Sello Morero

Attendance

Present

56

Leave of absence

8

Absent without leave

0

Arrived late

11

Left early

4

Reasons given for leave: Private business (3), Council business (3), No reason recorded (2).

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

Not present when called

0

Times given the floor

9

Average wait to start

9 s

Average greetings first

12 s

Apology or leave of absence (4)

• 27 Aug 2026 · 00:08:31Arriving late. Executive Mayor to arrive late. sitting
• 27 Aug 2026 · 00:10:21Arriving late. The Executive Mayor is listed as arriving late. sitting
• 26 Aug 2026 · 00:36:26Official duty. Executive Mayor will arrive late due to council business. sitting
• 22 Jul 2026 · 05:32:59Arriving late. Chair remarks that the Executive Mayor was not in the chamber at the agreed start time. sitting

In their words

Every time the chair gave them the floor in a transcribed sitting (9), 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.

• 30 Sept 2026 · 00:54:52Recommendations to council · 10 s

  Read what they said (15 words)

  Thank you, Madam Speaker. I stand to present recommendations for council consideration. Thank you, Speaker.

• 30 Sept 2026 · 00:33:13Executive Mayor's opening statement · 19 min 49 s

  Read what they said (2037 words)

  I thought, Speaker, you'll first allow for the statements from the Mayor.

  Okay, we can do that. It's not on, but we can do that. Yeah, by the way, it's an extraordinary, Executive Mayor.

  Yes, Speaker.

  But I think, can we, just hold on. Legal and others, I think we can allow it. Yeah, okay.

  It's an extraordinary council, so it would then allow the Executive Mayor to do his opening statements to council. And perhaps the team on your side had missed that point. Let me then greet you, Speaker of Council, Margaret Arnolds, and to say you're quite looking fresh and ready for the new term.

  Greetings to the Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Kazamula Chauke. Greetings to the Deputy Executive Mayor, Councillor Loyiso Masuku, members of the Mayoral Committee, leaders of different political parties and caucuses, I would want to greet you today.

  And let me begin, Madam Speaker, by acknowledging that in South Africa, when it rains during and or immediately after a cultural ceremony, it is a form of communication from our ancestors. Some view it as a blessing and others may view it as a symbol of acceptance.

  As we close off the Heritage Month, pula should be the word of the day. And not only are we closing off Heritage Month, but we are also closing off our term of office. And therefore, I would like to say pula to all our councillors.

  Pula, a e ne!

  A e ne!

  A e ne!

  A e ne!

  A e ne!

  A e ne, pula a e ne!

  Pula ya Morero, pula ya Morero a e ne!

  Mara our this one is mhlatswa mizo. This one is mhlatswa mizo, aowa.

  Executive Mayor, Executive Mayor, are you still speaking?

  [inaudible] abantu [inaudible] eMall. [inaudible] lena amakhaza.

  Colleagues, colleagues!

  Sorry, I was muted. I was muted.

  kunamakhaza.

  So we do so.

  Who's, can you check for me, just hold on, Executive Mayor. Can you check for me, colleagues, who is that?

  yazi kuqale ngathi isithwathwa, ngithi hhayi. ibe namakhaza kancane.

  Can you mute him?

  Councillor Lebea.

  Councillor Lebea wa utlwala. Wa utlwala Councillor Lebea.

  Dysfunctional.

  Order, Councillor Lebea. The Speaker is on the platform and the

  Executive Mayor, you can speak.

  Your administration constantly mutes me, and I think whoever is managing the meeting should be notified not to mute me. That I note the following issues, that we are now faced with the countdown to the 4th of November and basically left with just 50 days before a new council is formed, is established.

  And as we begin this countdown, we must be thankful for the opportunity bestowed on us by the residents of Johannesburg. All of us are playing our part. We see you, we hear you, and for this, we thank you. Public service is a calling. It is an intrinsic reward that brings joy to our inner souls.

  If you are rewarded by external factors like money, then local government is not for you. Every day we are told about the battle for the soul of Johannesburg. I am not too sure who is fighting. However, I do know that every day, someone somewhere is trying to protect and grow Johannesburg.

  Included those who are trying to reach the people of Johannesburg through windows of hijacked buildings. Window to window is a dangerous approach, and I hope that door to door remains an important strategy. At the center of this is the need to serve and not a battle to win the soul of Johannesburg.

  For us, as this council led by the largest party, we managed to do the following: transform the city internally to ensure that it can be more effective in driving delivery and development; mobilize new resources; create collective vision between the city, other parts of government, and key partner organizations;

  reconnect the city to communities and to empower communities to have a real voice in the future efforts of our city; define big projects that will turn the city around and clear corporate goals; integrate across departments and to center the city around clear corporate goals to ensure that the budget is strategic,

  and that resources are committed behind clear goals. Our results are visible. Once again, as this council, we have collectively engaged with the community of Johannesburg in order to develop an Integrated Development Plan that is owned by the people of Johannesburg, build trust, and create an enabling environment where we can all hold each other accountable, focused on energies

  on delivering and basic services that change lives, transform society to the next level of development, and of course, attracted investment in an enabled growth. Fellow councillors, yesterday our President addressed us with a heavy heart. In his address, he stated the following, I quote, "Every sphere of government must understand that the safety of women

  is part of its responsibility. Our constitutional obligation to jointly secure the well-being of all South Africans to assist and support one another and to coordinate our actions compels us to fulfill this responsibility," close quote. We cannot leave this council without acknowledging that gender-based violence is a cancer

  in our society. We cannot keep quiet. We are the sphere of government that is closest to the people. We have residents, homes, shops, workspaces, shelter, clinics, schools, roads, taxi ranks, parks, community halls, and cemeteries. We are part of the security system of this country. We must do more, and we must never get tired.

  If one woman or girl child feels unsafe in Johannesburg, we must all rise to protect her. The growth of the economy depends on our safety strategy. Partnering with the taxi associations is an important step. Engaging with all our bylaw enforcers, including JMPD and all other inspectors, is the next step. And therefore, on Friday, I will be engaging

  with all of them so that we respond to the call of our President. Madam Speaker, not so long ago, in July the 3rd, 2026, in partnership with the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, we held a CEO's breakfast on red tape reduction. The CEO's red tape or breakfast

  was structured to enable executive engagement with the City of Johannesburg and major private sector developers and investors. It was anchored by myself as the Executive Mayor and convened by the GGDA to create a direct senior-level dialogue on the regulatory and administrative friction that is suppressing development activity in Johannesburg's built environment.

  The theme of the conference was "From Approvals to Action: Accelerating Development, Investment, and Job Creation in Johannesburg." The red tape reduction and ease of doing business in the built environment, if investor confidence had an image, I would like all councillors to visit the internet because,

  and at least view the clips from the breakfast. It is clear that investor believe, investors do believe in Johannesburg. I repeat again, not so long ago, in June this year, we participated in the 2026 UCLG World Congress and Metropolis General Assembly in Tangier, Morocco, which produced concrete roadmaps on urban resilience,

  housing justice, and a new generation of universal local public services. In solidarity with our global partners and networks, we are focused on supporting and implementing the assembly outcomes, which are the following: one, supporting the established political strategies and alliances for the coming decade, aiming to translate global agendas into localized rights and services;

  implementing the Metropolis Strategic Action Plan of 2027 to 2029, that the Metropolis members approved strategic priorities guiding the world's largest cities, emphasizing metropolitan governance, sustainability, and resilience; committing to housing justice, elected officials signed the letters from the Local Social Covenant,

  establishing concrete commitments to address the global housing crisis and fight urban inequalities; supporting the Tangier 2050 Vision, officially launched the Circular Water Resilient Metropolis initiative, which is positioning Tangier as a pioneer in tackling climate vulnerability and water stress;

  supporting local multilateralism in the Local Social Covenant, which is, or outlines the pathways for the next three years to better integrate local governments into local, global policy-making and protect vulnerable populations through universal public services. The Johannesburg is active in the global space.

  Not only are we active, but we are leading. We continue to present the world with a case study that is tangible and driven by global developmental agendas. Not so long ago, we woke up to good news, and the good news are Moody's Ratings confirmed that the City of Johannesburg's ratings, credit ratings, and revised its outlook from under review to positive,

  closing out the review for possible downgrade the agency opened in April 2026. This means that the city's long-term issuer rating at Ba3, which is the outlook now stands at positive. The rating action follows the Johannesburg Stock Exchange decision in May 2026 to lift the suspension

  on trading in the city's debt instruments after the city published its outstanding audited financial statements for the 2024/2025 financial year with an unqualified opinion for group. Furthermore, Moody's noted that the city continued to meet its debt obligation in full and on time throughout the suspension period, servicing

  R159.1 million in principal and R272.2 million in investment. Shall I remind you of our meetings with National Treasury, led by the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, and supported by the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, and the Gauteng MEC, Jacob Mamabolo.

  As the Mayoral Committee and the city administration, we provided an honest and comprehensive overview of our financial status, inner-city rejuvenation projects, and infrastructure development projects. The outcome of this engagement is that Johannesburg has a robust turnaround plan, and we are all doing a great job. The city is moving from compliance response

  to a monitored, investment-led recovery program, and this means, Madam Speaker, we are stabilizing the city's finances, resolved the Section 216 concerns, strengthened revenue, managed liquidity, protecting creditor payments, and improved audit discipline. We are converting stability into infrastructure capacity.

  We use metro trading services reform, ring-fencing, asset data, capital prioritization, and delivery controls to renew core networks. And in July, we ring-fenced Joburg Water, and today we are ring-fencing City Power and Pikitup, making renewal visible in the inner city, and apply infrastructure reliability, safety,

  urban management, and partnerships to unlock property value, investment, and revenue. And let us not forget, the city has a funded budget. Madam Speaker, all these achievements symbolizes the performance of the city. Today's meeting is transparent and accountable. Every day we undertake the mayoral high-impact service delivery program,

  and we can see the work we are doing. We can ask the people of Marble Towers, they thought we will get tired and never come back, but witness all departments and city entities working together to enforce bylaws and restore the dignity of Johannesburg. Yesterday we were in Ward 35 in Soweto at the Salvation Army

  church for a community meeting or community dialogue, and one of the participants, Mme Thandi, asked us when is she getting a house. The time will come, most definitely, and we say this because we have put systems in place and progress is made. This council, under the leadership of this GLU, has delivered at least 8,500 title deeds,

  and we must thank all estimated 38,000 employees of the City of Johannesburg for all the services they provide. Not only do we thank them in words, but we thank them in action. I must thank members of the Mayoral Committee for playing their part in leading their spaces. We stand by our hashtag

  #ReimaginingJoburg, #ServiceDelivery, #FinancialRecovery, #Joburg. As I conclude, honorable councillors, I lean on the teachings of Oliver Tambo when he defines leadership through collective unity, moral integrity, youth empowerment, and unwavering commitment to a non-racial democratic society when he said, I quote,

  "Let us tell the truth of ourselves, even if the truth coincides with what the enemy is saying. Let us tell the truth," close quote. And as we count down to the local government elections, let us be hopeful and never lose hope, because singenile, we came, sabheka, we faced our challenges, savuma, we accepted our reality.

  We are turning the corner, and we will become better. Pula. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

• 30 Sept 2026 · 00:31:22Item 3: Executive Mayor's Question Time · 1 min 18 s

  Read what they said (125 words)

  Thank you, Speaker, and greetings to you, Speaker of Council. Let me respond to, is it Councillor Nkonyane?

  Nkonyeni.

  Nkonyeni, in this manner, that the City of Johannesburg, the collective of the Mayoral Committee and the administration through the City Manager

  is engaging with the trade unions on the matter related to the PFA. Having came to this council and approved the salary scales in 2024, we are on track with the negotiations and the discussions to get to a point where finalization of the funding of the PFA is implemented.

  This is where we are, Speaker, and we will then update council and the residents of Johannesburg, including the workers of the city, as we finalize the implementation of the PFA. Thank you, Speaker.

• 30 Jul 2026 · 01:07:13Items 1 and 2: Executive Mayor's response · 25 s

  Read what they said (46 words)

  Thank you, Speaker.

  Can you

  Not sure if I'm audible.

  Yes, you are.

  Thank you, Speaker. We noted the comments from the colleagues, the honorable councillors in the chamber. I don't have further comments, except to appreciate the inputs that came from the colleagues. Thank you.

• 22 Jul 2026 · 06:43:3523 and 24 · 3 min 26 s

  Read what they said (433 words)

  Thank you, Speaker. Will not spend much time on the response. The reports are submitted to indicate that indeed there's work that is being done in different departments and entities in an attempt to try and uh improve the performance of the city. And of course, we do note the input by Councillor Mokwena referring to the 11 million

  during the tenure of the Democratic Alliance, and I think that's what he was referring to. Uh and also to clarify Councillor Aphane that indeed any officers that must be trained by the City of Johannesburg must go through a 12-month training program so that they are fully fledged officers who will implement bylaws and traffic management in the city. What you cooked in 2017 and '18

  was half-baked at four months, and that is why in 2019, Mayor Makhubo redirected them back to full training because at that time, with the four months training, they could not even write and issue tickets because they were not properly trained. So, something that you can't really write a book about and be proud of in this chamber. So, we then retrained them, and they were properly trained, and that is why they are now able to execute

  the work of the organization. So, shortcuts do not work, whether at home or at work or in council. You must always ensure that you go a full cycle. I want to also comment that yes, indeed, council did approve not so long ago in the last council meeting a unauthorized, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure reduction strategy,

  which was approved by this council in the last council meeting. And that strategy has duly been submitted to National Treasury, which has accepted that strategy to ensure that we are in line in terms of dealing with uh UIFWE. This morning, we presented matters to be attended to by the disciplinary board, which is an indication that the performance of the disciplinary board

  is beginning to show that we are going somewhere. Similarly, the MPAC work is beginning to demonstrate that there's work that's being done. We are at the point where we believe that the performance is beginning to show and is beginning to uh demonstrate that the city is at work despite some of the challenges that the city continues to face, but there's an indication that we're doing something. So, with that being said, Madam Speaker,

  I've also noted all the comments, and therefore we do note the report. And thank you, uh Madam Speaker. Oh, belated happy birthday to my person, Councillor Zitha. Thank you.

• 22 Jul 2026 · 00:52:59Recommendations to council · 32 s

  Read what they said (41 words)

  Thanks, Speaker. And good morning once more. Good morning to the Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Kasamula Chauke, the Chair of Chairs, Councillor Adolf Marema and all councillors. I stand here to table recommendations to council for council consideration. Thank you.

• 28 May 2026 · 03:35:56Recommendations to council · 11 s

  Read what they said (19 words)

  Thank you once more, Madam Speaker. Allow me to table the reports and recommendations for council consideration. Thank you.

• 28 May 2026 · 03:18:13Budget debate: Executive Mayor's comments · 17 min 28 s

  Read what they said (1551 words)

  Baie dankie,

  Speaker of Council,

  the Chief Whip of Council, Councillor Kasamula Chauke, the Chair of Chairs, Councillor Adolphus Marema, the members of the Mayoral Committee, Deputy Mayor, leaders of political parties and caucus leaders. Thank you for giving me the opportunity, Madam Speaker, to give my comments. Let me start by saying we have won the case against Marble Towers.

  Which sets us now on a clear path of dealing with illegal structures in the inner city and reclaiming our inner city. Let me start by saying, Madam Speaker, we acknowledge and welcome the budget as presented by the Deputy Executive Mayor responsible for Finance, and we want to say thank you to her.

  And of course, as Councillor Mpolobosho says, we love her, though he says he doesn't like the hairstyle, but it's okay. Let me start by saying the following: The good thing that Mr. Mashaba did in Johannesburg as the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg

  are the following: illegally established a structure and appointed General Sibiya illegally.

  Took 11 million of the city's money and gave it to an NGO which he chaired, an NGO of drum majorettes. Drum majorettes, which already the PP has ruled on that matter. We know that he challenged the matter in court, but the matter has since disappeared.

  Paid his friend 12 million for a so-called book of a new mayor, and paid it to an analyst, Prince Mashele. An average cost of a book does not in South Africa exceed at least 3 million. Now we do ask, why would you have paid 12 million?

  Money laundering.

  Money laundering.

  Blew the 5 billion surplus left in 2016 by the ANC government. The following year, we're sitting at a surplus just under 2 billion. In 2018, we're sitting at a surplus of 200 million, which was a clear indication of a decline of the finances of the city. And this is not from my head.

  It's based on actual reports that served in council. Allowed informal settlements to mushroom in the city from 186, and today we are now at 316.

  During Mashaba time.

  And that's the period in 2019 that we saw an escalation to 316. Perhaps part of the decision for Mashaba to run away was the fact that he can no longer handle the mess that he had created in the city. It is Mr. Mashaba who fired competent senior managers, qualified black professionals,

  included in them white professionals who built this city over years, and he destroyed it in 3 years. He now thinks and believes that what he destroyed in 3 years, we will rebuild it in 2 years. We will rebuild it, of course, with the support of our residents, business, and other spheres of government.

  All what Mashaba did, he held press conferences to announce dealing with hijacking of buildings. However, we do know that there was nothing concrete that he had showed with those buildings. To date, he cannot demonstrate or point at any building that he evacuated.

  The Government of Local Unity can point out, led by the MMC of Human Settlement and Public Safety, at least three buildings we can account that we successfully evacuated. Perhaps ActionSA must never behave like they are the paragon of clean governance.

  Let me demonstrate that it is only recently, only recently in 2024 in Tshwane that they seem to have gotten it right simply because of our majority seats that are held by the African National Congress, the MMCs of the ANC,

  the Economic Freedom Fighters who constitute that Mayoral Committee of Tshwane and who continue to provide policy direction to the City of Tshwane. We all know that it was Mashaba's party, just like he did in Joburg, together with the DA, ran down cities of Johannesburg and Tshwane.

  When Tshwane received, I must repeat, repeated qualified findings and adverse opinions on the highest amounts, which included, amongst others, 12 billion in unauthorized, irregular, and wasteful and fruitless expenditure. It's Herman Mashaba's ActionSA

  which is last to actually attempt to poke holes on the budget speech as delivered by our MMC and Deputy Mayor of Finance tabled yesterday, as you know that you struggled dismally to achieve in a single funded budget during your reign in Tshwane.

  And these are facts and are part of the report submitted to National Treasury. The ANC is on the driving seat in Tshwane. And that is why your mayor is on a social media expedition trending on Twitter for disconnecting for disconnecting lights in poor communities like Atteridgeville

  and Mabopane, whilst running away from disconnecting affluent neighborhoods like Hazelwood, where white business operate, and they are not in compliance with the city's laws, but he demands compliance in Mabopane and Atteridgeville.

  Madam Speaker, allow me to address the matter of the PFA, as some want to regard it as the elephant in the room. The PFA is a matter that this council approved in July 2024. The leadership of this council,

  the Mayoral Committee, will continue to support and implement the PFA as part of a facilitated agreement, and secondly, as part of the mediation between labor and the city, which was facilitated by Senior Counsel Terry Motau and arrived at confirming that yes, indeed,

  workers have been short-changed over years by the City of Johannesburg. It is also interesting to note that Councillor Santana chooses to forget that in 2017 and 2018, his Mayoral Committee led by Mashaba made payments to the PFA in acknowledging

  that indeed we do owe workers. Yes, the discussion on affordability will continue to take place, but at the same time, we must also continue to fund this commitment. You also forget to mention that you gave society and the residents of this city Herman Mashaba in 2016.

  And today, you yourselves are acknowledging that what you gave to society ran down the City of Johannesburg. This is not me, but it's echoed in your statements as you continue to contest for the leadership of Johannesburg with Mr. Mashaba. Madam Speaker, the opposition must accept

  that the very first time the people of Alexandra had an opportunity to use a flush toilet was only

  in 1989. We must acknowledge that some of us here or some of you had the privilege of a proper infrastructure from birth when some of us did not have the opportunity until in 1989. And who was in charge of government and infrastructure? And they chose only

  one section of the population through apartheid segregation. Today we want to cry foul of infrastructure backlogs, when in fact at that time South Africa's economy was one of the greatest, being 2 rands to the dollar, which meant we had the necessary resources to invest in infrastructure including those that were in the township, black, coloured,

  and African.

  Now yes, you are coming here today to cry foul. But we are telling you we will continue to invest in the infrastructure and address the historical imbalances created through long periods of governance by an apartheid government which singled out only one section of the population

  which was the white population.

  As you continue to shout the name of Mashaba let me also school you.

  Apartheid government created what was called Bantustans in South Africa with an intention to subject black people and Africans in particular

  to be outside of urban areas and subject them to the rural side of the country where there are no economic opportunities. And indeed the government of Botswana created, of Bophuthatswana what they called the Botswana Development Corporation, Bophuthatswana Development Corporation, funded fully by the apartheid state. And who was the beneficiary of the Bophuthatswana Development Corporation? It was Black Like Me, Mashaba.

  Those of our generation would know. Bra Joe, you would know that what happened to our hair as a result of the chemicals introduced by Mashaba.

  Let me conclude, Madam Speaker, that this budget presented confirms the following. We are confirming an 8% maintenance budget in the budget we passed. We are confirming ring-fencing of revenue from the water business immediately, 1st of July 2026.

  Madam Speaker, we are also confirming in this budget that we are investing in the development of Lefereng, so that we can continue to give dignity to our people.

  We are also committing that we will work towards ensuring that in the next financial year we will honor the 30 days payment to our suppliers.

  Madam Speaker, we're also confirming that Small Street, which was cleaned and reclaimed by this leadership, we will now see a commitment from the private sector to build a student accommodation and over and above bring commercial sites and social housing in Small Street.

  We will support the Central Methodist Church to ensure that the church's dignity can be restored once more in Small Street.

  Madam Speaker, I want to say to the parties here, the responsibility of reclaiming the inner city lies with all of us here in council. And I want to encourage all of you as parties to make your own contribution and be on the ground to help us reclaim the city because we doing this for future generations so that our children and our grandchildren can benefit in this great city. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

• 26 May 2026 · 00:17:19Request for approval to enter into a loan agreement with KfW · 14 s

  Read what they said (23 words)

  Good morning Speaker of Council, Chief Whip Councillor Кazamula Chauke. I stand here to table the reports for consideration by council. Thank you.

Spoke on

• 30 Sept 2026 · 00:30:22Executive Mayor's question time: PFA funding
• 30 Sept 2026 · 00:33:05Executive Mayor's opening statement
• 30 Sept 2026 · 00:54:39Recommendations to council and elevation of items
• 30 Jul 2026 · 01:06:38Executive Mayor's response
• 22 Jul 2026 · 00:52:41Recommendations to council and request to elevate items 39-41
• 22 Jul 2026 · 06:43:20Items 23-24: Executive Mayor responds
• 28 May 2026 · 03:18:03Executive Mayor's comments on the budget
• 28 May 2026 · 03:35:41Recommendations tabled; items withdrawn and elevated
• 26 May 2026 · 00:17:06Recommendations to council: KfW loan item introduced

Offices held

• Executive Mayor · 30 September 2022 to 25 October 2022sourceelection later ruled unlawful; Phalatse reinstated
• MMC for Finance · 2 February 2023 to 16 August 2024source
• Executive Mayor · 16 August 2024 to nowsource

Promises

• 30 Sept 2026 · 00:32:21The Executive Mayor will update council and residents as the PFA implementation is finalised.
• 30 Sept 2026 · 00:42:15The Executive Mayor will engage taxi associations, JMPD and other bylaw enforcers on women's safety, responding to the President's call.
• 28 May 2026 · 03:33:07Confirmed an 8% maintenance budget.
• 28 May 2026 · 03:33:07Ring-fence revenue from the water business.
• 28 May 2026 · 03:33:56Work towards paying suppliers within 30 days.
• 28 May 2026 · 03:34:39Support the Central Methodist Church so its dignity can be restored in Small Street.