Housing and land

Item 26: Amendment of Erf 56 Crown North development lease

The DA's Cllr Christians opposed amending the lease, saying the land was meant for parking but is used for business and residents object to a rezoning to Business 3. The ANC's Cllr Molefe supported it, citing 400 permanent jobs, 600 construction jobs and 156 retail outlets. MMC Mnisi asked council to approve.

Point of order over remarks about ANC councillors

Cllr Mmbengwa objected under rule 72 to Cllr Christians' reference to ANC councillors in the history of the Crown North land. Cllr Christians withdrew mention of ANC councillors but maintained he had not said they used the land. The Speaker ruled that he should stop mentioning political parties and let him continue.

Item 4: City of Johannesburg Informal Settlements Policy

GOOD said formalisation must not substitute for housing delivery and warned against upgrading hazardous land. The DA approved and asked the MMC to restore electricity at Ezinqawe, where residents had been without power for eight months. The ACDP noted the policy and listed gaps in budget, timelines and KPIs. MMC Mabaso asked council to approve it, saying it would help tackle shack farming. All parties that responded said yes and it was carried; the APC did not respond.

PromiseThe Human Settlements department is developing a system and database to manage movement in informal settlements and deal with people owning more than one shack.

Decisionapproved: All parties that responded said yes; the APC did not respond and the Speaker declared everyone agreed.

Item 5: Human Settlements Land Assembly Strategy 2025-2040

The DA and ACDP noted the report and MMC Mabaso asked council to approve the strategy so strategic land parcels can be consolidated. In the poll the APC and EFF did not initially respond. A councillor then said they agreed, citing network problems, and the item was carried.

Decisionapproved: All responding parties agreed; the EFF later confirmed agreement and the APC did not respond.

Item 15: Frankenwald and Bergvallei mixed housing developments

Cllr Rambani (DA) said the report contravenes the 2022 council framework and lacks disclosure of Calgro's spending and bulk infrastructure costs. He asked for it to be withdrawn. An ANC councillor and MMC Mabaso said the land is private, Calgro is funding the work, and the recommendations only authorise negotiations, with any financial agreement to return to Council.

Item 16: Recognition and upgrading of 379 informal settlements

Cllr Harris (ACDP) objected that settlement household counts are inaccurate and that recognition amounts to permanence without plans for eradication. Cllr Khumalo (ANC) noted the report. MMC Mabaso said Human Settlements needs a council resolution to work in settlements it does not establish, and that by-law enforcement is not its mandate.

Oral questions: Florence Nightingale building evacuation

A DA question was withdrawn because the Nowana Clinic issue had been resolved. Cllr Nkonyeni asked when the evacuation of the Florence Nightingale building in Hillbrow would be finalised. The responding MMC said the evacuation order was granted but alternative accommodation was the obstacle, with the building third on the list.

Decisionwithdrawn: The DA councillor withdrew the question because the clinic issue had been resolved.

Item 37: Rescission and re-advertisement of Executive Director Human Settlements

The Speaker introduced item 37 and the elevated items. DA, ACDP and DA speakers criticised the Human Settlements department, the timing of the report and the handling of the interdict. An ActionSA speaker began on item 38 content and was told by the Speaker he was on the wrong item.

Item 37: MMC response and approval

MMC Mabaso, responding for the department, explained that the appointed Executive Director was interdicted shortly after taking office and never returned. He said the city's legal advisers had allowed the position to be re-advertised to end instability in the department. The Speaker put the item to the house, which agreed.

Decisionapproved: The house agreed to the recommendations on page 37.6 and the Speaker declared the item through.

Item 10: Repeal of redundant Human Settlements policies

Council considered repealing three Human Settlements policies (Child-Headed Household, Non-Qualify and Rent Relief) already absorbed into newer policies. ActionSA and the ANC supported the report. MMC Mabaso asked council to approve it and the item was agreed.

Decisionapproved: The item was agreed after ActionSA and the ANC supported it and MMC Mabaso asked for approval.

Items 11 and 12: Fairland development sales, GOOD, AIC and DA

Items 11 and 12, development sales of Fairland erven, were read together at the request of Cllr Mhlongo. GOOD and the AIC supported them. The DA opposed them, citing no comparison of sale against long-term lease, outstanding environmental, traffic and City Power studies, a City Parks and Zoo objection and stale consultation, and asked for deferral.

Items 11 and 12: ActionSA, EFF and ANC positions

An ActionSA proxy noted both items because Cllr Xulu was ill. The EFF said it favoured a long-term lease and keeping land in public hands. The ANC speaker supported unlocking the land but asked for a developmental return framework, infrastructure checks, reporting and a land dashboard.

Items 11 and 12: MMC Mnisi's response

MMC Mnisi said the transactions were development sales for human settlements, with title passed only once the developer met conditions. She said the environmental and other studies would be done in the town planning process after council authority. She said the transactions were MFMA-compliant and asked council to approve.

PromiseMMC Mnisi said the environmental and other studies on the Fairland properties will be done once council authorises the transaction.

Point on earlier resolution against property sales

Cllr Christians, under Rule 72, asked whether a previous-term resolution barring sales of city property should first be rescinded. The Speaker replied that the items were committee reports and told MMC Mnisi to continue.

Items 11 and 12: vote and DA objection

The Speaker asked whether the items were agreed. Voices were mixed, and she declared that the yeses had it. Cllr Christians recorded the DA's opposition under Rule 84, citing an incomplete report and the council resolution against land sales.

Decisionapproved: The Speaker declared that the yeses had it despite shouts of no.

Decisionobjection recorded: Cllr Christians recorded the DA's opposition under Rule 84, citing an incomplete report and the council resolution against land sales; the Speaker noted it.

Item 13: Sale of Portion 19 of Erf 491, Ivory Park Ext 7

The AIC approved the report, ActionSA's proxy and the EFF noted it, and the ANC noted it. The EFF said Ivory Park residents wanted the land for settlement. MMC Mnisi asked council to approve and the item was agreed.

Decisionapproved: The item was agreed after party speakers and MMC Mnisi's request for approval.

Items 20-22: Human Settlements and JOSHCO tabled

The Secretary read items 20, 21 and 22, the Human Settlements and JOSHCO Q3 reports with the Section 79 oversight report. Cllr Maluleka tabled them in place of Cllr Mpolobosho, who had left.

Items 20-22: party debate on housing and JOSHCO

The UDM noted the report. The ACDP, PA, ActionSA and DA criticised the housing backlog, the Maxwell Court building, council rental unit maintenance and 40% department performance. The DA detailed JOSHCO's R391.5 million deficit and low collections. An ANC councillor noted the report and called for a permanent executive director.

Items 20-22: MMC Mabaso responds

MMC Mabaso said title deeds follow township establishment and are not selective. He said Maxwell Court residents had refused relocation but would now move in September. He said the council rental unit programme is under national moratorium, transferred flats are privately owned, and budget cuts and unpaid contractors have hurt performance. The recommendations were then agreed.

PromiseRelocate the Maxwell Court residents to Fleurhof.

PromiseTable a report on the future of council rental units (CRUs) to the Mayoral Committee.

Decisionagreed: The recommendations at 20.4, 21.20 and 22.7 were agreed to.

Item 90: Exemption from development contributions for Thanganani Mega City (debate)

Council considered a request to exempt the Thanganani Mega City development in Diepsloot from bulk engineering services and other development contributions. ActionSA, the EFF and the ANC supported it, with the EFF calling for stronger oversight and progress reporting. ActionSA urged that South Africans be the primary beneficiaries.

PromiseActionSA will monitor implementation of the Thanganani Mega City project for transparency, accountability and benefit to communities.

Item 90: DA opposition and withdrawal of 'mafia' remark

Cllr Bodenstein said the DA rejected the report, citing a developer windfall and the urgency of the item. The Acting Mayor objected to the word mafia and the Speaker required an unconditional withdrawal. Cllr Bodenstein withdrew it amid heckling and continued.

Item 90: MMC response and adoption

MMC Mabaso said the project is a provincial government initiative with a developer investing R250 million in infrastructure. He said the exemption is required under the development agreement so a clearance certificate can be issued and houses allocated. He said completed houses had stood vacant for over seven months. The item was carried and the DA recorded its opposition under Rule 84.

Decisionapproved: The yeses had it on recommendations at pages 90.14 to 90.15, and the DA recorded opposition under Rule 84 citing missing information.

Motion: Declaration of Auckland Park as a student precinct (proposal and seconding)

Cllr Gwamanda moved under Rule 89(2) that council initiate a formal declaration of Auckland Park as a student precinct. He asked for a Development Planning feasibility study and exploration of a city improvement district. Cllr Zigebe seconded, stressing that the motion needs a feasibility study and stakeholder engagement and imposes no final outcome.

Auckland Park motion: DA opposition

Ward councillor Cllr Kyle Jacobs opposed the motion for the DA. He cited inadequate infrastructure, absent by-law enforcement against illegal student housing, heritage-protected properties and lack of resident consultation. He said the DA supports legal student accommodation but not approving development before infrastructure and planning are in place.

Item 64: amendment of Lenasia Erf 7327 lease (MFMA s116(3))

Cllr Dewes (DA) said the lease was signed in 1997 and JPC had failed to enforce its conditions for 29 years. She said the DA could not support the item because its request to refer it to National Treasury was ignored. Cllr De Lange (FF+) said the developer should not get another 20 years and the land should go to public participation and open bids. On a voice vote the Speaker declared the yeses had it, and the DA and FF+ recorded dissent.

Decisionapproved; objection recorded: After three voice votes the Speaker declared the yeses had it, and the DA (Rule 84) and Cllr De Lange (FF+) recorded their dissent.

Executive Mayor's comments on the budget

The Executive Mayor welcomed the budget and announced the city had won the Marble Towers case. He criticised the record of Herman Mashaba and ActionSA and defended the PFA payments. He confirmed an 8% maintenance budget, water ring-fencing from 1 July 2026, 30-day supplier payments in the next financial year, and Small Street development plans.

PromiseConfirmed an 8% maintenance budget.

PromiseRing-fence revenue from the water business.

PromiseWork towards paying suppliers within 30 days.

PromiseSupport the Central Methodist Church so its dignity can be restored in Small Street.

Item 3: Cllr Nethamba (EFF)

After the Speaker first called an ANC councillor by mistake, Cllr Nethamba spoke for the EFF. She listed what the EFF wants the budget to deliver, including housing, services, jobs and insourcing. She said the EFF approves the budget, and also said the EFF notes it.

Item 1: Cllr Mokwena (ANC)

Cllr Mokwena described the IDP as a recovery blueprint. He covered its inner-city revitalisation focus, its key challenges, the 'house' model and its intervention areas. He urged the city leadership to carry on.