Thursday, 8 May 2025 · 1 h 20 min · 1 video · 2021–2026 council
38th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting
AI draft.Written by AI from the livestream and not yet checked by a person. Use the timestamps to check anything before you quote it.
- Governance and appointments
- Procedure: roll call, apologies, breaks
- Decision (3)
- ◯Quorum count (1)
- ‖Adjourned or paused (2)
Chapters, decisions and procedure are AI drafts from the livestream; topic tags are AI judgments (a chapter with several shows its strongest). Services, housing and development covers water, electricity, roads, housing, waste, safety, health, planning and community facilities.
Summary
The vote was by show of hands, with legal services consolidating the count. 01:10:28
The DA rejected the report, with Cllr Rahn arguing the appointments breach the Municipal Systems Act and criticising the acting COO's R413,000 bonus. 00:55:08 Cllr Boer of the FF+ opposed the acting appointment of Helen Botes as Chief Operating Officer and called it null and void. 00:33:33 ActionSA abstained and asked for a revised report considering each appointment on its merits, while the ANC and UDM supported the report and the EFF called for vacancies to be filled. 00:41:39 00:44:37 00:50:32 00:59:54
The chair ruled against DA points of order raised by Cllr Echeozonjoku and Cllr Rahn, letting Cllr Nkosi and Cllr Raphadu continue. 00:47:38 01:01:14
MMC Masuku said the 2013 delegations remain in force and promised MMCs would urge the Acting City Manager to ensure officials attend Section 79 committees. 01:04:36
Quorum was confirmed with 204 councillors present after a 10-minute register break, and the chair announced the budget meeting for 28 and 29 May 2025. 00:14:06 00:28:24 01:19:09
AI draft from the record of this sitting (Claude Opus 5.5), checked against the chapters; every sentence links to the moment. Report an error
This week in council: State of the City week: acting senior manager arrangements pass 112 for, 62 against
In brief
Chapters
15What was discussed, in order. Click a time to watch.
- 00:14:06
Opening of the 38th Extraordinary Council Meeting and quorum verification
The meeting was called to order and formally notified for 8 May 2025 at the Council Chamber in Braamfontein. Attendees and officials were welcomed. Ten minutes were set aside for councillors to sign the attendance register so a quorum could be verified.
Report an error - 00:28:24
Quorum confirmed
The chair announced that 204 councillors were present. She declared that a quorum existed and the meeting would continue.
Report an error - 00:28:57
Applications for leave of absence
The chair read out apologies from Councillors Mokwena and Mpolobosho and from MMC Kunene, all for urgent private business. Caucus representatives then tabled further apologies for illness, bereavement, private and party business, and some early departures. The chair noted each and noted that Councillor Mangena had been in an accident on the way to work.
MthembuActionSASimonsePADammieANCAvant-SmithHarrisACDPMposulaActionSAMogapiEFF1 unidentified
Report an error - 00:32:45
Recommendations to council: acting arrangements for senior managers tabled
The Executive Mayor was asked to table the recommendations to council and did so. The only item was the report on acting arrangements for senior managers.
Report an error - 00:33:33
FF Plus: Cllr Boer opposes the acting appointments, especially the acting COO
Cllr Boer argued that the city needs excellent managers and attacked the acting appointment of Helen Botes as Chief Operating Officer. He cited the state of the Metro Building and her alleged refusal to cooperate with Section 79 committees and OCOL. He also argued that the delegation of appointment powers had not been reviewed as the Systems Act requires, and called the appointment null and void. A brief exchange over donated speaking time with Cllr Raphadu preceded his speech.
Also discussed: Councillor Boer's Rule 35(2) request on Helen Botes' acting COO appointment (27 March 2025)
Report an error - 00:41:39
ActionSA: Cllr Chuma will abstain and asks for a revised report
Cllr Chuma said ActionSA supports the Acting City Manager's appointment and acknowledges several dedicated senior managers. It objected to bundling all acting appointments into one report, including those named in investigative reports. ActionSA will abstain and urged the executive to bring back a revised report with each appointment considered on its merits.
Also discussed: Executive withdraws the City Manager recruitment report (23 October 2025) · Debate: ATM and ActionSA (17 January 2025)
Report an error - 00:44:37
EFF: Cllr Nkosi calls for filled vacancies and a Botes remedy
Cllr Nkosi urged the Mayor to fill vacant posts, including the HODs for Public Safety and Health and Social Development, and to expedite the permanent City Manager appointment. He asked for the Helen Botes matter to be corrected and for performance appraisals of the Acting CM and Acting COO. He criticised the DA for frequently taking the city to court.
Report an error - 00:47:38
Point of order by Cllr Echeozonjoku on the EFF remarks
Cllr Echeozonjoku rose under Rule 72, saying Cllr Nkosi was misleading the house about the DA going to court. The chair ruled that it was freedom of speech and no party had been named, and told the DA to control its caucus. Cllr Nkosi resumed with his time paused during the interruptions.
Also discussed: ActionSA speech and order dispute (25 June 2026)
Report an error - 00:50:32
UDM: Cllr Zigebe supports the report
After reflecting on Ancestors' Day, Cllr Zigebe welcomed the work of Group Corporate and Shared Services. He noted that 17 of 22 core senior manager posts are permanently filled. He urged that the City Manager, Public Safety and Social Development recruitments be finalised with priority, called for succession planning, and said the UDM supports the report.
Report an error - 00:55:08
DA: Cllr Rahn rejects the report as retrospectively legitimising irregular appointments
Cllr Rahn said the DA rejects the report and its recommendations. She argued the acting appointments breach the Municipal Systems Act and CoGTA Circular 24 of 2022, and that the acting COO was never approved by council. She asked about the interdicted appointment of the Human Settlements ED and criticised the acting COO's R413,000 bonus.
Report an error - 00:59:54
ANC: Cllr Raphadu defends the report
Cllr Raphadu said the share of days on which section 56 posts are permanently filled has increased under the Government of Local Unity. He said acting appointments had always been ratified by council, including under the previous administration. He argued that the report shows transparency and said the ANC supports it.
Report an error - 01:01:14
Point of order by Cllr Rahn on racial remarks
Cllr Rahn rose under Rule 72, saying Cllr Raphadu misled the house by implying racial targeting and demanded proof. The chair told Cllr Raphadu to proceed. A further point of order was refused, and he continued.
Also discussed: ActionSA speech and order dispute (25 June 2026) · Debate: EFF and point of order from DA (17 January 2025)
Report an error - 01:04:36
MMC Masuku responds on delegations and Section 79 attendance
MMC Masuku noted Cllr Boer's concern about officials attending Section 79 committees. He said the 2013 delegations remain in force because successive administrations did not review them, so acting arrangements are brought to council in this way. He pointed to recommendation four, authorising the Acting City Manager to apply to the MEC for a three-month extension, and asked council to adopt the report.
Report an error - 01:10:28
Vote on the acting arrangements for senior managers
The chair asked whether the item was agreed. Councillors voted by show of hands, and legal services consolidated the count. The result was 112 for, 62 against and 35 abstentions, and the item passed.
Report an error - 01:19:09
Announcements and closure
The chair reminded councillors that the budget meeting and debate is scheduled for 28 and 29 May 2025. She said they would be notified of any change and that documents would follow in due course. The meeting was then adjourned.
Report an error
Promises
2Commitments with a date, an amount or a 'we will'.
On 5 November 2026 (when this page was built): 0 overdue, 0 due in the next 30 days, 2 with no date. Overdue first; dates are AI readings of what was said; tap or hover a label for how. All promises.
No dateLoyiso Masuku · MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services
Not raised again in 27 sitting days since; no City report.
Evidence: quote
“various MMCs will obviously implore the City Manager, Acting City Manager to ensure”
No dateMargaret Nobuhle Mthembu · ActionSA
01:19:14· by in due course· Report an error
Latest: Said done at a later sitting, 28 May 2025 (AI judgment)
Evidence: quote · 1 later sitting
“if anything changes we will notify you and the notice and related documents will be distributed”
- Done, they sayNotice of meeting and opening acknowledgements · 28 May 2025
Decisions
3What council approved, rejected or put off.
- 00:28:44
Quorum verificationapproved
With 204 councillors present, quorum was confirmed and the meeting continued.
- 00:32:45
Applications for leave of absenceapproved
Apologies tabled by Councillors Mokwena, Mpolobosho, Makhuba, Simonse, Dammie, Avant-Smith, Harris, Mposula, Mogapi and MMC Kunene were noted.
- 01:18:48
Acting arrangements for senior managers (recommendations on pages 1.11 to 1.12)approved
The item passed by 112 yes votes to 62 no, with 35 abstentions.
Attendance and conduct
38Who was away and why, as said in the chamber.
Apologies read out 35
- Private business (11)
- Mokwena, Mpolobosho, Kunene, Hoon, Van Der Merwe, Truluck, Deppe, Suddaby, Da Gama, Koekemoer, Mkhonza
- Party business (3)
- Ponsonby, Mabelebele, Tshwaku
- Ill health (11)
- Chabalala, Masera, Dewes, Unidentified councillor*, Unidentified councillor*, Makhafola, Raseruthe, Unidentified councillor*, Ramafikeng, Ntoele, Nenemba
- Arriving late (1)
- Mohamed
- Family responsibility (1)
- Unidentified councillor*
* Name as heard; not matched to exactly one councillor.
Sound or equipment problem 1
- 00:47:55
The chair could not hear a councillor speaking on a point of order and asked for the microphone to be moved closer.
Warned or stopped by the chair 2
- 00:40:51
Boer: The chair told Councillor Boer his speaking time had run out.
- 00:48:40
Echeozonjoku: The chair asked Councillor Echeozonjoku to control her caucus over remarks made by Councillor Sifumba.
Transcript
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