Governance and appointments in Johannesburg council, May to September 2026

Governance and appointments: sittings covered

This page covers 142 chapters tagged with governance and appointments across 10 sitting days, from 26 May 2026 to 30 September 2026. The governance topic includes appointments of officials, investigations, corruption, coalition politics and council administration, and only transcribed sittings are covered.

Appointments of senior officials

On 28 May 2026, the DA's Cllr Kgeletsane criticised political deployment in public appointments and said the DA rejects the Item 8 appointment of a Group Head Communications and Marketing. 28 May 06:07:31 Cllr Cherry (PA) noted that the recommended Item 8 candidate had the highest interview score of 87.5% and no adverse screening findings, and supported the recommendation. 28 May 06:12:18 Item 7, on Ombudsman recruitment and acting arrangements, was agreed on 28 May 2026, though ActionSA said it rejects recommendation five, the extension of an acting arrangement. 28 May 06:03:12

On 26 August 2026, council agreed Item 37, the rescission and re-advertisement of the Executive Director Human Settlements post. 26 Aug 03:56:00 MMC Mabaso said the appointed Executive Director Human Settlements was interdicted shortly after taking office and never returned, and that the city's legal advisers allowed the position to be re-advertised. 26 Aug 03:56:00

Cllr Maila moved a DA motion to postpone Item 38, the Public Safety Head of Department recruitment, until the SIU investigation, vetting and integrity processes are finalised. 26 Aug 04:17:15 26 Aug 04:54:46 Cllr Maila said the Item 38 report itself records that the preferred candidate was flagged as high risk by the SIU, and stressed that the DA motion makes no finding of guilt. 26 Aug 04:17:15 MMC Mabaso pointed to Item 38 recommendations 3 and 5, which require security clearance before the Public Safety appointment is finalised. 26 Aug 04:52:32 The Speaker ruled the yeses had it on Item 38, and the DA, FF Plus, ACDP and ActionSA had their dissent recorded under Rule 84. 26 Aug 04:54:46

On 27 August 2026, council agreed Item 39 on secondments for vacant senior management positions and Item 41 on starting recruitment for Group Head: Group Strategy. 27 Aug 01:49:09 27 Aug 01:58:07 On both Item 39 and Item 41, the DA asked that no appointment be made until after the elections. 27 Aug 01:49:09 27 Aug 01:58:07

Irregular expenditure and consequence management

Item 61, on 24 June 2026, asked council to certify as irrecoverable and regularise irregular and unauthorised expenditure for April 2026. 24 Jun 01:20:15 Presenting the MPAC report on Item 61, Cllr Mazibuko said the committee reviewed 42 investigative reports containing 63 recommendations and agreed with 49 of them. 24 Jun 01:41:52 Cllr Boer (FF+) objected on Item 61 to writing off R521 million (Piotrans) and the Sizwe Africa IT contract without consequence management. 24 Jun 01:21:44 Item 61 was approved on a voice vote, and Cllr Christians recorded the DA's opposition under Rule 84. 24 Jun 01:52:06

Item 62, the Updated Strategy for Prevention and Reduction of Unauthorized, Irregular, Fruitless and Wasteful Expenditure, was agreed on 24 June 2026. 24 Jun 02:53:12 The DA's Cllr Wax said the Item 62 strategy did not go through the Governance Oversight Committee and that the reduction in the balance came from regularisation, not prevention. 24 Jun 02:27:23

On 22 July 2026, council went in-committee, with cameras, livestream and gallery switched off, for item 39, referring 13 alleged acts of financial misconduct to the disciplinary board, and items 40 and 41. 22 Jul 00:55:40 On 27 August 2026, MPAC's motivation under Item 29 to recover R2.2 billion and certify R420.1 million as irrecoverable was debated and agreed. 27 Aug 02:05:44 27 Aug 02:32:01

Annual report and turnaround commitments

On 30 July 2026, the MPAC chair recommended that council approve the 2024/25 Annual Report with reservations under Section 129(1) of the MFMA. 30 Jul 01:07:38 Deputy Executive Mayor Masuku committed to accelerating implementation of the audit action plans and said the executive would fast-track disciplinary cases and investigations. 30 Jul 01:02:13 promise promise An automated check linked Cllr Masuku's promise to fast-track disciplinary cases to a 26 August 2026 reply saying reports of financial misconduct had been brought: "consequence management delivered, not promised". promise promise

On 28 May 2026, Cllr Masuku, the Deputy Executive Mayor (MMC Finance), said entity CEOs and Section 56 managers would be linked to measurable turnaround targets. 28 May 03:08:01 promise An automated check linked Cllr Masuku's turnaround-targets promise to a 30 September 2026 sitting where a speaker said there are no performance targets set for management. promise promise On 30 September 2026, Cllr Boer (FF+) and Cllr Santana (DA) said the Section 79 Finance Committee lacks timeous reports, performance targets and consequence management for the turnaround strategy. 30 Sept 06:42:18

Ethics code, declarations and Alderman policy

Item 3, the Code for Ethical Leadership in Local Government, was adopted on 26 August 2026. 26 Aug 02:50:03 On Item 3, the UDM's Cllr Zigebe wanted regular implementation reports to council, and ActionSA's Cllr Nkomo asked who would monitor compliance with the ethics code. 26 Aug 02:20:45 26 Aug 02:28:03

On 30 September 2026, council carried a report on publishing councillors' declarations of financial interest and gift registries for 2023/24 and 2024/25. 30 Sept 03:24:57 The 2025/26 councillors' declaration window was announced as open from 5 to 10 October, with manual and electronic options and walk-ins at the Speaker's Office. 30 Sept 03:24:57 promise

On 26 August 2026, Item 47 on implementing the Alderman policy was agreed with Cllr Christians' Honorary Alderman wording for former councillors. 26 Aug 08:48:38 26 Aug 08:57:45 The Speaker undertook to verify whether Councillors Raphadu, Twala and Francisco qualify for the Alderman title under the points system. promise At the 54th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting on 27 August 2026, the Speaker recognised a series of councillors, including Twala, as aldermen or alderwomen. 27 Aug 00:21:38