Thursday, 27 August 2026 · 0 h 46 min · 1 video · 2021–2026 council
54th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting
AI draft.Written by AI from the livestream and not yet checked by a person. Use the timestamps to check anything before you quote it.
- Governance and appointments
- Other business (no topic tag)
- Procedure: roll call, apologies, breaks
- Decision (4)
- ◯Quorum count (1)
- ‖Adjourned or paused (1)
Chapters, decisions and procedure are AI drafts from the livestream; topic tags are AI judgments (a chapter with several shows its strongest). Services, housing and development covers water, electricity, roads, housing, waste, safety, health, planning and community facilities.
The 54th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting was taken up mainly by a ceremony conferring the honorific title of alderman or alderwoman on a group of councillors, including Cllr Mgcina. 00:14:58 00:21:38 Cllrs Mpolobosho and Mabaso were absent when called, and Cllr Van Wyk's certificate was missing. 00:14:58 00:21:38 00:38:16
Neither the aldermanship ceremony, due at 10:00, nor the council sitting, due at 11:30, started on time; the Speaker said an electricity failure had delayed the morning. 00:03:03 The chair counted 154 councillors, rising to 156, and said there was a quorum; councillors from several parties then agreed the day's business should continue. 00:03:03 00:05:35
Parties gave apologies, late arrivals and early departures, which council noted; the DA listed about 30 councillors leaving around 14:00, and the EFF said its caucus wanted to leave at 15:00. 00:08:06 00:11:24 00:13:59 The Speaker warned that the council may lose its quorum if DA and EFF members left early, and asked that the agenda move quickly. 00:13:59
The Speaker promised that alderman badges would be delivered after a supplier problem, and that Cllr Van Wyk would receive his certificate before the end of the day. 00:36:44 00:38:16 She then closed the alderman session, saying there would be no break and the Secretary to Council would read the notice of the council meeting next. 00:44:33
AI draft from the record of this sitting (Claude Opus 5.5), checked against the chapters; every sentence links to the moment. Report an error
This week in council: Johannesburg council, week of 24 August 2026
In brief
- 4 decisions: 2 approved, 2 noted or other.
- 2 promises on record, including: Alderman badges will be delivered to recipients, including to their homes if necessary, after a supplier problem.
- 1 quorum count.
- 60 apologies read out. Warned or stopped by the chair: 1; Not present when called: 2; Sound or equipment problem: 2.
Chapters
10What was discussed, in order. Click a time to watch.
- 00:03:03
Quorum count and delayed start
The Speaker reports 154 to 156 councillors inside and notes that a quorum is still being reached. She says an electricity failure delayed the morning. The aldermanship ceremony was due at 10:00 and the council sitting at 11:30, and neither started on time.
Report an error - 00:05:35
Councillors give direction on how to proceed
The Speaker opens the floor for views on whether to hold the aldermen ceremony and the council sitting. Councillors Avant-Smith, the Chair of Chairs, Munyayi and Khonkhobe each say the business of the day should continue. The Speaker thanks them for agreeing.
ArnoldsAICAvant-SmithMunyayiActionSAKhonkhobeEFF
Report an error - 00:08:06
Applications for leave of absence: Speaker's list and DA, ANC, PA
The Speaker reads apologies from Councillors Sekwaila, Mpolobosho, Mokwena and Pelzer. The DA whip lists full leave, late arrivals and about 30 councillors leaving around 14:00. The ANC lists illness, late arrivals (including the Executive Mayor) and early departures, including the Deputy Executive Mayor at 16:00. The PA also gives leave and early-departure requests.
ArnoldsAIC1 unidentified
Report an error - 00:11:24
Applications for leave of absence: IFP, ACDP, ActionSA, EFF, AIC
The IFP, ACDP, ActionSA, EFF and AIC give their apologies, late arrivals and early departures. The EFF says its caucus wants to leave at 15:00 for another political meeting.
HarrisACDPKhonkhobeEFFMhlongoAIC1 unidentified
Report an error - 00:13:59
Speaker warns of quorum risk and notes apologies
The Speaker says the council will lose many councillors if the DA and EFF members leave early, and that it may lose its quorum. She asks that the agenda move quickly. She asks that the apologies be noted, then moves to the alderman recognitions.
Report an error - 00:14:58
Alderman awards: Mgcina, Mpolobosho and Dewes
The Speaker confers the honorific title of alderman on Cllr Mgcina in recognition of distinguished public service. Cllr Mpolobosho is absent and his certificate is held for him. Cllr Dewes is also recognised. Photographs are taken.
Report an error - 00:21:38
Alderman awards: Da Gama to Deppe
The Speaker calls up a series of councillors one by one with personal remarks: Da Gama, Mabuke, De Kock, G. J. Niemand, Hoon, Mabaso (absent), Meyers, De Lange, Masuku, Bittkau, Sifumba, Wax, Mhlongo, Smit, Twala and Deppe. Each is recognised as an alderman or alderwoman.
Report an error - 00:36:44
Badges to follow; remarks recognising the Speaker
The Speaker says recipients will receive their badges after a supplier problem, and that more alderman awards will follow later. An unidentified councillor then speaks in tribute to the Speaker, and the Speaker's own recognition is announced.
ArnoldsAIC1 unidentified
Report an error - 00:38:16
Group photo and missing certificates for Van Wyk and Louw
The Speaker calls the recipients forward for a group photo. Cllr Mkhonza asks about Alderman Van Wyk's certificate, which is missing. The Speaker says Cllrs Van Wyk and Louw will be recognised and that Van Wyk will receive his certificate before the end of the day. There are Afrikaans and EFF interjections from the floor.
ArnoldsAICMkhonzaACDP1 unidentified
Report an error - 00:44:33
Close of the alderman session
The Speaker says there will be no break and that the Secretary to Council will read the notice of the meeting. She urges the new aldermen and alderwomen to be examples to the public and closes the alderman session.
Report an error
Promises
2Commitments with a date, an amount or a 'we will'.
On 4 November 2026 (when this page was built): 0 overdue, 0 due in the next 30 days, 1 with no date. Overdue first; dates are AI readings of what was said; tap or hover a label for how. All promises.
Due the same or next dayMargeret Sheron Arnolds · AIC
Cllr Van Wyk will receive his alderman certificate the same day.
00:41:10· by before the end of the day (2026-08-27)· Report an error
Not raised again in 1 sitting day since; no City report.
Evidence: quote
“You will get your certificate before the end of the day.”
No dateMargeret Sheron Arnolds · AIC
Not raised again in 1 sitting day since; no City report.
Evidence: quote
“you will be receiving your badges, even if we have to deliver it”
Decisions
4What council approved, rejected or put off.
- 00:07:47
Direction on how to proceed after the delayed startapproved
After councillors from several parties agreed, the Speaker moved on with the aldermanship ceremony and the day's agenda.
- 00:14:28
Applications for leave of absencenoted
The Speaker asked council to note all apologies, late arrivals and early departures given by the parties.
- 00:17:27
Conferment of alderman title on councillorsapproved
The Speaker conferred the honorific title of alderman or alderwoman on a group of councillors, including Cllr Mgcina.
- 00:45:32
Alderman award sessionclosed
The Speaker closed the alderman session before the notice of the meeting was read.
Attendance and conduct
65Who was away and why, as said in the chamber.
Apologies read out 60
- Private business (2)
- M. Mpolobosho, R. Pelzer
- Party business (16)
- M. Mokwena, Masera, Rambani, Goosen, Kunene, Mabaso, Themba Mabunda, Mokoka, Mkhonto, Edward, Coutriers, Chuma, Lebatlang, Mabelebele, Moshapo, Koma
- Leaving early (15)
- Dewes, Benjamin, Huggett, Echeozonjoku, Truluck, Makaula, Mgcina, Masuku*, Kaldine, Van Wyk, Ntombela, Rakosa, Mbambala, *, Mhlongo
- Ill health (16)
- Chabalala, Mphefo, Horwitz, Campbell-Cloete, Reddy, Ndou*, Maluleka, Raphadu, Ramafikeng, Tabane, Manganyi, Nyembe*, Rohlssen, Mohlala*, Zazini, Sifumba
- Official duty (1)
- Nzimande
- No reason given (1)
- Ponsonby
- Family responsibility (1)
- Mogapi
* Name as heard; not matched to exactly one councillor.
Warned or stopped by the chair 1
Not present when called 2
- 00:19:22
Mpolobosho: Called for his alderman certificate but not present; the certificate was received on his behalf.
- 00:26:09
Mabaso: Called for his alderman recognition but not present; the chair asked someone to collect it.
Sound or equipment problem 2
Transcript
107Every line, linked to the video.
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