight. So while criticism is easy, let us not mistaken accountability

05:48:05for inaction. The city is acting decisively, and we remain committed to ensuring every plan is executed for the benefit of our communities and residents, Madam Speaker. The security company, Madam Speaker, that is protecting this facility was appointed through the City Parks and Zoo panel, and I can confirm with you, Madam Speaker, all the employees are paid. So I am not certain

05:48:36where Councillor Dladla gets that information. Madam Speaker, I am not going to be... No, Madam Speaker, I'm not going to be bullied by Dladla.

05:48:47Can you hold on, ma'am? Can you hold on, MMC? Councillors, can we stop doing what we are doing? No, councillors. No one screamed when you were speaking. No, no one screamed. No, Councillor, in your speech you said you'll direct it to... No, no, no, I did not recognize you. In your speech you said you will direct it to me, so let the MMC speak.

05:49:17Thank you, MMC. Thank you, MMC. Can you continue?

05:49:21Councillor Dladla, unless you are also Madam Speaker then.

05:49:24No, Councillor, no.

05:49:26Councillor...

05:49:27Thank you, ma'am. Carry on.

05:49:28Madam Speaker...

05:49:29Colleagues! Colleagues, can we not do that? I've dealt with the councillor. Can we not do that? Councillor, MMC, can you continue?

05:49:41Madam Speaker, as political heads, we don't interfere in the procurement processes, unlike others who must go and respond before Madlanga allegations raised by Commissioner Nkosi on a list of security companies that they submitted in Tshwane. Madam Speaker, we note and welcome the valuable input...

05:50:09MMC, can you just... I'm stopping your time. Councillor Nkonyeni...

05:50:15it's very necessary.

05:50:17MMC, switch off your mic. Councillor Nkonyeni, or do you don't want to speak? Oh, Nkonyeni doesn't want to speak. MMC, can you continue? MMC, can you continue? MMC Mnisi,

05:50:37Point of order. Point of order. Point of order.

05:50:41MMC Mnisi, can you continue?

05:50:46No, on a point of order. On a point of order.

05:50:53Continue.

05:50:55Withdraw what? For who?

05:50:56MMC Mnisi.

05:50:58Madam Speaker, we note and welcome the valuable input...

05:51:00Madam Speaker!

05:51:01from councillors which enrich and strengthens the work of the...

05:51:06MMC Mnisi, hold on. Who's the councillor right at the back? Councillor Nethamba.

05:51:14Thank you very much, Speaker. Can the MMC please stick to the item? Because she...

05:51:31Can you switch off the mic at the back? Councillor Mnisi, can you continue? You have two minutes left.

05:51:39Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm still on the item, unless they want me to also...

05:51:43Can you continue, MMC? Can you just continue with your item?

05:51:45to address the issue of the security company list that was submitted. Madam Speaker, we note and welcome the valuable inputs from councillors which enrich and strengthens the work of the department and its entities. We request the council to note. Thank you.

Items 10 to 19: acting member in charge and adoption

05:51:59Thank you, Councillor Mnisi. The acting member in charge...

05:52:10isiZuluYeyi, i-ANC ingakhulumi ngoMadlanga Commission ngoba iMadlanga Commission...

05:52:15Whoever that is...

05:52:16isiZuluizobuya kabi.

05:52:19Deputy Mayor will remove you, wena. Deputy Mayor will remove you, wena.

05:52:26Everyone is implicated in Madlanga Commission, so don't speak about just CIC.

05:52:32isiZuluNawe uyaku-remove uNomoya.

05:52:36Chair Mogapi! Chair Mogapi! Chair Mogapi? Thank you, Councillor.

05:52:48Thanks, Madam Speaker. We acknowledge all the engagements, including...

05:52:54Madlanga Commission!

05:52:58No, thanks, Madam Speaker. We welcome all the engagements, including the response of the MMC, including the Madlanga issue. We persuade the council to note the report.

05:53:12Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Mogapi, I'm not sure. A councillor was on the podium, and you were just walking, cruising past the councillor. And I asked for Rule 30 to be read. Wena, you were just cruising. Thank you, colleagues.

05:53:36Recommendations are on pages 10.7, 11.23, 12.16, 13.4, 14.18, 15.6, 16.6, 17.23, 18.6, and 19.18. Are the items agreed to?

05:54:03Agreed.

05:54:05Thank you, colleagues. STC.

Items 20 to 24: Environment and Infrastructure Services items read and tabled

05:54:08We're now on item 20, and that is the performance assessment report for the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department for the 2025/2026 financial year for the October to December 2025, also read with item 21, which is the performance assessment report for City Power Johannesburg for 2025/2026 financial year for the period October to December 2025, also read with item 22, and that's the performance assessment report for Johannesburg Water for the 2025/2026 financial year for the period October to December

05:54:412025, also read with item 23, and that's the performance assessment report for Pikitup Johannesburg for the 2025/2026 financial year for the period October to December 2025. And lastly, the items are read together with item 24, and that's the oversight report of Section 79 Environment and Infrastructure Services Committee on the 2025/2026 second quarter performance assessment report of the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, Pikitup, Johannesburg Water, and Johannesburg City Power for the period October to December 2025.

05:55:17Thank you so much, STC. Member in charge, Chair Ngoepe.

05:55:34Thank you, Speaker. Molo, Speaker. Molo to the Executive Mayor, the Deputy Executive Mayor, the Chair of Chairs, Chairs of Section 79, not forgetting our Chief Whip, and the MMCs, the viewers at home, our guests in the gallery. Speaker, I rise to table item 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

05:56:07Those are EISD department items for council to note the report. Thank you.

Items 20 to 24: FF+ and DA on water, power and infrastructure

05:56:16Thank you so much, member in charge.

05:56:18AfrikaansVryheidsfront Plus, Raadslid Boer.

05:56:22AfrikaansGoeiemiddag, Mevrou die Speaker,

05:56:23fellow councillors. I'm rising on item 22, the quarterly report for Joburg Water. If I got some time left over, I will speak on 21 as well. Item 22 is a more important one, our water crisis in the city. The entity admits that the water revenue increased by 4.15% year-on-year, despite a 13.9% tariff adjustment. So in fact, our water income has gone down. Unfortunately,

05:56:53the cost of water, what we're paying to Rand Water, has gone up with 11.3%. So we can clearly see again, the gap between water purchases and water selling is getting bigger and bigger and bigger. And the entity admits it. The non-revenue water is standing at 48.7%, consisting of commercial losses, 11%, physical losses, 25.5%, and unauthorized usage, 12.2%.claim

05:57:25Madam Speaker, we are running for disaster in Johannesburg Water as a whole. Our water is leaking, and then we are proud and say that our water consumption is going down from 322 million kilolitres in 2024/2025 to 318 million. Madam Speaker, the water consumption is not going down because we are saving water. No, because there is no water in the taps what people can use. That is why the consumption is going down. So we must, instead of looking forclaim

05:57:58positive things and saying, yes, we are achieving our targets, we are getting worse and worse. Our residents are without water in the taps all over the city. And Madam Speaker, it is no wonder, because the report says that for this year, we've got an average of 4,336 pipe bursts per month, and that is up from last year's 2,960. 4,300 bursts per month, that is about 140 bursts per single day, every day of the week, every day of the month.claim

05:58:33And it is no wonder that our KPIs that says we have to repair a pipe burst within 48 hours is only standing at 43%, because we cannot keep on fixing the bursts, because the sooner we fix them, the sooner they break again.claim

05:58:50Afrikaans34 sekondes.

05:58:52Johannesburg Water is in dire straits. City Power not less. Their year-to-date loss is standing at R2.8 billion. Our purchases from Eskom are way above budget, about 1.15 billion, but our income is pretty flat. There as well, our non-revenue electricity is creeping up at 33%. Madam Speaker, in the CEO report and the chairperson's...

05:59:30AfrikaansDankie, Raadslid. Plesier, Speaker.

05:59:37Councillor R. Bittkau from the DA.

05:59:46Madam Speaker, I rise to speak to item 22. However, as you insist on treating all EISD items as one when allocating speakers' time, so I will speak to all, especially as they are interactive.

06:00:00and make a lot more sense when looked at as a whole rather than in silos. Madam Speaker, the infrastructure of the city is falling apart and every councillor can attest to this. As councillors, we spend more time acting as call centres rather than being able to do our work as members of the legislature. And that goes for all councillors, not just DA.

06:00:26We are told that water pipe bursts per 100 kilometres are below expectation. At the same time, we are told that only less than 44% of bursts were restored within 48 hours. That is a huge failure, but it's not surprising because there's a lack of funds for overtime and the administration has failed to bring in proper shift work. This lack is also one of the main contributors

06:00:54to our excessive water losses. Our lack of funds are further demonstrated in the failure to pay contractors because the city has not provided the funds to Joburg Water. Hence, Brixton reservoir and tower are way behind schedule, affecting about a million residents. On top of it, we have the refurbishment of Hursthill 1 and 2 at a standstill because of lack of payment.claim

06:01:20Yet, the executive thinks it's fine to sweep money and use it elsewhere, which we have asked repeatedly where elsewhere is, [no speech]claim

06:01:30but no answer has ever been forthcoming. Maybe we are investing in a fiddle for the mayor to play while Rome is burning. Madam Speaker, I have mentioned that I will cross-cut to other reports as it's not ever mentioned in the entities' report. Nobody mentions the delays due to electric cables being damaged, nor do we get a proper analysis of the damage to roads by water from pipe bursts. However, to the observant,claim

06:02:00it is interesting how often water damage to roads exposes the fact that the tarmac is only 20 mm thick instead of the required 40 mm. Substandard work at inflated prices because nobody cares. Madam Speaker, now let's look at the other end of er end, namely sewers. Every sewer spill ends up directly or indirectly in our river systems. Clearance of water blockages are at 12.5% below targetclaim

06:02:28for 48 hours. However, it does not tell us how much over the 48-hour target the outstanding 17.5% is. Let me give you an example. There are six broken sewer pipes discharging raw sewage into the Pampoen Spruit for close on a year. That is 8,790 hours, not just over 48 hours. We are on a watershed with rivers flowing south and west into the Vaal Orangeemotive

06:02:58river system, and we have others running north and east into the Crocodile River system. As such, we are responsible for two major river systems. We have regular water samples taken in our rivers. Unfortunately, the results are not reported to us as regularly. However, let me make it clear. The biological pollution, read it as sewage, is totally out of control.emotive

06:03:24Accepted levels of E. coli and Staphylococcus is 200 units per sample taken. Madam Speaker, we are at 200, but please note, we are at 200,000 up to 2 million per sample taken. [no speech]emotive

06:03:43What this means is that we are sitting on a powder keg with a fuse lit for a full-blown cholera outbreak. Already the results are in the Vaal River Barrage area right down to Parys, and in the north, it's in Hartbeespoort and Roodekopjes Damemotive

06:03:5640 seconds left.emotive

06:03:58and further afield. This is the legacy that is being left behind by this coalition of destruction. As I mentioned in the beginning, the similarities to the fall of the Roman Empire are there for all to see that care to look. The city is burning, but people in charge rather party or, as in Rome, have orgies and big feasts while ignoring the people at large. All I can say is shame on you, as there is a definite exposé of a general lack of conscience. I thank you.emotive

06:04:28Thank you, Councillor Bittkau. [no speech]

Items 20 to 24: PA, ACDP and EFF contributions

06:04:33Councillor Steenkamp from the Patriotic Alliance.

06:04:39Um, Madam Speaker, Councillor Ishmael Steenkamp had to leave, family emergency. But as the Patriotic Alliance, we note the report. Thank you.

06:04:45Thank you, Councillor. [no speech]

06:04:50Councillor Harris, is someone standing in for Councillor Harris from the ACDP?

06:04:58Uh, thank you very much, Madam Speaker. With your permission, I'd like to speak.

06:05:02Thank you.

06:05:02Okay, mute your

06:05:03Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Uh, greetings to you again, Madam Speaker, uh, all protocols observed. Um, Madam Speaker, I rise on Item 22, the Performance Assessment Report for the Johannesburg Water SOC Ltd in the 2025/2026 financial year for the period, uh, October to December 2025. Uh, Madam Speaker, the

06:05:31problems that we're facing with the water is that the ageing infrastructure is the main problem. We constantly have to repair, uh, infrastructure that is that is dilapidated, that is ageing, that has that should have, through the 30 years that the the ANC government was has been in power, should have been maintained, should have been upgraded. Not just maintained, Madam Speaker, like an ambulance, where you only respond when there is a problem or when someone calls you.

06:06:01But due to population increase, the uh the infrastructure should not only be repaired and maintained, it should be upgraded to accommodate population growth, Madam Speaker. So, had this been done, the the infrastructure problems would have been far less, hence meaning that water flows would have been more consistent and the population would then have more water to drink.

06:06:29This is the problem, Madam Speaker, it is incompetence, unwillingness, and uh a general lack of will. The ACDP notes this report with great concern. I thank you. God bless South Africa, God bless the sovereign State of Israel. I thank you.

06:06:44Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Mkasi from the EFF. [no speech]

06:06:59Um, thank you very much, uh Speaker. Greetings to EFF Caucus uh Leader, uh Dr. Gomisang Mgcina, our Caucus Whip, Councillor Thabiso Mogapi, fellow councillors, City of Johannesburg residents. Today, we are called not just to debate the report, we are called to confront the state reality of our people. Because behind those shiny pages, behind those percentages, there is a painful truth. Our people are suffering.

06:07:29Let us engage honestly with this report. Yes, it tells us that the performance sits at around 80% with 12 out of 15 targets achieved. Yes, it highlights achievements in water monitoring, waste diversion, and environmental compliance, but we must ask a revolutionary question: 80% for who? Because in the township of Johannesburg, there is no 80%. There's no partial service delivery. There is no water. The report itself exposes the crisis. It tells us thatclaim

06:07:59only 43.71% of pipe bursts are repaired within 48 hours against the target of 90%. What does that mean in real life? It means families go for days without water. It means clinics cannot operate properly. This is not a delay; this is a water disaster. In Zandspruit, as I speak now, our people do not have water. In Orange Farm, communities rely on water tanks that never arrive on time. In Diepsloot, residents fight over a single tap.claim

06:08:30In Soweto, whole sections go dry for days. In Alexandra, the infrastructure is collapsing under pressure. In Ennerdale, water shortages are now normalized. This is not governance; this is ignorance. Speaker, even the report admits the deeper structural failures. It tells us that when you include the unfunded positions, the department has a 50% vacancy rate. Uh, half the capacity needed to deliver services is missing. So how do you expect water to flow when the system itself isclaim

06:09:00um empty? Speaker, the report speaks about monitoring, it speaks about frameworks, it speaks about compliance. But our people are not drinking compliance. They are not bathing in frameworks. They need water, and they need water now. We must say it clear: Johannesburg is facing a water crisis, and that crisis has now escalated into a humanitarian disaster. And disasters do not need reports; they need urgent intervention. As revolutionaries, we do not reject

06:09:30progress. We recognize the work done, we recognize the effort by workers on the ground, but we refuse to be blinded by statistics while our people suffer. Because the role of leadership is not to celebrate mediocrity; it is to confront reality. Now, let me come to the last line of this report. The recommendation that we must simply note or approve it, it must be it must critique this. Because approval without accountability is betrayal. Approval without urgency is complicity.

06:10:00Approval without intervention is a surrender. But Speaker, we are not anarchists. We are revolutionaries with responsibilities. We understand that rejecting the report does not fix the crisis. So we take a principled position: we will approve this report, but we do so with clear warning. We approve it because

06:10:1942 seconds left.

06:10:20we are satisfied, we are not we approve it because we are we are satisfied, not because the crisis is over, but because our people cannot wait any longer for intervention. Our approval must come with a demand: immediate emergency response to water shortages, acceleration of infrastructure repairs, filling of critical vacancies, prioritization of townships in water distribution, accountability for failure to meet service standards. Freedom Charter reminds us:

06:10:50the people shall govern. But today, our people are not governing; they are suffering. And we cannot stand here comfortable while masses are thirsty. History will not judge us by how many [no speech]

Items 20 to 24: ActionSA and DA on Pikitup, water and power

06:11:06Thank you so much, Councillor. Councillor Mashala from ActionSA. [no speech]

06:11:18SepediTima maeke. Tima maeke.

06:11:21Councillor Mkasi, can you switch off your mic? Thank you so much.

06:11:26Yes. Um, thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise um to speak on Item 20 to 23. Um, Madam Speaker, as ActionSA, we acknowledge um the efforts made by these entities. However, it is essential to highlight um the significant challenges they face and the areas where we as a city are falling um short in delivering services to our residents. At the same time, we must remind this Council that better governance is not a theory; it has been done before. Let's begin with um

06:12:00let's begin with Pikitup. Yes, they achieved 90% of their SDBIP targets for the second quarter, which is commendable. However, we cannot overlook the troubling fact that Pikitup is currently operating with a staggering 56% vacancy rate. This alarming statistic directly impacts service delivery, contributing to illegal dumping and poor waste management in our communities. Furthermore, cash flow problems have delayed critical capital projects. As we celebrate these achievements, we must also demand accountability and a clear plan to address these vacanciesclaim

06:12:34and financial constraints. The oversight report paints a concerning picture, uh Madam Speaker. While Pikitup shows resilience, Johannesburg Water has only managed to meet 24% of its performance target. This is unacceptable, Madam Speaker. Only 69 households in informal settlements received water against a target of 250. Madam Speaker, we must ask: how do we justify this failure to our residents? City Power, while achieving 67.66% of its KPIs,claim

06:13:08is facing a financial crisis that threatens reliable electricity supply. Madam Speaker, under former Mayor Herman Mashaba, over R2 billion was invested in electrical infrastructure, outages were reduced through preventative maintenance, and the groundwork for energy diversification was laid. Today, we face prolonged outages, cable theft, and unspent capital budgets. [no speech]claim

06:13:36Um, turning to the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, while there has been a progress in waste diversion, the 50% vacancy rate remains deeply concerning. Delays in capital expenditure due to cash flow constraints are unacceptable. Johannesburg Water reports a 99.2% water quality compliance rate, which is commendable. However, a 74.40% collection rate and failure to meet basic service delivery targets highlights a systematic issue.

06:14:06Under former Mayor Herman Mashaba, new pipelines were laid, water tanker system improved, and leak response times strengthened. Today, we see non-revenue water, pipe bursts, sewage spills, and corruption concerns. Madam Speaker, the contrast is clear. Where there was once investment and leadership, we now see decline. ActionSA stands for infrastructure modernization,

06:14:37energy diversification, water security, and accountability. We remain committed to building an ethical, capable, and responsive city where residents receive the services they deserve. We will continue holding this administration accountable while championing real solutions for our communities. I thank you.

06:14:57Thank you, Councillor Mashala. Councillor Sekhu, DA. [no speech]

06:15:15Good day, Madam Speaker, councillors, the guests in the gallery. I speak on Item 23. Pikitup has long stood as one of the most stable entities within the city. However, this stability is now under serious threat. What was once a functioning and reliable service provider is steadily being undermined by deepening financial and operational challenges. At the centre of the decline

06:15:46lies a severe cash flow crisis. This has resulted in the grounding of essential fleet due to fuel card suspensions, delays in the vehicle licensing, and the failure to settle valid invoices within the prescribed 30-day period. Only 6% of the invoices have been paid on time. Such a situation is unsustainable and has cascading consequences for service delivery. Despite commendable efforts byclaim

06:16:17the staff and uh relatively strong performance indicators in certain areas, the entity is being crippled by systematic and internal constraints. Recently, landfill sites have refused entry to waste collection vehicles due to non-payment. This has led to unacceptable scenes where trucks, unable to offload, resorted to dumping waste on the public roads out of their frustration.claim

06:16:46Furthermore, the closure of garden sites and ongoing disruptions in refuse collection are placing the City of Johannesburg in an increasingly hazardous position. If left unaddressed, our city risks becoming overwhelmed by uncollected waste with serious public health implications. Operational challenges are further compounded by shortages of wheelie bins due to supply delays. Logistics and security

06:17:17constraints are persistent, with staff transportation hampered by unresolved impasses with taxi associations and insufficient support for night shift operators. While it is acknowledged that certain waste diversion and public education targets have been met, these achievements are not reflected in the lived reality of the residents. Moreover, the lack of progress in developing new landfill sites is deeply concerning, particularly given

06:17:4530 seconds left.

06:17:45that existing sites have an estimated remaining capacity of only two years. The people of Johannesburg deserve reliable, dignified service delivery. They deserve water in their taps, electricity in their homes,

06:18:0018 seconds.

06:18:01and consistent, uninterrupted refuse collection. The DA is committed to providing that. Thank you very much, Speaker.

Items 20 to 24: EFF speaker mix-up, ANC and MMC response

06:18:08Thank you. Councillor Moepi, EFF. Not in the house. [no speech]

06:18:27Councillor, I'm not sure, but it was sent from your office, and if my mind serves me right, Councillor Moepi resigned. So who's the councillor that's speaking?

06:18:39No, Speaker, Councillor Mkasi spoke on that item.

06:18:43So it's done.

06:18:44And Councillor Moepi, he's still the councillor here.

06:18:47Okay, so where is Councillor Moepi? Mkasi spoke on behalf. Okay.

06:18:51Apologies. I sent the apology for Councillor Moepi.

06:18:53Okay. Councillor Zondo. Ayi! Human beings make mistakes! Human beings makes a mistake! Councillor Komane, your surname has said you are disappointing her. Councillor Zondo from the ANC.

06:19:18Eh, greetings, Speaker. I'm rising on behalf of Councillor Zondo.

06:19:23Thank you.

06:19:24Is eh As ANC, we note the challenges faced by the entities. We also welcome and note the positive achievements attained in the quarter under review in these difficult circumstances. I thank you.

06:19:48Thank you, Councillor. Who's standing in for the MMC? Thank you, MMC um

06:19:59isiXhosaMgcina.

06:20:00isiXhosaMgcina.

06:20:01Mm. Thank you very much, eh Madam Speaker. We have noted all the points raised by councillors, and we will definitely um eh forward them to the relevant MMC and officials. Thank you very much.

06:20:19Thank you so much, MMC. Member in charge, Councillor Ngoepe. [no speech]

Councillor Ngoepe's report on residents' conduct and non-revenue water

06:20:27Thank you, Speaker.

06:20:29isiZuluSpeaker, uzoze ungithuke. Ubungibiza isibongo sami kakhona. Angazi ukuthi

06:20:35Can you can you say it so that I can repeat after you?

06:20:38isiZuluOkay, let me just fix this nale situlo. Okay, Ngoepe, Ngoepe.

06:20:43SepediNgoepe.

06:20:44SepediNgoepe.

06:20:47I'll practice it on my own, not here. Thank you, Councillor.

06:20:51Alright. Alright, thank you, Speaker. Um, as I would like to thank the study group, the officials, and acknowledge everything that has been said, Speaker, I also want to educate our residents, Speaker. Here, I've got some pictures that I've I took, something that are happening in our wards, Speaker.

06:21:20So, as you heard, some of the councillors are speaking that um there's so much sewer blockages, and some of them, they are taking 48 hours. Some of these reasons, we need to educate the residents. Because of if you can see here, this is a sewer blockage. It emanates from encroachment. Some of the residents are not making our job

06:21:50easy and that of the officials. So I thought let me just print this out so that they can see it, that we normally speak to them to fix it. I'm not speaking to anybody else but the residents of the City of Johannesburg, and I do not interrupt anyone when they speak, please. And then this is City Power, Speaker. You can see here, the residents are connecting as well themselves to the City Power

06:22:20poles, streetlights. So I want to correct as well, as we're correcting as councillors, the officials, we need to also educate our residents not to do these things because it tampers to the cash flow of the City of Johannesburg. Right now, we as a study group, we are taking note that there's um, if I go back here, J Water non-revenue sitting at 48%, unbilled

06:22:50consumption, 12.2%, and commercial loss, 11%, 25.2% loss. These are coming from the leaks,

06:23:0130 seconds left.

06:23:02eh, Speaker. So, and again, Speaker, there's this i-Pikitup. Pikitup is working, we are working. Because in our study group, we always advocate that what we see in our wards, we should see in the officials' papers. But now, I'm saying to us as councillors, let's go back as well and educate our our residents because of the litter. If you can see here, there's a skip bin,

06:23:268 seconds.

06:23:27but there's litter on the floor. Okay, Speaker, thank you. I'd like Council to note and approve the report.

06:23:37Thank you so much. Thank you, Councillor. I'm certain residents have listened. Colleagues, the recommendations are on pages 20.5, 21.18, 22.3, 23.9, 24.54 to 24.55. Are the items agreed to?

06:24:03Agreed. [no speech]

06:24:09Chair of Chairs, before STC reads into record, please. No, Chair of Chairs, come this side. Before he reads the item into record. Thank you. [no speech]

06:24:36I thought you were saying you want to sit down. [no speech]

06:25:05STC.

Items 30-33: Legislature and Ombudsman performance and oversight reports

06:25:09Uh, councillors, we are on Item 30, and that is the Performance Assessment Report for the City of Johannesburg Legislature Department for the 2025/26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, also read with Item 31, which is the Oversight Report of OCOL on the 2025/26 Second Quarter Budget and Performance Assessment Report of the Legislature of the City of Johannesburg for the period October to December 2025, also read with Item

06:25:3832, which is the Performance Assessment Report for the Office of the Ombudsman for the 2025/26 financial year for the period October to December 2025, and lastly read with Item 33, which is the Oversight Report of the OCOL on the 2025/26 Second Quarter Performance Report of the City of Johannesburg Office of the Ombudsman for the period October to December 2025.

06:26:05Thank you very much, uh STC. We now move to the member in charge. Um, I see uh Councillor Ponsonby is not here. Any member of the Committee of Oversight to table the report for consideration? [no speech]

06:26:39Councillor Zwane? Councillor Shackleford? [no speech]

06:26:49Councillor Da Gama? Councillor Molefe from the ANC?

06:27:06Thank you, Chair of Chairs. Uh, let me take this opportunity to table from Item 30, Item 31, Item 32, and 33 on behalf of OCOL Section 79 for consideration. Thank you.

06:27:30Thank you very much, uh Councillor Molefe. I see Councillor Zwane from ActionSA is not here. Is there anyone who wants to speak on his behalf from ActionSA? That's uh Councillor Munyayi.

06:27:47Yeah, uh no, thanks, Chair of Chairs. Uh Councillor, we have a councillor from ActionSA in the same uh item that will speak, u-Councillor Tsoadi. Then we'll donate the 2 minutes of Councillor Mageba to Councillor Tsoadi.

06:28:04isiZuluHhayi niyalisa eyi, awuyithathe lento ayinabungozi.

06:28:11Councillor um Tsoadi, I hope I called your name properly. Apologies.

06:28:20No, totally not. My surname is Tsoadi, not Tsoai, Tsoadi.

06:28:27AfrikaansUh, goeiedag, agbare Speaker, Hoofsweep van die Raad, Leier van die van ons uh koukus van ActionSA, en alle raadslede in die in die Huis.

06:28:50Uh, protect me, uh Speaker. Protect me, please.

06:28:54Councillors, let's give him an opportunity to proceed. Thank you.

06:28:58AfrikaansThank you. Uh, spesiale groet aan die inwoners van die Stad van Johannesburg. Ek neem saam Eish. Uh, Madam uh Speaker, Speaker, Speaker, ek neem kennis ek neem kennis punt tot punt van 3.3 soos ons ActionSA.

06:29:29Thank you so much. [no speech]

06:29:37So Councillors, I'm even battling to understand if that's Afrikaans or that's um, but let's move. Let's let's let's move, Councillors. Uh, councillor from Freedom Front Plus, Councillor Smit.

06:29:59Good afternoon, Chair of Chairs.

06:30:00Chair, Councillor Smit is not in council today, so his three minutes are up for sale. Thank you.

06:30:08Thank you very much, Councillor Boer, and we will move to Councillor Mkhonza from ACDP.

06:30:18So, am I taking the three minutes from FF Plus?

06:30:25Councillor Mkhonza, you've got three minutes and it started.

06:30:28Thank you. Thank you, Speaker. I stand to speak on item 30 and item 32 only. So I'll try and summarize quickly. On item 32, let me start with item 32 so that I focus on the Ombud. We acknowledge the 100% departmental performance without having to speak about the unresolved complaint by the Orlando East entrepreneurs from JPC,

06:30:58which took over 14 years. We also note the non-achievement of the gatekeeping KPIs which stands at 71% and the CapEx and the non-payment of invoices within 30 days. The ACDP caucus will closely monitor the unspent CapEx on case management and recommend that the CM assist the office in resolving the non-payment of invoices as they claim that these are beyond their control.claim

06:31:28On item 30, at the outset, the ACDP wishes to acknowledge the department's 21% improvement in performance compared to the previous quarter. Additionally, we acknowledge the 100% implementation of oversight program, the 5% improvement on ward councillor convened meetings from 49% to 54%, though worryingly low from the previous quarter, which directly affects the voter apathy.

06:31:58On community-based planning meeting, 67% of councillor participation must improve, and we all have to play a role in improving the voter apathy and the trust on politicians in general. The engaged citizenry KPI exposes all of us of the immaturity or inconsiderate. This reporting quarter registering 44.6%,

06:32:30which does no justice to the voter apathy and the overall trust on politicians. The performance may not be a true reflection owing to the inconsistent or late submission of attendance registers to mention a few, which negatively affects audit, governance, and litigation risk. One question, Acting Speaker, do we have any consequence management

06:33:00Sorry?

06:33:0130 seconds.

06:33:02Thank you. Acting Speaker, one question. Do we have consequence management for some of us who does not comply with the code of conduct with regards to councillors not I'm sorry, in arrears for rates and services charges for more than 90 days. If not, kindly consider a direct deduction from such councillors with immediate effect, looking at the remaining eight months that we have all of us as outgoing councillors. Thank you very much.

06:33:37Thank you very much, Councillor Mkhonza. Now we are moving to Councillor Mokwena from the EFF.

06:33:46Thank you very much, Acting Speaker, Son of the Hunter. Greetings to EFF caucus, fellow councillors, guests in the gallery and most importantly, residents of the City of Johannesburg. Speaker, when we look at this report together, what becomes clear is that we are dealing with a system that is busy, but not necessarily effective. Yes, meetings are happening, reports are being written, oversight visits are being conducted,

06:34:16but the real question is, is this oversight changing the lived reality of residents? Because if it was, we could not still be dealing with the same complaints. Water leaks, sewage spills, billing errors, potholes, and delays in basic services appearing again and again. Speaker, let us start with the Office of the Ombudsman. On paper, the Ombudsman is performing very well,

06:34:46high resolution rates, targets achieved, and complaints processed, but when we dig deeper, a different picture emerges. Residents are still complaining about the same service delivery failures. There are still delays in fixing infrastructure, still billing issues and still poor responsiveness from departments. What this tells us is that the Ombudsman is treating symptoms, not fixing the system.

06:35:16If complaints keep coming back, it seems departments are not implementing solutions permanently. Speaker, another concern is financial and operational discipline. We see issues like poor capital spending, delays in paying invoices, and slow implementation of systems. These are not small technical issues. They affect how fast services are delivered to our people. Speaker, when we move to the legislature,

06:35:46the situation is equally concerning. Performance is sitting around just above half of targets achieved, and key areas like public participation, ward governance and petition management are not functioning at the level expected. We are told that thousands of residents are being engaged, but the data cannot even be verified properly because attendance registers are missing. This creates a serious problem. We cannot claim success if we are not,

06:36:16we cannot prove it. Speaker, even more concerning is the backlog of over a thousand unresolved petitions. These petitions represent real issues raised by residents, and when they remain unresolved, it means the voices of the people are being ignored. Speaker, the EFF has always been clear, oversight must not be a tick-box exercise. It must lead to real accountability and real consequences. We therefore propose the following.

06:36:50Firstly, departments must be forced to implement Ombudsman recommendations within strict timeframes, with consequences for failure. Secondly, the city must strengthen internal accountability systems so that recurring complaints are eliminated at source. Thirdly, the legislature must improve data integrity and reporting so that performance is credible and verifiable.

06:37:19Fourthly, the backlog of petitions must be addressed with clear turnaround times so that residents receive responses to their concerns. Speaker, at the heart of all these reports is one issue, a gap between reporting and reality. Until the gap is closed, residents will continue to experience poor service delivery, regardless of how good the reports may look. The people of Johannesburg do not need reports, they need results. Thank you.

06:37:49Thank you so much, Councillor. ANC, Councillor S. Phometsi.

06:38:03Thanks. Greetings, Speaker, to you. Greetings to our Chief Whip. Greetings to all the councillors and also the gallery, including the community of Joburg. Speaker, I'm standing here on item 30 up to 31.

06:38:28Okay, Speaker, on that item, the key highlights on the performance against the oversight accountability. The report on the legislature fully achieved its key KPIs of the implementation of the oversight programs. It reached the 100% on that quarterly, which it was targeted. The key activity it includedclaim

06:38:58the eight oversight visits. We also have the 21 Section 79 Portfolio Committee meetings, and also an increase on the councillors' public meeting, five, and also 13 oversight reports on the executive's 2025 and 2026 first quarter performance. In addition, on the political side leaders, which conducted targeted oversight visits,claim

06:39:30including the schools visited to address the issue of safety incidents and educational matters, including the service delivery inspection, e.g., electrification in the informal settlement that needed emergency. Service readiness checks, a site visit in Soweto following the building collapse. We go to item 31. The Office of the Speaker reportedclaim

06:40:00high activity during the quarter, including the intergovernmental engagement, the civic education, the community-based program, gender-based violence initiatives, and service delivery walkabouts. A total of 15 speeches were delivered, and Facebook engagement grew by 43%. The previous indicator measured Speaker engagementclaim

06:40:30was replaced with the smart city indicators, though its purpose and measurement remain unclear. The Office of the Chair of Chairs focused on supporting Section 79 committees, strategic planning oversight, coordination and stakeholder engagement, key service delivery issues identified during oversight visits included the electrification and water leaks,claim

06:41:00housing challenges, school safety, the CBD service delivery, and major infrastructure projects. The Office of the Whip of Council managed the multiparty, the coordination and research support, and councillors' discipline. The monthly arrears monitoring revealed that 11 councillors were overdue on payment beyond 90 days.claim

06:41:30This is a plea, those councillors, they need to pay this overdue payment. Thank you, Speaker.claim

06:41:40Thank you so much, Councillor Phometsi. Chair of Chairs, Councillor A. Marema.

06:41:47Thank you very much, Honourable Speaker. You know, I'm sitting here, I'm watching, I just saw a message that popped up. When I opened that message, I see one leader in the country swimming in some hole with... Oh, sorry.

06:42:10No, apologies, I pressed by mistake.

06:42:13Thank you very much, Speaker. By that I wanted to say we are not scared of being criticized. When issues are raised, at times are not raised to demoralize us, but are raised for us to correct, are raised for us to become better. Like those who are swimming, they are also teaching us that perhaps we need to build better swimming pools for them.

06:42:43I arise to ask council to, you know, after of course I agree that there's a whole lot of things that I have taken as a stock from the discussions and the debate. One of the fundamental things that comes out as strong is that what is written in the paper must be what is happening on the ground. There must be some sort of a balance between the two. The report may look very good on the paper,

06:43:14but is it the reality on the ground? We take that point and as a point of correction and a constructive criticism, we take that and we will definitely look into that. I ask council to approve. Thank you.

06:43:28Who's the acting member in charge? Councillor Modise.

06:43:34Thank you very much, and thanks to all the participants with regards to all called matters. I submit that we should at least adopt all the reports. Thank you.

06:43:49Thank you so much, Acting Member in charge. Recommendations are on page 30.11 and 31.9. Are the items agreed to?

06:44:04I see the Chair of Chairs and Councillor Belinda is having a beautiful conversation.

06:44:10She won't, she won't scoff. She doesn't want to go to the swimming pool.

06:44:13Thank you, colleagues. It was just a very light note. STC, can we go to the next item?

Items 34-35: Public Safety performance report, opening speakers

06:44:21Councillors, item 34 is the performance assessment report for the Public Safety Department for the 2025/2026 financial year for the period October to December 2025, also read with item 35, which is an oversight report of the Section 79 Public Safety Committee on the 2025/2026 second quarter performance report of the Department of Public Safety for the period October 2025 to December 2025.

06:44:47Member in charge, Councillor H. Makhuba.

06:44:56Thank you, Speaker. Greetings to the Executive Mayor in absentia, the Deputy Executive Mayor in absentia, and I'm going to say all protocol observed. I rise to table item 34, the performance assessment report for the Public Safety Department for the 2025/2026

06:45:26financial year for the period October to December 2025. That goes together with item 35, oversight report of the Section 79 Public Safety Committee on the 2025/2026 second quarter performance report of the Department of Public Safety for the period of October 2025 to December 2025 for council consideration. Thank you.

06:45:59Thank you so much, Member in charge. ActionSA, Councillor K. Moatshe. I hope I've pronounced it right.

06:46:12Thank you, Speaker. Greetings to you, fellow councillors, members of the media, guests in the gallery, most importantly, residents of Johannesburg. Speaker, I rise to speak on item 34 and 35 respectively. The report tells us that a 92% target has been reached, but the residents of Johannesburg are not living in a 92%claim

06:46:43safe city. They are living in fear. Because outside of this report, a lawyer is gunned down in cold blood, communities are overrun by drugs, families live next to drug dens and illegal activity with no protection. Crime is no longer an exception. It is becoming normalized, and that is the reality we must confront. Speaker, the real problem here is not that the department is doing nothing,

06:47:16it is that what is being done is not enough and not effective where it matters the most. Yes, the report speaks about thousands of operations, increased enforcement, inspections, and interventions, but Johannesburg is not crying out for more activity. It is crying out for results. Because if thousands of operations are happening, why are our communities still under siege? One of the biggest failures in this city is our inability to confront the drug crisis head-on.

06:47:48Entire communities are being destroyed, young people are being lost, neighborhoods are controlled by dealers, and law enforcement is often absent or inconsistent. You know, when leaders like Xolani Khumalo stand up and fight against drugs in their communities, they are attacked, undermined, and politicized. Instead of being supported, they are turned into political targets. This is unacceptable, because these are the very people doing the work that government should be leading on.

06:48:21Speaker, the report measures operations, compliance, outputs, but it does not measure whether a mother feels safe walking home, whether children can play outside, whether communities are free from drugs and violence, and until we measure that, we are not solving the problem. Speaker, this is why Operation Fix Joburg is coming, because safety cannot be managed through reports. It must be enforced on the ground. ActionSA will take the fight directly to the drug networks,

06:48:54strengthen visible policing in communities, protect whistleblowers and community activists, and restore law and order within Johannesburg. We will not tolerate a city where criminals are more powerful than the residents. We have done it before. Speaker, under Herman Mashaba, this city showed that when there is political will, things change. Lawlessness was confronted, the inner city was being reclaimed, residents could feel the difference and see the difference.

06:49:26That is the standard we are returning to. The days where communities are left to fight crime alone are coming to an end under ActionSA. Your Terrence and James will multiply, Xolani Khumalo will multiply, your Dr. Nasiphi Moya will multiply. Operation Fix Joburg, we are going to take this city. We note the report. Thank you.emotive

06:49:48Thank you, Councillor. Councillor R. Pelzer from Freedom Front Plus.

06:50:00Thank you, Madam Speaker. All protocols observed. I rise to speak on item 34, performance assessment report for the Public Safety Department for the 25/26 financial year, for the period October to December 2025. In this period, only two KPIs were not met: percentage of compliance improvementclaim

06:50:30on high-risk buildings focusing on hotspot areas, and number of vehicles tested for roadworthiness. So, there is some room for improvement on the KPIs. Madam Speaker, in this performance assessment report for the Public Safety Department for the period October to December 25, important, October to December, a key output was speed enforcement.claim

06:51:03458,027 violations detected via fixed and mobile cameras and roadside checks, including 54,027 through fixed cameras and 375 high-speed arrests where criminal thresholds were exceeded.claim

06:51:33Round of applause is in order, I suppose, except our current problem is that since then, since December, the cameras were not operational. No speed enforcement and no income for the city. Considering that the department spent a total of R1.97 billion against a budget of R1.72 billion,

06:52:05reflecting an overspending of more than R250 million.

06:52:1140 seconds left.

06:52:13Currently, no camera speed prosecutions and overspending on budget. This does not look good at all. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

06:52:25Thank you, Councillor Pelzer. Councillor M. Smouse from the Patriotic Alliance.

06:52:38Greetings in that powerful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Greetings, Madam Speaker, Chief Whip of Council, PA Joburg 11 councillors under the capable leadership of our caucus leader, MMC Kenny Kunene, in his absence, fellow councillors, guests in the gallery, and most importantly, residents of the City of Johannesburg. Item 34 and 35, the Patriotic Alliance notes this report with deep concerns. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

06:53:09Thank you, Councillor Smouse. ACDP, Councillor Rohlssen.

06:53:18Thank you very much, Honourable Speaker. I greet you all in the precious name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Again, amen and amen. Greetings, Madam Speaker, all protocols observed. Madam Speaker, I rise on item 34, the Public Safety 2025/2026 mid-year performance report measured against the 2025/2026 departmental SDBIP.

06:53:49Madam Speaker, the AC- Am I protected, Madam Speaker?

06:53:54Councillors, can we please not do that?

06:54:01From the noise.

06:54:02No, no, no, you on this side. On this side there's and especially somewhere there in that corner. Thank you, Councillor Rohlssen.

06:54:13Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the ACDP notes the program interventions that were undertaken in the second quarter, which include roadblocks, roadside checkpoints, joint operations, inspections, patrols, as well as educational campaigns. Madam Speaker, the ACDP calls on the department to urgently respond to calls of the residents of Riverlea, who have warned the city of an impending disaster that is looming in the Riverlea and Nasrec precinct area.

06:54:46Madam Speaker, the Zama Zamas are using explosives and drilling equipment beneath the homes of the residents of Riverlea, as well as near the fuel and gas pipelines situated next to and below the FNB Stadium. The ACDP calls on the Department of Public Safety to elevate this matter and to work in collaboration with the Mayor's Office, specialized police units,

06:55:17and mining executives, and to do everything possible to protect the lives of the residents of Riverlea and the lives of those visiting the FNB Stadium. The T.C. Esterhuysen Primary School is also affected by the Zama Zamas, who leave dead bodies at the back of the entrance of the school, leaving school children completely traumatized. This is completely unacceptable, Madam Speaker.

06:55:48Zama Zamas are terrorists. Let's call them what they are. They are terrorists as they are terrorizing our communities,

06:55:5540 seconds left.

06:55:56Thank you, Madam Speaker. And they need to be dealt with as terrorists. Our people deserve better. God bless South Africa. God bless the sovereign state of Israel. I thank you.emotive

06:56:10Councillor Mohlala, can you please come back to your seat? Oh, okay, it's not Councillor Mohlala there. Because those three councillors there, no, no, IT is at the back. The seat in front of IT, the next seat, there's a lot of disruption there, and they disrupted Councillor Rohlssen earlier on. It's two lady councillors and then the gentleman. You can't do that, councillors. Thank you.

DA Cllr Maila on crime statistics and a dispute over the word 'incompetent'

06:56:44Councillor Maila from the DA.

06:57:11Madam Speaker, the Honourable the Leader of the Official Opposition, the Honourable the Whip of Council, honourable members of council, the City Manager and your top management team, the people of Johannesburg, greetings and salutations. The South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995, which establishes the country's metropolitan police services,claim

06:57:44was amended through the SAPS Amendment Act of 1998 so as to provide a framework for the establishment, functions, and control of these municipal police services, practically to give effect to the provisions of Section 206, Subsection 7 of the Constitution of the Republic. It is from Section 64E of the SAPS Amendment Act 83 of 1998

06:58:15that we learn that the functions of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Service within the Department of Public Safety are traffic policing, the policing of municipal bylaws, and crime prevention, which is a shared mandate with the South African Police Service in line with the provisions of Section 205, Subsection 3 of the Constitution. The reason I'm reminding all of us of the constitutional andclaim

06:58:46legislative framework that established the JMPD is because we are concerned as the DA about the levels of serious and violent crime, as well as the near total neglect of bylaw enforcement across the city, especially in the Johannesburg inner city. Madam Speaker, this second quarter performance report of the Public Safety Department coincides with the third quarter crime statistics released by the South African Police Service for the period October to December 2025.claim

06:59:20In these crime statistics, we find that seven police stations situated in our city are listed among the top 30 police stations in the country that recorded the most contact crimes in the quarter under review. Before I tell you which police stations these are, please allow me, Madam Speaker, to explain that contact crimes are defined as crimes in which the victims are the targets of violence, or instances where the victims are in the vicinity of a property that criminals target and are, as a consequence,claim

07:00:00subjected to the use of violence or threats thereof by perpetrators. Contact crimes are such crimes, Madam Speaker, as murder, attempted murder, rape, assault GBH, or assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, and all categories of robbery, including robbery with aggravating circumstances, such as carjacking, robbery at residential premises, and robbery at non-residential premises, which are sometimes, colloquially, referred to as the trio crimes by the police.claim

07:00:36The seven police stations that give us a bad name as a city in this category, Madam Speaker, which category brings the most fear of crime to the 6 million residents of our city, were listed as follows in the crime statistics referred to herein above. Number one is Alexandra, which is second in the province only from Tembisa, and it is ranked number eight in the country of 1163 police stations.

07:01:12The second police station that gives us a bad name in the city is the Johannesburg Central Police Station, which is ranked at number four in the province and number 12 in the country. Third is the Jeppe Police Station, ranked number six in the province and number 14 in the country, followed by Ivory Park, which is ranked number seven in the province and number 15 in the whole of the republic. Hillbrow is number five and it is listed or ranked as number eight in the province and number 17 in South Africa.

07:01:51Roodepoort is the sixth police station that gives us a bad name, and it is ranked at number nine in the province and number 19 in the Republic of South Africa. The last of the seven is Eldorado Park, that is ranked number 11 in the province and 24 in the country. Madam Speaker, one would have expected that the deployment of the JMPD as part of its crime prevention mandate would be informed by these crime statistics,

07:02:23but we have a leadership of the department that is so incompetent that it does not even know that the JMPD's traffic policing mandate includes ensuring that there is sustainable speed law enforcement across the city. As I speak, and as you would have heard from my colleague from the Freedom Front Plus, and because of this incompetence, we still don't have speed law enforcement in the city since the previous contract lapsed in this very quarter on the 23rd of December 2025.

07:02:59Police visibility is almost non-existent in the city.

07:03:03Councillor Maila, can you take your seat, please? Please also mention which point of order you standing on. Thank you, Councillor.

07:03:20So, Speaker, you're intimidating me right now, so I must not speak because you're intimidating me.

07:03:26You must speak, but you must stand.

07:03:28I'm rising on a point of order, a personal point of order. So, I must be intimidated right now because you don't want me to speak.

07:03:36No, please come.

07:03:38Speaker, it's Rule 71. Read Rule 71 there.

07:03:49It's very clear when you get up, I know. Thank you, Councillor Maila.

07:03:54No, Speaker, I'm not done. It's Rule 71. I just want to say Councillor Maila must withdraw incompetent. We are talking about the good doctor here, commissar. Incompetent?

07:04:05Thank you, Councillor.

07:04:06We are not even calling...

07:04:17Councillor Komane, speak to your councillor next to you. Thank you, Councillor Maila. There's no incompetent MMC here, please.

07:04:31Thank you, Councillor Maila.

07:04:34Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Police visibility is almost non-existent in the city, especially at night. I have even lost...

07:04:48Withdraw what?

07:04:50Councillor Maila, can you please withdraw incompetent?

07:05:04Colleagues, wait. Councillor Maila, just hold on, Councillor Maila. Before I take any hands, in fact, Councillor Maila did not say any names of someone being incompetent. Thank you. Councillor Maila, carry on. I'm not going to take hands. I'm not taking hands, I'm not. Councillor Maila, carry on.

07:05:35Thank you very much.

07:05:36No, he didn't mention names. Councillor Maila, please carry on.

07:05:40Listening is a skill, Madam Speaker.

07:05:44Can we allow Councillor Maila to carry on? Thank you, Councillor.

07:05:50Madam Speaker, listening is a skill. Police visibility is almost non-existent in the city, especially at night. I've even lost count of the number of public safety related complaints I received in this very quarter, ranging from noise pollution or disturbance of the public peace to people simply deciding to block residents' driveways with their motor vehicles as they visit liquor outlets that often operate without the requisite licenses.

07:06:24It is as if we do not have the largest metropolitan police service in the country. Madam Speaker, it was in this very quarter that we were told by the commission of inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system, or the Madlanga Commission, that a JMPD officer, Johannes Mokgatle or Magatle, was allegedly abusing his position and the city's

07:06:5145 seconds.

07:06:53and the city's resources to further the criminal interests of criminal cartels. Madam Speaker, the DA notes the second quarter performance report of the Department of Public Safety for the 2025/2026 financial year. We continue to express the hope that the people of Johannesburg will, in the upcoming local government elections, choose the only party with a proven track record of clean governance and an unshakeable commitment

07:07:2120 seconds left.

07:07:23to constitutionalism, the rule of law and meritocracy. I thank you.

07:07:29Thank you, Councillor.

07:07:31SepediRalela bana mogala.

EFF Cllr Mkasi defends the Public Safety department

07:07:33EFF. EFF, Councillor Mkasi.

07:07:41SepediO rapele tšhelete ba ka go bolaya wena mogala.

07:07:42EFF, Councillor Mkasi.

07:07:44Thank you very much, Speaker, again. Greetings to EFF Johannesburg battalion led by Dr Mgcina, our newly

07:07:56Councillor, just hold on. The councillor behind you... No, I'm keeping your time. The councillor behind you, it's your own councillor on the podium. The councillor next to Councillor Komane, it's your own councillor, don't do that to him. Thank you, Councillor. I've kept your time.

07:08:15[inaudible] greetings to EFF Johannesburg battalion led by Dr Mgcina, our newly sworn-in commissar Kukhube, who serve at the central command team of the EFF, the highest decision-making body in between assemblies, fellow progressive councillors, most importantly, the EFF ground forces and City of Johannesburg residents. Speaker, let me begin by politically congratulating Councillor Thabiso Mogapi on her elections as a chairperson of the HSD Section 79 Oversight Committee.

07:08:49This is not a ceremonial appointment, it is a political statement. Councillor Mogapi is a proven ground force of our struggle, not new to leadership. She serves in the Gauteng provincial command team responsible for community safety, and she sits within the PCC and the PDC, the most disciplined and progressive machinery of our movement. In the EFF, we do not tokenize women, we place them at the centre of power.

07:09:16We do not ask for permission to empower women, we take that space decisively. We are not apologetic about women leading, we are deliberate about it because when women lead, the struggle advances, and when the struggle advances, the people move closer to true freedom. Today, we are not just debating the report, we are debating the safety in Johannesburg. And we must be clear, the fight against crime is linked to fight against poverty and inequality.claim

07:09:46Let me be direct, the department under the EFF leadership is working and we are not speaking from emotions, we are speaking from facts. Crime in the priority categories has decreased by 0.84%. Police visibility now covers all 135 wards. Over 5 000 operations were conducted, more than 1 600 arrests were made, and over 3 200 traffic operations took place. Nearly 100 000 vehicles were stopped and searched.

07:10:17Over 52 000 individuals were searched, and more than 1 200 incidents were detected through CCTV.

07:10:26XitsongaNi swi twile hi va Maila kwalanu.

07:10:28And importantly, our emergency management service continue to respond to crisis across the city, saving lives through faster responses time, fire intervention and disaster management operations. This means lives are being protected, communities are being reached, and the city is becoming more responsive in times for emergency. The Economic Freedom Fighters has always been clear, crime does not exist in isolation. It comes from poverty, it comes from unemployment, it comes from inequality.

07:10:58And as Amílcar Cabral reminds us, "Tell no lies, claim no easy victories." We do not lie, we do not exaggerate, we present facts and we face reality. Yes, we still have minor challenges. Compliancy in high-risk building is at 20.35%, below the 25% target. Hijacked buildings remains a threat, infrastructure still limits policing capacity, but our approach is clear. We fix what is not working, we enforce accountability, we work with our communities.emotive

07:11:30This report shows progress. City begins to work, department restoring order, but one department cannot fix Johannesburg alone. For the city to work, all department must function, leadership must be consistent, government must be capable. Let us end with the truth they avoid. The city does not run on boardroom or through courts, it runs on the backs of workers, workers who wake up early, workers who keep this city alive,

07:11:5545 seconds.emotive

07:11:56and today those workers are saying enough is enough. The PFA struggle is not just about wages, it is about dignity, and those who oppose it must be called what they are, defenders of exploitation, because you cannot claim to support service delivery while undermining workers who deliver it. You cannot speak of stability while workers remain in poverty. You cannot build a capable state on a broken workforce.emotive

07:12:19Those who oppose PFA are comfortable with inequality, comfortable with black workers suffering, comfortable with system that benefit few. We reject cheap labour. Speaker, we are not here to manage inequality, we are here to dismantle it, to comfort the oppressed and to make the beneficiaries of exploitation deeply uncomfortable. To workers of Johannesburg, we see you, we stand with you, we will fight with you. And to those who oppose them, you may delay justice, but you will not stop it.emotive

ANC Cllr Mokoari criticises Public Safety finances and leadership vacancies

07:12:50Thank you so much, Councillor. Councillor Mokoari. Councillor Mokoari from the ANC.

07:13:13Honourable Speaker, Executive Mayor in absentia, members of the Mayoral Committee,

07:13:21Councillor, please.

07:13:24fellow councillors, guests in the gallery, the residents of City of Johannesburg. Speaker, I rise to present the performance of the Public Safety for the period of October-December 2025. The African National Congress acknowledges the Public Safety Department operational achievements in the second quarter.

07:13:52Yes, the quarter under review shows progress in crime reduction, emergency response and visible policing. These gains important and they must be recognized. But let us be clear, good operations performance cannot be used to mask a deep structural failure. The report exposes the department that is not only financially unstable, but structurally imbalanced and increasingly unsustainable.

07:14:28Speaker, the department spend 91% of its budget on salaries. It's not functioning service delivery machine, it is payroll office. This is unacceptable. It leaves, visually, no room for equipment, infrastructure or innovation. When 91% of this budget is consumed by personnel cost, it means our frontline workers are being set up for failure.claim

07:15:01They are expected to deliver a service without necessary tools, vehicles and infrastructure.

07:15:13Apologies, Councillor. You can carry on, apologies.

07:15:18Let us be clear, the ANC will never apologize fighting for a decent wage and protecting the workers. That is in principle we stand by. But what we are seeing here, it's not a victory for workers, it is a failure of planning. At the same time, expenditure exceeded the budget by 14%, while the revenue collapsed by 16%. That is not a minor variances, that is the serious failure of financial management.

07:15:52And what is the response? An over-reliance of traffic fines. Let us be honest, a sustainable public safety model cannot be built on the back of our motorists. The law enforcement must serve the public safety, not the revenue desperations. Speaker, the department has also failed where it matters most, enforcement and accountability.

07:16:21High-risk building remains a non-compliant. A target that have not been met, we are told the problem lies with the private owners, but the question is simple, where is the consequence management? Where is the escalation? Where is the decisive action to protect the lives? A target missed is not just a number, it is a potential disaster waiting to happen.

07:16:47Even in basic operation areas, we see cracks. Vehicle testing targets were missed due to the expired equipment, poor planning. This is not a complex policy issue, it is a failure of a basic management. Speaker, perhaps most of the alarming is a complete absence of leadership. 100% vacancies rate at a top management level, it's nothing short of a crisis.

07:17:16A department without a leadership, it's a department drifting without accountability, without direction and without an urgency. We cannot continue to accept excuses about the delays, processes and approvals that... The reality is that the critical posts are not being filled and a service delivery it's being put on a risk.

07:17:39Speaker, the risks outlined in this report are not theoretical, they are a real immediate. Emergency response capacity is under threat. Infrastructure is aging and failing, the technology rollouts are delayed. Critical systems like CCTV, emergency communication remain incomplete. This is a department trying to operate in a modern environment with outdated tools and shrinking capacity.

07:18:13And while we note clean audit outcome, the governance on a paper means a very little if it does not translate into an effective sustainable service delivery on the ground. Speaker, the ANC will not accept a situation where a financial mismanagement becomes normalized, a leadership vacancies are tolerated, and critical infrastructure continue to deteriorate.

07:18:42The African National Congress calls for an urgent decisive intervention, immediate action to fill a senior leadership positions, and credible strategy to stabilize the revenue without relying on fines. Most importantly, we need accountability. Where there is an underperformances, there must be a consequences. Where there are delays, there must be urgency. Where there is failure, there must be corrections.

07:19:16Speaker, the department has shown that it can deliver, but right now it is being held back by a poor financial disciplines, a weak structural planning and a lack of leadership. If these issues are not addressed currently, the operation gains will not be sustained and the residents of Johannesburg will pay the price. The African National Congress notes this report.claim

07:19:46Under the leadership of Mayor Dada Morero, few days ago, the mayor handed 1 000 title deeds, not in 2019 or 2017. I thank you, Speaker.claim

MMC Tshwaku's reply and the 'Demonic Alliance' withdrawal

07:20:03Thank you, Councillor. MMC Tshwaku.

07:20:17isiXhosaMolweni apha ekhanseleni. Ndicela ukubulisa ii-councillors

07:20:24of the EFF

07:20:26isiXhosaezikhoyo

07:20:32isiXhosaezilapha

07:20:32today, no-also ne-councillors

07:20:34isiXhosazikaKhongolose ezilapha

07:20:37today.

07:20:38isiXhosaAndizukubabulisa aba. Andizukubabulisa aba. I-problem yabo i-one

07:20:49is that we're busy

07:20:52isiXhosaapha

07:20:53saying that the worker, there was a worker disparity in terms of salaries.

07:20:56isiXhosaXa nani nina uKhongolose, benisenza ukuthi kube ngathi sithi aba bangafuni uku-approva la mali. But ke,

07:21:08the money was approved, no problem. But I have a problem with apartheid collaborators

07:21:15isiXhosane-apartheid spies ezingafuni ukuthi

07:21:19the workers of the city must get their PFA. They take it to court. They can't come here and say that they can rule Johannesburg if they don't want to take care of the workers. So,

07:21:31isiXhosai-wrongo le nto eniyenzayo.

07:21:34And some of them, they call me, nicodemously, at night, asking that we should help them in their wards on bylaw enforcement, and they come here now, grandstand. No problem, but don't come back and lie and saying that

07:21:54isiXhosauba

07:21:54the MMC deployed by the EFF working in the GLU is incompetent. San'ukuxoka, you are lying. It's wrong, that thing. So, we've been helping them. And I can tell you now, there's a sense that there's something happening in Johannesburg because under this leadership and in the GLU, we've launched what is called a tactical reaction unit.

07:22:19isiZuluBayabazi la majita ama-BMWs nala majita ebakkie.

07:22:24They've managed to control i-crime. At least now, if there's a problem, we are able to unleash them. Bylaw enforcement, of course, we had a... Yes, ma'am.

07:22:35MMC, can you just hold on? Councillor Mmbengwa.

07:22:38isiXhosaBendicela nibambe la nto, ixesha lam uzo...

07:22:41No, with respect,

07:22:42I'll keep your time, MMC.

07:22:43Yeah, you keep my time.

07:22:44With respect to the MMC and with the respect to this decorum, we are appealing. We agreed that in this house we are not going to use the word "lying", unless if we want to maintain it that way. We respect the MMC.

07:22:59Ah, wena you are lying, man, haai maan.

07:23:03Councillor Mmbengwa, please.

07:23:06isiXhosaMmbengwa, hlala phantsi. Mmbengwa, hlala phantsi.

07:23:08Don't do that.

07:23:12Then you are economic with the truth.

07:23:15Councillors! Can you all sit? Councillors!

07:23:30There's trouble in paradise.

07:23:32Councillor Mmbengwa, can you stop? Councillor Mmbengwa, can you stop what you're doing? Can you please stop what you're doing?

07:23:41Stop that! Don't do that, don't! MMC, can you continue? We've kept your one minute that was wasted.

07:23:49How many minutes do I have now?

07:23:51No, you have 3 minutes and 41 seconds. They've used one minute of yours up, we've kept it. You have 3 minutes and 40 seconds now.

07:24:03I'm left with?

07:24:05You left with 3 minutes and 39 seconds as me and you, we are talking. Carry on, please. MMC, please carry on. I've kept your time.

07:24:20I'm sorry. No, thank you very much. When we acquired this department, it was at its lowest. The morale was very low. JMPD was dysfunctional because of the administration under the Democratic Alliance or the Demonic Alliance. It was. Because they had no cars, no tools of trade, and all of that. So now, uMr "Yes"

07:24:48isiXhosauthi

07:24:49I'm very incompetent,

07:24:51MMC, just hold on.

07:24:52isiXhosalo mfo lo.

07:24:53and he knows I was crying to him.

07:24:54MMC, haai, Councillor Maila. No, your leader is saying you must sit down. Oh, sorry. MMC, can you be seated? Councillor Maila, no, I thought you showed him. Sorry!

07:25:15isiXhosaHa-ah, musani ukundistressa.

07:25:19Madam Speaker, I...

07:25:21Your rule.

07:25:23Madam Speaker, I rise on Rule 72, it's a point of order. The MMC has just referred to my party, the DA, as the Demonic Alliance. He's on the record referring to my party, the DA, as the Demonic Alliance.

07:25:47Okay, we'll deal with it now.

07:25:48He must withdraw that.

07:25:50We'll deal with it now. We will deal with it.

07:25:53I'm seated here and I'm respectful of him,

07:25:55We are dealing with it.

07:25:57yes, not because I'm afraid of him, but because I'm respectful of him. So, he must withdraw the demo...

07:26:04Thank you, Councillor. MMC, can you please withdraw "Demonic Alliance"?

07:26:23isiXhosaNjani?

07:26:23Please. Please.

07:26:27today, the radical and militant councillors

07:26:28No, Madam Speaker, like

07:26:31isiXhosanjani?

07:26:32Like I just said... Okay, Disaster Alliance.

07:26:37MMC, please! MMC, please call them Democratic Alliance. Please. No, I'm not entertaining anybody at the back. I'm talking to MMC. MMC, please.

07:26:55Okay, Speaker, I wanted to ask, what is wrong with Demonic Alliance? Because I was not referring to them. If the shoe fits, wear it. If the shoe fits, wear it. I was not... Okay, are you Demonic Alliance na? Are you Demonic Alliance na? I'm just asking.

07:27:17MMC! MMC!

07:27:22Yes, ma'am.

07:27:23MMC!

07:27:24Okay, that's fine. For the sake of progress, I'm going to withdraw, it's fine.

07:27:29MMC,

07:27:31Yes, Speaker.

07:27:31are you withdrawing Demonic Alliance?

07:27:34Okay, for the sake of progress, I'm going to withdraw the word "demonic", but I found them to be a Disaster Alliance.

07:27:41No, MMC, no! No, MMC, no!

07:27:46Okay, I withdraw, Speaker,

07:27:48Thank you, MMC.

07:27:50for the sake of progress. Gogo, just for the sake of progress.

07:27:53MMC.

07:27:57Okay, Speaker,

07:28:00Ah, please, colleagues.

Allegation of a threat against the MMC

07:28:02Speaker, we've heard Councillor Kabelo. Councillor Kabelo, we appreciate that you are putting all this, the issue of crime.

07:28:11Can I... MMC, the MMC is on the floor. Can you please not do that? The MMC had withdrawn. No!

07:28:28isiXhosaUthini?

07:28:29Okay, there's a hand here.

07:28:31I did not hear the threat.

07:28:33Apparently, someone said something. Nobody said something.

07:28:37Who made a threat, Mosehla? No, but we did not hear the threat.

07:28:44Mpho Nyana is saying the MMC's neck is going to be broken.

07:28:48Hayi bo! No!

07:28:49He's threatening him.

07:29:10Colleagues, when we opened up the meeting this morning, I said some of us are prepared to stay here for the whole night. So, can we stop what we are doing? No, we did not hear him.

07:29:28Go sit, chief.

07:29:30We will check on the transcripts. We will check on the transcripts. No, Councillor Mosehla, take your seat. Councillor Mosehla, take your seat. Councillor Mosehla, take your... Chair Mogapi, can you control your caucus? We did not hear him.

07:30:00Councillor Mogapi can you control your caucus?

07:30:07MMC can you please continue?

Points of order on the Speaker's handling of the debate

07:30:11Just hold on MMC. Councillor Belinda.

07:30:14It's off.

07:30:17Councillor Belinda can we move?

07:30:22Madam Speaker I'd like to call a point of order on you. And the reason why I'm doing so is Rule 72 is very clear. If anybody has a problem with your ruling there is no debate. You don't allow the DA councillors to debate. But on that side you allow debates before you can come up with a ruling.

07:30:39Councillor Belinda

07:30:40It is totally unacceptable, you out of order.

07:30:41Councillor Belinda I stopped everybody. That is wrong, now you are wrong. There was no debate. There was no debate, you can go to the transcript. There was no debate. MMC please continue.

07:30:55isiXhosaInxelebane

07:30:56must withdraw,

07:30:56isiXhosainxelebane

07:30:57withdraw.

07:30:58The problem Speaker is that the Demonic sorry the Democratic Alliance they have a problem in terms of we are competent. This government we have a fully functional Public Safety, so it's fine. Now

07:31:17isiXhosamakhe ndidlule ke

07:31:18MMC

07:31:18Yes, ma'am.

07:31:19Please don't mention that word demonic again.

07:31:22Oh, apologies Speaker.

07:31:23Please don't use it.

07:31:24Sorry Speaker.

07:31:26Please don't.

07:31:27Okay, for the sake of progress.

07:31:28Thank you.

07:31:29Okay, so Chief Tyatya you know what needs to happen. We must set up that CATT unit the C A T T unit. Now you understand the councillors they really want us to fight drugs legally. So, Councillor KB please tell your Mayoral Candidate of Ekurhuleni not to run amok and do things illegally,

07:31:53isiXhosauXolani.

07:31:55He must just, when he fights drug, when he fights drugs he must not become vigilante.

07:32:01isiXhosaWafika pha

07:32:03without reporting.

07:32:05isiXhosaWafika

07:32:05without, he used to report before.

07:32:08MMC.

07:32:09He used to work with us before,

07:32:10MMC.

07:32:11he can't do that.

07:32:12MMC.

07:32:13So we are fighting drugs.

07:32:14MMC the meeting is still mine. Don't address the councillor, speak through me.

07:32:19isiXhosaUxolo Speaker, uxolo Speaker, uxolo.

07:32:22So we are fighting drugs we've got the TRU, we've got the K9 unit and we doing a lot of drug bust we don't need vigilantes like their Mayoral Candidate of Ekurhuleni, Xolani. We are more than capable of doing that, but it's okay. It's okay if he's got a tip off, you've got the tip off numbers just come and work. Let him report

07:32:43isiXhosaangazenzeli abulale abantu

07:32:45after that. Because with these things what happened is that with the things that he did there illegally people were shot dead and then he ran away. He ran like a chicken there so he must not do that. On Councillor Mokoari, oh Kenn we are busy

07:33:06isiXhosabendifuna uMMC Zungu. Uphi?

07:33:08MMC can you take your seat? MMC can you please take your seat?

07:33:15Councillor Mposula.

07:33:22Thank you so much Speaker. I'm rising on a point of order. The MMC must not mislead this House. Rule 72, I'm rising on Rule 72 and he must not refer to our

07:33:46Councillor Mposula on which rule are you standing?

07:33:50I am standing on Rule 72. Madam Speaker and I think it is very unfair. It is very unfair when we rise on a point of order as ActionSA you always suppresses us, but the Reds when they rise up even if when they don't have anything to say you allow them to speak and it is unacceptable.

07:34:18MMC can you please wrap up? MMC can you please wrap up? Councillor Mposula can you be seated? Councillor Mposula can you be seated?

07:34:34Councillor Mposula can you be seated?

07:34:48Stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it.

07:34:55MMC.

07:34:56Speaker.

07:34:57MMC.

07:34:58Speaker.

07:34:59Are you done?

07:35:02Are you done?

07:35:03MMC's time is over, long over.

07:35:12MMC are you done?

07:35:15The MMC is not gonna talk

07:35:17Conclude.

07:35:19Councillor Mposula.

07:35:20Never

07:35:28Chief Whip, please assist us there.

07:35:32Someone is switching off my mic, Speaker. I want to conclude. People must not catch feelings,

07:35:39isiXhosamaba-relaxe.

07:35:40Conclude.

07:35:41Never mention the name of the EFF in vain. We are doing our best, we're working very hard under this GNU here. So, we're working very hard. So,

07:36:03Just wait, just wait. Wait, just hold on. Just wait.

07:36:06AfrikaansEk kan niks hoor, ek kan niks hoor nie.

07:36:09I can't hear anything. Just hold on.

07:36:24Colleagues, I want the MMC to conclude.

07:36:27Testing, one, two.

07:36:28But MMC I need you to conclude with the speech that's to the item.

07:36:34Okay.

07:36:34And I cannot afford that we carry on and do what we are doing. On all the sides can we stop what we are doing? MMC you have 1 minute and 8 seconds left, can you conclude?

07:36:51Okay, Councillor Mokoari we are busy with the appointments, but

07:36:56isiXhosabendifuna inkabi yam le uMMC Zungu

07:36:59Just hold on.

07:37:00isiXhosaathethe

07:37:01with the HR, can you

07:37:05Can you come in Belinda?

07:37:11Someone has switched off the microphone, Speaker.

07:37:14It's me. I want to listen to the point of order from Councillor Belinda. I can't hear anybody and I can't hear what you are saying because everybody is screaming on top of their voices. There's something that was said Councillor Belinda wants to tell us, but I can't hear.

07:37:36No colleagues, we are all equal here. We are all equal. Councillor Belinda can you come?

07:37:44Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, do we have a Chief Whip in this House, firstly?

07:37:50Yes, we do.

07:37:51Secondly, Madam Speaker you are out of order. You've just told us that the MMC has 55 seconds.

07:37:58Which rule are you standing on?

07:38:00Rule 72. And then once again now you're giving him more time. You haven't given everybody else, it's just chaos in this House.

07:38:07No, let me interject you. I never said 55 seconds.

07:38:11You are the one that is causing the chaos.

07:38:12I never said 55 seconds. Please, councillor, I never said 55 seconds.

07:38:15When you make a ruling, it must go to the Rules Committee based on Rule 72. It must go to the Rules Committee.

07:38:21That's why you're not a mayor.

07:38:27Councillor Belinda I never said 55 seconds. I said 1 minute and 8 seconds and the Chief Whip did go to stop councillors. I did do that. Please Councillor Belinda

07:38:40Afrikaansluister, luister.

07:38:43Thank you Councillor. Chief Whip.

07:38:45Speaker, I will just ask for 5 minutes for all Whips to come out and we talk about what's happening here.

07:38:53No, the MMC must conclude first then you can have your

07:38:56Yeah, he must conclude and then all the Whips must come and account what they are doing in council.

07:39:02I will close the item and then we deal with it. MMC. MMC, please.

MMC Tshwaku concludes; items 34-35 agreed

07:39:11Okay, no thank you very much Speaker. Councillor Mokoari, what we'll do is that we're going to fix the, we are busy now with the shortlisting of the HOD, hopefully we're gonna finish that thing up. The issue of over expenditure on the employees when we arrived they took 700 million, boom gone. I always have to go to MPAC through the Chair of MPAC

07:39:35isiXhosayathathwa imali.

07:39:37And

07:39:37isiXhosaukugqiba kwam,

07:39:38that's why I'm always overspending it's not because of our making. We always look in terms of the budget. So,

07:39:46isiXhosandicela le mali ibuyiswe kudala ndisilela kwi-budget adjustment.

07:39:49Didi can you please what is going to happen with that? And then the other one is the issue of the bad buildings. Bad buildings we can clean them very quickly, but I need an alternative accommodation.

07:39:5833 seconds.

07:39:59isiXhosaHayi bo uyandibhidisa.

07:40:02No.

07:40:03So, our problem Speaker very quickly, our problem councillors everyone is the radio room, is the radio room. Okay, we are fixing the radio room. You've been trying to contact us and all of that. We are going to fix that, okay. Radio room and also speed enforcement the HOD and the CM they are busy with that.

07:40:21Your time is up, MMC.

07:40:31Testing, one, two.

07:40:32Member in charge. Member in charge.

07:40:41Member in charge.

07:40:45Yoh, that councillor there.

07:40:47Thank you, Speaker.

07:40:49Member in charge, can you go?

07:40:50Yes, honourable Speaker the safety of Johannesburg residents cannot be compromised. While quarter two performance shows both achievements and challenges it also provides clear direction for corrective action. In light of the above Speaker, the committee recommends that council approves the second quarter performance assessment report of the Public Safety Department. Thank you.

07:41:24Thank you so much Member in charge. The recommendations are on page 34.24 and 35.4. Are the items agreed to?

07:41:35Agreed.

Adjournment for Whips' caucus and revised programme

07:41:37Thank you so much. Chief Whip you can have your 5 minutes with your Whips, 10 minutes with your Whips. We are coming back at, sorry it's 5 minutes. We coming back at 17:50. Councillor Louw, now you can see in light of the letter that you wrote.

07:52:10Come on, come on, come on, come on.

07:52:27It's 17:55, are we back?

07:52:37Frans can you check the Whips? It's 17:55.

07:53:05isiZulu[inaudible] ubani omunye obhale eyami ingoma?

07:53:13isiZuluHheyi njengoba ngikusiza mfanami ngithi ngikubeka umqondo jikijiki bekuvotela i-chairperson.

07:53:20Thank you, the Whip is back. Whip can you report back to us, please? Chief Whip can you report back so that we can start?

07:53:34Speaker, thanks a lot. We have discussed with the Whips that they must control their entire caucus and make sure that we maintain the decorum of the House. So, we have agreed. But there are some issues which they've raised which I will have a word with you offline, I will talk to you about it. And then I think Speaker we are done. We also go to the programme of today because it's your prerogative, but they asked that as now we are going to Item 36 and then you will cluster Item 37 to 40 and cluster Item 41 to 44 and then Item 45. Then they were asking that if we are done with that we can ask a break, we will come back tomorrow. That's your prerogative. I thank you, Speaker.

07:55:14Chief Whip, we are going to go to petitions. After petitions we will take the Community Development we'll cluster them together. The chairpersons of those committees has already asked us to do that. Then we will go to the Environment and Infrastructure, we are going to cluster them. And then we go to

07:55:42And then we going to go to the oversight of Public Safety and then we are going to be done as long as we are done with all the quarterlies we are fine. And then tomorrow morning we will do what is left and hopefully we'll come back and we'll all be much, much more sobered up. Thank you, colleagues. STC.

Item 36: Petitions Standing Committee second quarter report

07:56:11Councillors, Item 36 is a second quarter report of the oversight activities of the Petitions Standing Committee for the period October to December 2025.

07:56:36Councillor you are recognized.

07:56:41Speaker, I just want to bring into your attention that the quarterlies are not yet completed. We still have the quarterlies which is from Item 56 up to Item 61. Thank you very much.

07:56:59Councillor Rambani, can you repeat what you said?

07:57:07I just want to bring into your attention that we still have some more quarterlies. The quarterlies are from Item 56 to Item 61, which is Human Settlement and Health and Social Development. Thank you very much.

07:57:23Yeah, we'll do that too also so that we can finish and have no quarterlies tomorrow in our agenda so that we can leave early tomorrow. Thank you, Councillor Rambani, that was an oversight by the table. Thank you so much. Right, can you read into

07:57:56Okay councillors, Item 36. The Member in charge, Councillor Mabuke.

07:58:07Greetings to you Madam Speaker, the Executive Mayor and his Deputy in their absentia, Members of Mayoral Committee, the Chief Whip of council, Chair of Chairs, Chairs of Committee, fellow councillors, City Manager and his staff, residents of Johannesburg.

07:58:37Madam Speaker, I rise to table Item 36 the second quarter report on the oversight activities of the Petitions Standing Committee for the period October to December 2025. The report contains 56 new e-petitions and 56 progress report and out of those reports the committee managed to close 13 petition. The item is for noting by council. Thank you.claim

07:59:08Thank you, Councillor Mabuke. DA, Councillor M Mnisi. Yes, Councillor Maila.

07:59:24Madam Speaker I rise just to express a concern. I had thought that when council elected a Deputy Executive Mayor it was so that in the absence of the Executive Mayor we should have a Deputy Executive Mayor seated here. But if they are going to disappear both of them then what was the point?

07:59:57Thank you, Councillor. Councillor M Mnisi.

08:00:00from the Democratic Alliance. Councillor Mnisi not here. Right.

08:00:10ActionSA. Councillor J. Mahlangu.

08:00:18SetswanaTla ke lebogee Speaker, ke leboge monyetla.

08:00:25[inaudible] from ActionSA as a Petition Committee. Greetings to you Speaker and fellow council members of the media cast in the gallery. Fabulous 44 councillors, resident of Johannesburg.

08:00:45Eh, Chair, I'll take from this thing for a, for petition, Item 36. As ActionSA, we concern with the backlog of petition, because backlog of petition caused by the lack of communication between the petition units and the department. That's

08:01:11and that it need to be urgent taking care of. Only the community suffer because of this, also Speaker. To the unemployment, the special project that is being waiting soon to be assist with backlog. As ActionSA, noted. Thank you.

08:01:35Thank you, Councillor Mahlangu. Councillor Mkasi from the Economic Freedom Fighters.

08:01:45SetswanaEe, tla ke dumedise Speaker.

08:01:48I'm going to speak on behalf of Councillor Mkasi, and greetings to 29 Battalion, and all protocols observed. As EFF, we note the report. Thank you.

08:01:59Thank you, Councillor Mkasi. Councillor Simelane from the African National Congress.

08:02:09Uh, greetings, uh, Speaker, and greetings to Executive Mayor, and greetings to the comrades of African National Congress, and greetings to the, uh, Johannesburg resident.

08:02:29Um, Speaker, I rise on Item 36, about the oversight activities that we have done as the committee. Uh, Speaker, we must indicate that as a petition unit, we have acknowledged that we have petitions such as streetlights.

08:02:56Remember, uh, Speaker, we need to teach our residents we can't petition a streetlight. That's why we'll see a backlog, cause some residents, they petition a streetlight. A streetlight, it's a service delivery. It need to be attended within 24 hours.

08:03:14Councillor, can you just move away from the, from the mic, please?

08:03:20Okay.

08:03:20You're too close to the mic.

08:03:22Okay, Speaker. Yeah, that's what we have seen as a petition unit, that even if we tackle all the problems, uh, the backlog is that people, we don't teach our residents that we can't petition such things. We do have petitions that we have managed to close, because we need the councillors to go back to the residents and tell them and teach them, you can't, some petitions you can't bring to us.

08:03:50But ke, Speaker, as an African National Congress, we plead to the house to note this report. I thank you.

08:03:58Thank you, Councillor Simelane. Who's going to represent MMC Masuku from the MMCs present?

08:04:12Thank you, Madam Speaker. We note all the inputs by the councillors. We are requesting the council to note the reports. Thank you.

08:04:21Thank you so much, MMC Mnisi. Member in charge, Councillor Mabuke.

08:04:31Madam Speaker, noting all the concerns raised by our colleagues, I therefore request council to note this report.

08:04:42Thank you so much. Councillors, the report is for noting. Is the item noted?

08:04:50Noted.