State of the City week: acting senior manager arrangements pass 112 for, 62 against

Vote on acting arrangements for senior managers

The 38th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting on 8 May 2025 passed the report on acting arrangements for senior managers by 112 for, 62 against, with 35 abstentions. 08 May 00:32:45 08 May 01:10:28 Quorum at the 38th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting was confirmed with 204 councillors present. 08 May 00:28:24

Cllr Rahn said the DA rejects the report on acting arrangements, arguing the appointments breach the Municipal Systems Act, and criticised the acting COO's R413,000 bonus. 08 May 00:55:08 Cllr Boer (FF+) opposed the acting appointment of Helen Botes as Chief Operating Officer and called the appointment null and void. 08 May 00:33:33 Cllr Chuma said ActionSA would abstain and urged the executive to bring back a revised report considering each acting appointment on its merits. 08 May 00:41:39

At the 38th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting, the chair let Cllr Nkosi and Cllr Raphadu continue after points of order by Cllr Echeozonjoku and Cllr Rahn of the DA. 08 May 00:47:38 08 May 01:01:14 MMC Loyiso Masuku said the 2013 delegations remain in force and that MMCs would urge the Acting City Manager to ensure officials attend Section 79 committees. 08 May 01:04:36 promise

Mayor Morero's State of the City Address

At the State of the City Address on 7 May 2025, Executive Mayor Cllr Morero said the city is financially unstable and its infrastructure is decaying. 07 May 00:45:58 07 May 00:59:21 Cllr Morero proposed declaring a state of disaster for crime and lawlessness from July 2025 and a Bomb Squad under Dr Zikalala operational from June 2025. 07 May 01:36:32 promise promise Cllr Morero also proposed rotating Mayoral Committee members, rotating senior managers from July 2025 and selling the debtors book. 07 May 01:36:32 promise promise

Cllr Morero said around R3 billion was allocated over the medium-term framework for underserviced areas such as Diepsloot, Ivory Park and Orange Farm, plus R296 million to electrify informal settlements. 07 May 01:04:34 promise promise Cllr Morero said the city has committed over R626 million to the R4 billion Northern Farms wastewater treatment plant. 07 May 01:31:31 promise The Mayor submitted a city turnaround plan electronically to the President on screen; councillors were asked to acknowledge it, and no council vote was taken. 07 May 01:20:42

Before the State of the City Address, Cllr Christians (DA) objected to the Mayor's Chief of Staff sitting in the row reserved for the City Manager's team. 07 May 00:41:56 The Speaker ruled the Mayor's Chief of Staff could not sit in the chamber and asked him to move to the guest gallery. 07 May 00:41:56

State of the City Address Debate

At the State of the City Address Debate on 8 May 2025, Cllr Echeozonjoku said the DA would bring a motion of no confidence in the Executive Mayor. 08 May 02:42:19 promise Speakers for the ANC, AIC, UDM, PAC and COPE spoke in support of the Mayor's State of the City Address. 08 May 00:34:46 08 May 03:17:54 08 May 00:55:30 08 May 00:22:26 08 May 02:04:44 08 May 02:12:15 Cllr De Lange (FF+) opposed rotating MMCs and senior managers, while Cllr Nkokou (PAC) supported rotation guided by performance and ethics. 08 May 00:28:47 08 May 02:04:44

The State of the City Address Debate paused for a 7-minute break, requested by Cllr Sifumba, to call back the Executive Mayor, who was out of the chamber. 08 May 01:20:12 Cllr Zigebe reported that the chamber network and livestream were not working, and the Speaker said the matter would be taken up with IT. 08 May 01:02:35 In reply to the debate, Cllr Morero said the turnaround strategy would be published by the Presidential Task Team in due course and councillors may make submissions. 08 May 03:37:58