City Manager report approved; Doornkop motion fails 36 for, 142 against

Votes on City Manager panel and Doornkop

At the 29th Ordinary Council Meeting, Day 1, 26 March 2025, council voted by show of hands on a DA amendment to add Cllr Echeozonjoku to the City Manager recruitment panel. 26 Mar 04:42:52 The DA amendment to recommendation 5 fell, with 66 in favour, 136 against and 9 abstentions. 26 Mar 04:42:52 Recommendations 1 to 6 of the City Manager appointment report were then approved as printed, with the DA's objection noted. 26 Mar 04:42:52 26 Mar 04:51:34

The Executive Mayor said the City Manager report was tabled for stability and to resolve an impasse rather than appeal to the Constitutional Court. 26 Mar 04:40:57 MMC Mgcina said the DA was destabilising the municipality and that the mayor holds the prerogative on the City Manager recruitment panel. 26 Mar 04:32:10

At the 29th Ordinary Council Meeting, Day 2, 27 March 2025, Motion 1 on water, sanitation and electricity for Doornkop Extension 4 in Ward 50 failed: 36 for, 142 against, 4 abstentions. 27 Mar 04:12:38 27 Mar 04:27:49 MMC Mabaso said the Doornkop Extension 4 settlement sits on land earmarked for a school and that passing Motion 1 would be unlawful. 27 Mar 04:24:17 Motion 2 on Webber Street in Selby and Motion 3 on Link Road at Eyethu Mall were withdrawn by their proposers. 27 Mar 04:40:12

Budgets, property items and finance reports

On Day 2, council noted items 84 to 110, the 2025/26 to 2027/28 budgets, tariffs and draft rates documents, without debate, and the DA's dissent was recorded. 27 Mar 04:00:34 27 Mar 04:09:02 Items 54 to 81, property and land transactions including item 78 on the Metro Centre redevelopment, were agreed in a block on Day 2. 27 Mar 03:11:40 27 Mar 03:47:55 Cllr Christians asked that the DA's dissent on item 78 be recorded, and the Speaker ruled that nobody had objected and noted the DA dissent. 27 Mar 03:47:55 MMC Mabaso said the Metro Centre redevelopment report would come back to Council after the feasibility study is concluded. 27 Mar 03:40:00 promise

The Finance Section 79 oversight report said collection fell to 84% against 87.7%, outstanding debt reached R60.7 billion and cash coverage fell to four days. 27 Mar 00:14:17 In the adjustment budget debate, DA, IFP, EFF, COPE and FF+ speakers said their parties supported the adjustment budget. 27 Mar 06:45:42 27 Mar 06:49:15 27 Mar 06:51:33 27 Mar 07:07:17 Councillor Matabane and Councillor Mahlangu each said the ANC rejects the adjustment budget. 27 Mar 06:56:31 27 Mar 07:11:01 The Red Fleet contract amendment for fire engines and emergency vehicles was debated on Day 1, and no vote on it is recorded in that part of the transcript. 26 Mar 04:51:34 26 Mar 04:54:57

Withdrawals, points of order and quorum

On Day 1, the Speaker, on legal advice, directed DA Cllr Schay to withdraw the term 'grasshoppers', and he withdrew it. 26 Mar 02:18:58 After the Speaker asked him to withdraw, Cllr Schay withdrew the term 'creatures' and the Speaker closed the matter. 26 Mar 02:28:52 Cllr Raphadu asked that Cllr Schay be referred to ethics, and the Speaker told him to formalise it through the proper process. 26 Mar 02:28:52

Cllr Christians raised a point of order over member in charge Cllr Mhlongo's remarks about Cllr Schay, and the Speaker ruled the direction of the exchange out of order. 26 Mar 03:51:34 On Day 2, Cllr Lebatlang asked whether councillors may speak their mother tongue, and the Speaker said any language may be used but no interpreter was available. 27 Mar 00:42:42

Day 1 opened with 152 councillors present, and a head count requested by Cllr De Lange late in the evening found 142, a quorum. 26 Mar 00:01:14 26 Mar 08:30:11 On Day 2, Cllr Rahn queried quorum and the Speaker confirmed 178 councillors were present. 27 Mar 03:53:38 The Day 1 record ends part-way through a DA councillor's speech on the Health Department report. 26 Mar 08:40:13

MMC promises

MMC Tshwaku said by-law enforcement would be decentralised and that he would meet COGTA next week to look at the by-law process. promise promise MMC Mabaso said a contractor would be introduced at Dube Hostel on Friday to deal with sewer infrastructure. promise MMC Arnolds said the city is pushing cumulative revenue collection to over 88% by the year-end. promise