Ralf Bittkau

Attendance

Present

54

Leave of absence

9

Absent without leave

1

Arrived late

2

Left early

2

Reasons given for leave: Private business (4), Party business (2), Ill health (2), Other (1).

"Absent without leave" means the signed minutes of a meeting held while they were on council neither list them as present nor excuse them, and no similar name appears that day, so misspellings in the minutes don't count against anyone. Each square links to the minutes.

In the chamber

From the 39 sittings transcribed so far in their term. Times are approximate, to the nearest transcript line.

Not present when called

1

Times given the floor

7

Average wait to start

29 s

Average greetings first

5 s

Apology or leave of absence (7)

• 30 Sept 2026 · 00:25:53No reason given. Leave of absence reported by Cllr Avant-Smith; no reason given. sitting
• 26 Aug 2026 · 00:41:43Party business. DA apology for party business. sitting
• 30 Jul 2026 · 00:01:35Party business. Listed on leave of absence but later said he was online. sitting
• 25 Jun 2025 · 00:30:22No reason given. Leave of absence tabled for Cllr Bittkau with no reason given. sitting
• 18 Jun 2025 · 00:30:00Ill health. Apology for ill health. sitting
• 13 Mar 2025 · 00:08:39Ill health. Apology for ill health. sitting
• 30 Jan 2025 · 00:19:50Leaving early. Will leave by 5 p.m. sitting

Not present when called (1)

• 24 Jun 2026 · 03:32:48Called to speak on item 68; another DA councillor said he would speak in his place. sitting

Warned or stopped by the chair (2)

• 03 Dec 2025 · 02:49:04Chair gave a speaking-time warning. sitting
• 26 Mar 2025 · 05:38:05The chair asks Cllr Bittkau to withdraw his remark about the Executive Mayor's name. sitting

In their words

Every time the chair gave them the floor in a transcribed sitting (7), newest first. The words are the AI transcript of that stretch of the livestream (Argon), so they can include the chair or an interjection; the time link is the place to check.

• 22 Jul 2026 · 03:43:11Items 9-13 (EISD, City Power, Joburg Water, Pikitup) · 5 min 14 s

  Read what they said (709 words)

  Thank you, Madam Speaker. After the screaming match, uh may we carry on?

  Councillor, there's a Councillor on the podium. There's a Councillor on the podium. Councillor, there's a Councillor on the podium.

  Uh-uh. There's a Councillor on the podium.

  Are you serious? Goodness sake.

  Councillor Bittkau, can you carry on?

  Oh, can I get started at last? Thank you, Speaker.

  Yes.

  Madam Speaker, I rise to address item 9 to 13, especially the quarterly report by Joburg Water. Contrary to our uh Councillor from the PA, I must have read a different report. This report is best described as a litany of failures, not only by Joburg Water, but by the City as a whole. When we look at the overall picture, we get a provision of basic water to 69 units out of a target of 500.

  Pipe bursts 14% over target. Sewer bursts 13.5% over target. Couple that with pipe bursts repaired within 48 hours being at 42% against the target of 90% and sewer blockages at 81% against the target of 95% and you start to get the picture of why we have 49.9% non-revenue water and E. coli pollution in our rivers with readings

  between 200,000 and 2 million instead of the acceptable 200 units per test sample. What this report fails to mention is the amount of time over the 48 hours, such as the recent water outage in Bromhof for three weeks or 504 hours, or the continuous and ongoing sewer spills into the Pampoenspruit for over 14 months or 10,200 hours.

  Madam Speaker, the report speaks about BEE and awarded tenders. With other words, as per the list supplied Black Empowerment Awards, which is very noble until you read the performance reports. The reports show that 288 million worth of contracts are being monitored, which is one step before suspension. 924 million have already been cancelled or are in litigation.

  Madam Speaker, this actually supports the DA's call for scrapping BEE. Now we come to the real elephant in the room, Madam Speaker. The MD mentions in his report suspension of capital expenditure projects and actual expenditure only sitting at 34%. Pipe replacement project suspended due to non-payment totaling 26 km.

  Sewer project suspended in Bez Valley and Noordwyk due to non-payment. Northern Wastewater Treatment Plant 896 million on hold due to cash flow problems. Contracts not awarded due to cash flow problems 1.5 billion. Madam Speaker, the report furthermore points out that invoices not paid on time were due to the following reasons:

  5.6% due to Joburg Water issues. 9.3% due to supplier issues, which leaves us with 85.1% of invoices not paid on time. And I hope our Mayor is listening. Oh, he's not here. Yet again. 85.1% of invoices not paid on time because of cash flow restrictions.

  Madam Speaker, the misguided impression by the Executive of this City was further demonstrated by the pride with which they presented the final handover of the Brixton reservoir and tower, even though it had been delayed by 14 months because of the very same reasons. The cash flow restrictions are affecting every entity right to this day. Pikitup is constantly late because of longer waits at landfill sites and being refused to use some sites.

  City Power has problems getting materials for repairs and Joburg Water has contractors walking off the repair jobs because of non-payment. All this because the Executive of this City keeps exercising and abusing their right for sweeping funds and using money elsewhere, something which still needs to be established where this elsewhere is. Overall, this report is a reflection of an entity that is trying to be effective and well run,

  but is hamstrung by the executive mismanagement.

  30 seconds.

  This is also a true reflection of the total decay of this once vibrant City, but thank heavens that we have the answer with Super Gogo Helen Zille coming to the rescue. Madam Speaker, I'd like to just add that I'm actually pleasantly surprised to see the amount of MMCs here today and not like the last meeting where we had only the Deputy Mayor here

  and one MMC walking in, making some funny comment and walking out after 10 minutes. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

• 24 Jun 2026 · 05:52:3172 · 2 min 42 s

  Read what they said (350 words)

  Madam Speaker, Madam Speaker, although the proposed framework for the recovery of Joburg Water is laudable in the broader sense, as it's at least an attempt to rectify the mismanagement and financial woes, at a glance, it looks very nice and oh so positive. However, when one digs deeper and studies these items more closely, the flaws become very obvious.

  Uh, my fellow Councillor, Chris Santana, in the previous item actually alluded to a lot of them. However, even though this proposal is based on loading a huge portion on the residents, including the current increases of 12.5% in tariffs, and not to mention the demand side increase of 62%.

  Even though mention is made of reducing the loss of water, it is glazed over and lacking the applicable attention. Furthermore, the reduction of commercial customers, as emphasized by the amount of empty factories around Joburg, has not been taken into account. Anybody who has run a business knows that trimming off the fat is one of the first issues to look at. Let us look at just the eight senior managers which cost 13.5 million per annum.

  Another aspect is providing a motivated workforce, and that is definitely not possible when you have an entire depot moved into new premises, and 18 months later, they are still working in containers like a temporary site establishment. Although the target set for reduction of technical losses are way above the acceptable maximum according to also the target set for reduction of technical losses are way above the acceptable maximum according to world standards.

  With other words, Joburg Water is placing the load squarely on the residents without applying the same and bigger pressure to themselves. Furthermore, this item has not served before the Section 79 where the necessary discussions could have been held in order to amend this proposal. But yet again, it shows how the urgency to push this through in a hurry has made this into an item which is not thought through properly, has not followed the proper ways, and therefore, unfortunately, we cannot support it. Thank you.

• 24 Jun 2026 · 04:57:4068 · 59 s

  Read what they said (147 words)

  Thank you, councillor. Uh ANC, Councillor Madiba. I've noted you. I've noted you. Councillor Madiba.

  It works and it doesn't work. Okay.

  Madam Speaker, this report is being pushed through at one hell of a speed. It hasn't come to a Section 79, and this is so important and so detailed that it should be before the 79. We've got major issues here. We've got uh with the Joburg Water. It cannot just be pushed through because somebody feels it's got to be in now. You could get an extension from gov- from national

  government of another 90 days, and you could uh uh address this properly. But it's the same as uh our uh sound problems earlier on showed really how everybody is just in a hurry to push things through here today. Unfortunately, ma- Madam Speaker, under these circumstances, we cannot support this. Thank you.

• 03 Dec 2025 · 02:47:2336-45 · 1 min 50 s

  Read what they said (255 words)

  Madam Speaker, I'll be speaking to item 38 and 43. And all lives matter. After months of radio silence, we are finally speaking to what should be deemed to be the most important issues in this city, namely delivery of basic services to the residents. We are so far behind that we are actually addressing two quarterly reports at the same time. That is half a year's report. But it's not surprising, because the reports are painting a picture of total failure on every level, not only by the entity, but also by the Executive. However, to talk about this in 120 seconds is impossible. The major features are as such: 70% of performance targets not met, a total lack of service delivery over weekends, a lack of quality of workmanship, a lack of care for residents as shown by failure to backfill driveways to allow for access, a failure to reduce non-revenue water, which is still at 48.6%, especially technical losses, which are still at 28%, and you all know that the maximum allowed in the world is 18%, failure to pay contractors, thereby delaying projects affecting millions of residents.

  40 seconds.

  All this points to senior management and the city's Executive being totally inept and needing replacement. And we are still waiting for the details of what happened to the 4 billion that were swept by the Executive. But at least help is on the way.

  20 seconds left, Councillor Bittkau.

  Thank you. Helen is coming to clean up this mess. Thank you.

• 30 Oct 2025 · 05:42:498 · 20 s

  Read what they said (21 words)

  Madam Speaker, could we read item 9 in as well? I'll speak on both at the same time. [00:12:57] (no speech)

• 30 Jul 2025 · 00:11:45Opening · 8 s

  Read what they said (74 words)

  and that we have all signed the um register for this meeting before we verify the number of Councillors present so as to confirm the quorum, legal. And we will be seated unless you have not signed the um the register and then we will accede to the um 10 minutes for the uh EFF. Yes, Councillor Maila.

  Just a correction, the page four and six is from the Speaker's list, not the agenda.

• 26 Mar 2025 · 05:35:55Item 17 · 9 min 15 s

  Read what they said (1136 words)

  Hearing that, okay. Madam Speaker, I feel more like an archaeologist than a councillor, not only because I find myself sifting through a quarterly report that is so ancient.

  Councillor Bittkau, please move the mic closer to you.

  Okay, we can do that. And not only because I feel like I'm inspecting the ruins of Pompeii or more like Rome after Nero sat and fiddled. Similar to our Mayor Councillor JoJo Morero. Sorry, my apologies, I withdraw that. I didn't mean JoJo, Dada Morero.

  Councillor Bittkau, please hold on. Councillor [inaudible]. Ah-ah, Councillor, not you uh Chairperson. I have noted Councillor behind you first. I can't see your surname, Councillor.

  Can I carry on?

  Councillor Mokoena. Mofokeng. I can't see the name tag from here.

  Can I carry on?

  Councillor Bittkau, please switch off your mic.

  Uh thank you, Speaker. Uh the councillor over there must withdraw that this is the um No, wait.

  Councillor Bittkau, please hold on. We can't hear also what is happening. We need to understand.

  Let him sit down.

  Councillor Bittkau. Thank you.

  Thank you.

  Councillor Mokoena.

  Mofokeng.

  Mofokeng.

  Thank you, Speaker. Let the councillor withdraw. This is not uh JoJo Councillor Mokoena. Uh Morero.

  He said

  He said uh Mayor JoJo Morero. That's what he said. No, honestly, he must withdraw.

  Hawu, Councillor Bittkau.

  Madam Speaker, I have already withdrawn it.

  Please just withdraw that so you can continue with your speech.

  You know, if they would

  Councillors, let's give him an opportunity.

  If they wouldn't shout so much and listen, they would have heard me withdraw it already. So uh maybe uh thank you.

  Councillor Bittkau, please withdraw.

  I have withdrawn it.

  Have you withdrawn? We haven't heard you.

  Yes, I did say it earlier on. Go to your recordings, please. I've withdrawn.

  He has withdrawn, colleagues. Please give him an opportunity. He has withdrawn. Councillor Bittkau.

  Yes.

  Please hold on. Councillor Meyers.

  Speaker, one of the councillors that side referred to Councillor Bittkau as an old man. That is extremely disrespectful. They must withdraw it.

  Hey, no. If we want to stay here until midnight, we'll stay here until midnight. But we did not hear it. Councillor Raphadu, you're the last hand before we hand over back to Councillor Bittkau.

  Madam Speaker, I think this uh unbecoming conduct is becoming a norm in this council. And we need to put an end to it. It can't continue that uh people continually provoke. We understand free speech is there, but free speech has responsibilities to it. Let me quote a rule as I'm standing here, Madam Speaker. In terms of Rule 71(c), ne?

  Okay. Rule 70, let's start. Councillors may not discredit uh the council by using disrespectful or offensive language. That's number one. And these councillors, or these, oh sorry, these honorable councillors are continually wanting to collapse this council. Deliberately so. It is subtle,

  but we are noting this conduct. And if you don't caution it, Madam Speaker, well then we're going to have a circus here. Please. Please, can we caution this type of behavior because it's now becoming worrisome.

  Thank you, Councillor Raphadu. And Councillor Bittkau did withdraw, isn't it? He did withdraw. So, Councillor, you did withdraw. No, we've noted we've noted what you said. Yes, we've noted what you said. But for now, we are focusing on his speech and what he said. Right? We are focusing on his speech and what he said, not in general the council.

  Councillor Bittkau, you did withdraw. Please continue with your speech. You are left with 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Councillor Raphadu, your mic.

  No, it's not. Councillor Raphadu's mic is off. I can see his mic is off. Councillors, please switch off your mics.

  Try again, Councillor Bittkau.

  Councillor Bittkau, the one next to you is red.

  Councillors, can we stop with the name-calling? Can we start to respect each other? We were doing so well. Councillor Bittkau.

  Aha. Finally. Uh Madam Speaker, just a point, on a point of order, you're not supposed to be taking points of order on top of a point of order. Okay, thank you. Um

  Right, as we were. My eyes must have slipped to my next line, which refers to the mayor saying that people should invest in JoJo tanks to alleviate the water situation, and that in a world-class African city? Regarding the fiddling, do not worry, help is on the way. After all, we have a director on the high-powered board of directors with a perfect education. According to Google, he's a musician. I wonder whether somebody was thinking of Handel's Water Music when they recommended him for the position.

  Madam Speaker, this man is the perfect example why we've been calling for the immediate dissolving of this totally inept board of directors with not a single person from a technical background. Proven also by the by the flawed contract for tankers for 263 million awarded by this board of directors. Even the senior management needs to be given notice. The workmanship and overall attitude of the workers shows a total lack of pride and dedication in their work and workmanship.

  This, however, is a reflection of a failure by senior management to instill the pride in them. The main function of any manager is to motivate the employees and instill a pride for their work in them. Unfortunately, this is a total failure in Joburg Water. The result of this is shown clearly in the percentage of non-revenue water and technical losses. The amount of water lost at bursts due to the lack of urgency is frightening. At the other end of the water cycle,

  the pollution caused by our failing sewer system is absolutely shocking to observe. The test results in our rivers showing E. coli levels between 400,000 and 2.2 million are a disgrace, especially when the accepted level is 200. This is a recipe for a possible cholera epidemic, especially as we are on a watershed and are polluting the rivers going southwest and those going northeast.

  I sincerely hope that we wake up on time and are not remembered as the ones that destroyed the entire ecosystem way beyond Joburg and Gauteng.

  30 seconds remaining.

  Another shortfall that is always in our quarterlies is the lack of reinstatements. Again, something that's not showing any improvement, even though it has been moved to JRA. For JRA is being owed 54 million by Joburg Water, according to the latest information received. And thus they are not doing any reinstatements for Joburg Water. How many failures must I cite before this executive wakes up and rectifies the situation? Start by removing the board of directors and top management, and see to it that there are no more dry taps in this city. Thank you.

Spoke on

• 30 Jul 2026 · 00:14:17Cllr Bittkau's LOA error and EFF count of 15
• 22 Jul 2026 · 03:43:32DA on Joburg Water performance
• 24 Jun 2026 · 04:57:27Item 69: DA says no Section 79 scrutiny
• 24 Jun 2026 · 05:47:45Item 72: Johannesburg Water performance improvement action plan v2
• 03 Dec 2025 · 02:37:20Debate on items 36-45: DA, UDM, ActionSA and EFF
• 30 Oct 2025 · 05:41:52Items 8 and 9: Oversight reports tabled and speaking dispute
• 02 Sept 2025 · 00:57:23Item 2: Egoli Gas 2025/26 tariffs
• 30 Jul 2025 · 00:10:34Agenda corrections and 10-minute EFF break
• 26 Mar 2025 · 05:35:45Procedural dispute over a remark about the Mayor and calls to withdraw
• 26 Mar 2025 · 05:41:54DA Cllr Bittkau on Joburg Water