Transcript: 38th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting

Opening of the 38th Extraordinary Council Meeting and quorum verification

00:14:06Councillors, let's settle down please.

00:15:35Uh good afternoon, councillors. It is hereby notified that the 38th extraordinary council meeting of the City of Johannesburg Municipality will be held on Thursday, the 8th of May, 2025, at 15:40 at the Constance Connie Bapela uh Council Chamber in Braamfontein, and the first item on the agenda is opening.

00:15:59Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Sello Morero. Whip of Council, Councillor Nkosiphayo Zungu in his absentia. Chair of Chair, Councillor Vunani Marema, all political party leaders and whips. Members of the mayoral committee. Chairperson of the Section 79 committees. Fellow councillors. Acting city manager, Mr Tshepo Makola, in his absentia.

00:16:31Secretary to Council, Mr Andile Gobingca. Officials of the City of Johannesburg, residents of the City of Johannesburg, members of the media, ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you all to the 38th Extraordinary Council Meeting of the City of Johannesburg Municipality. At this point, I will allow 10 minutes for verification of quorum. Councillors, please, if you have not signed the register outside,

00:17:02please use this time to do so. We will resume at 15:50. It's 15:40 now. We will resume at 15:50. Please go sign the register outside.

Quorum confirmed

00:28:24Councillors, let's settle down.

00:28:44Councillors, please note that there are 204 councillors present. As a result, there is quorum and the meeting will continue.

Applications for leave of absence

00:28:57Uh, councillors, we move to applications for leave of absence.

00:29:05We have received the following apologies from Councillor Mokwena due to urgent private business, Councillor Mpolobosho due to urgent private business, MMC Kunene due to urgent private business. Are there any more apologies? Councillor Makhuba, number one, Simonse, number two, Dammie, number three, Avant-Smith, number four,

00:29:31Councillor Harris number five, Councillor Mposula number six, Councillor Mogapi number seven in that order, please, colleagues.

00:29:43Thank you, Speaker. From the IFP, Councillor Mkhize will leave at 5:00 if we are not done.

00:29:49Noted, councillor. Councillor Simonse.

00:29:53Afternoon, Madam Speaker. Uh, Councillor Ponsonby away on political business. Thank you.

00:29:58Noted, Councillor. Councillor Dammie.

00:30:00Dammie

00:30:06Um, afternoon Speaker, um, MMC Mgcina uh bereavement.

00:30:13Noted Councillor. Councillor Avant-Smith.

00:30:17Thank you Speaker, good afternoon. Um, we have Councillor Hoon, private business. Councillor Van Der Merwe, private business. Councillor Truluck, private business. Councillor Chabalala, ill health. Councillor Masera, ill health. Councillor Deppe, private business. Councillor Suddaby, private business. Councillor Da Gama, private business. Uh Councillor Koekemoer, private business. Councillor Meyers, who's on an exam leave. And um Councillor Dewes, ill health. And Councillor Mohamed will arrive a bit later. Thank you.

00:30:52Noted Councillor. Councillor Harris.

00:30:56Um Madam Speaker, please excuse Councillor Norman Mkhonza away on private business. Thank you.

00:31:02Noted Councillor. Councillor Mposula.

00:31:12Thank you Speaker. Um, Councillor Genevieve had to leave due to family emergency. Uh Councillor Nicol, ill health. Councillor Zahid, ill health. Uh Councillor Mpho, family bereavement. Councillor Solly Mabelebele, party business. Uh Councillor Joyce Ntombela is going to leave at 4:00. Uh Councillor Nkonyeni is going to leave at 5:00, party business. Thank you.

00:31:41Noted Councillor. Councillor Mogapi.

00:31:48Thank you Speaker. Uh Councillor Makhafola, ill health. Councillor Tshwaku, party business. Councillor Raseruthe, ill health. Councillor Ngwenya, ill health. Councillor Ramafikeng, ill health. Councillor Ntoele, ill health. Councillor Nenemba, ill health. Councillor Telekoa, family bereavement. Thank you.

00:32:14Thank you Councillor Mogapi. Councillor Dammie.

00:32:19Yeah, uh sorry Speaker. Councillor Mangena was uh involved in an accident while coming to work today. Mangena. Mangena.

00:32:32We hope the Councillor is not injured, that that has been noted. I don't see any other hands. Other apologies noted. Thank you Councillors.

Recommendations to council: acting arrangements for senior managers tabled

00:32:45Uh Councillors we proceed to recommendations to council.

00:32:50Executive Mayor, can you table the recommendation to council.

00:33:02Speaker, I stand to I stand to table the council reports recommendations for council consideration.

00:33:14Thank you Executive Mayor.

00:33:20Uh the item on recommendations to council is the acting arrangements for senior managers.

00:33:25The first speaker on our list is from the Freedom Front Plus, Councillor Boer.

FF Plus: Cllr Boer opposes the acting appointments, especially the acting COO

00:33:33Good afternoon Madam Speaker, fellow Councillors. Um, before I start with my speech um DA Councillor Rahn was so generous to give me two minutes, and the ANC Councillor Raphadu he was not so generous, he only gave me one minute. So, I I can have six minutes, please um Madam Speaker.

00:34:01Councillor Raphadu, are you the one that's donating the one minute?

00:34:06No, it's a point of personal explanation. Madam Speaker, I thought I was generous in giving the one minute. So, now I'm being thrown under the bus for not being generous. I don't know, should I take it back Councillor Boer my one minute or are you fine? But thank you, we'll deal with it.

00:34:24Councillor Boer, you have six minutes.claim

00:34:28Thank you very much Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the City of Johannesburg has to be run like a business. And let us take two examples from private business. Shoprite Checkers is one of the well is the most successful retailer in South Africa. And why? Why is Checkers so much more successful than Pick n Pay or Spar or any of the other, even Woolworths? The reason for that is they've got excellent management and they've got excellent managers.claim

00:35:03A second example, Capitec Bank, one of the youngest banks in South Africa, has become the biggest bank in South Africa, being bigger than FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank. And they are also successful, very successful. They're even more successful than VBS Bank. And why? Madam Speaker, because they've got excellent management and they've got excellent managers. And this is a lesson that we have to take in our city as well. If we want to take our city forward, and we listened to the State of the City Address yesterday, if we want to take the city forward we have toclaim

00:35:44have excellent management and we have to have excellent managers. And this item is talking about the managers of the city, acting managers and permanent managers. And one of those appointments that was made on the 20th of January of this year by the Government of Local Unity was to appoint Helen Botes as the Chief Operational Officer of the city. And we must ask ourselves is this an excellent appointment? She was the former CEO, maybe she's still the CEO of JPC. And what does JPC has to show for us? Our next door building,

00:36:22our beloved Metro Building is dilapidated. It's falling apart. And the GLU was looking for renaming streets and so on, and maybe it's a good idea to rename our Metro Building to the Helen Botes Building while it is in this state. So, we don't have any trust in this. We are having with JPC buildings in our inner city that are hijacked. We've got community centers, and I know for one in Orange Farm, that is dysfunctional

00:37:00because of no maintenance. We've got revenue centers that are supposed to bring in the money to the city, they are dysfunctional because there's no repairs done on those buildings. And now we reward the CEO of JPC and we make her the COO of this city. Is this in the best interest of our city? No, it is not. Helen Botes has got various allegations against her and, as the law says, she is not guilty until she is found guilty by a court of law, but there are many allegations.

00:37:36Helen Botes has got no respect for Section 79 committees. She was summoned by OCOL various times to come and explain the state of the Metro Building. She just refused to cooperate. And now we reward such a person and we make her the COO. Madam Speaker, in Afrikaans we've got a saying,

00:37:56Afrikaans"Moenie wolf skaapwagter maak nie."

00:38:00And before you think that I'm swearing, I'm not. I will repeat this in English. Do not make a wolf a shepherd. And what does this means? Our residents of our city are sheep, a flock of sheep, and a flock of sheep needs a shepherd. And you need a shepherd that is going to look after the sheep. If you make a wolf a shepherd, nothing will be left over from the sheep in a very short period of time. And that is what we mean by this. And to go back to this appointment, this appointment was illegally.

00:38:34It was appointed on the 20th of January. The initial three months has already lapsed, and now we ask for a further extension. Section 59(2) of the Systems Act talks about delegations. And it says a municipal council must develop a system of delegation that will maximize administrative and operational efficiency and provide for the adequate checks and balances and, in accordance with that system, um so that is what the council needs to do. We have to delegate to the Municipal Manager. But we Section 59(4) says

00:39:16that a delegation or instruction in terms of subsection (1), which I just read, must be reviewed when a new council is elected or, if it is a district council, elected and appointed. So, we cannot say because the council in 1897 gave to the first Mayor Johan de Villiers a delegation to appoint a City Manager that that delegation is still standing. This delegation had to be reviewed when this council started in 2021, which has not been done. And then Section 59(2)(f) says

00:39:56that a delegation or instruction in terms of subsection (1), um oh sorry, um subsection (4), any delegations or sub-delegations to a staff member or a power conferred on a Municipal Manager must be approved by the municipal council. And I'm going to close off Madam Speaker. The appointment here Section 56, which deals about the appointment of managers directly accountable to Municipal Managers, it says a municipal council, after consultation with the Municipal Manager, must appoint an Acting Manager directly accountable to the Municipal Manager under circumstances and for a period as prescribed.

00:40:44A decision to appoint a person referred to in subsection (1), and any contract concluded with the municipal council

00:40:51Councillor Boer, your six minutes is up.

00:40:53I'm very sorry. Can I read this last sentence? The person appointed does not have the prescribed skills, expertise, competencies, or qualifications, then this appointment is null and void. And that is what I think we have to take with. This appointment is null and void. Thank you very much Madam Speaker.

00:41:16Councillor Boer, you were the other political parties gave you three additional minutes, but still we could not keep to time. ActionSA, Councillor Chuma.

ActionSA: Cllr Chuma will abstain and asks for a revised report

00:41:39Alright. No, thank you so much Speaker. I think today is a generous day. Hopefully, this generosity will be extended to ActionSA. Um Speaker, honorable Councillors, members of the executive, and the residents of City of Johannesburg. As ActionSA, ActionSA reiterates its unwavering commitment to ethical leadership and good governance, values that must not only be spoken about, but actively demonstrated in every decision taken by this council.

00:42:13We want to unequivocally be clear. Our objection to this report before the council today is not a blanket rejection of all the appointments it contains. On the contrary, as we have consistently maintained, including in our previous statement, ActionSA supports the appointment of the Acting City Manager. Furthermore, we recognize and appreciate the dedication of several senior managers included in this report who continue to serve this city and its residents with distinction, professionalism, and ethical integrity.

00:42:55However, the challenge lies in the manner in which this report has been presented. By bundling all the acting appointments into a single submission, without separating those with clean service records from those whose names appear on serious investigative reports, council is being asked to endorse, without distinction, appointments that are still under a cloud of controversy. We cannot, in good conscience, support a process that disregards the findings of Special Investigating Unit and other statutory bodies. Individuals in this report remain subject of unresolved allegations that continue to cast doubt over their suitability for leadership roles.

00:43:41The city's failure to act on these findings sends a troubling signal about its commitment to clean governance. As ActionSA, we will therefore abstain from voting for this report in its current form. We do so not because we oppose all the appointments, but because the report fails to uphold the principles of ethical and transparency that are essential to the credibility of this council. We urge the executive to return with a revised report that will allow each acting appointment to be considered on its individual merit and in line with the integrity and accountability the residents of City of Johannesburg deserve.

00:44:22TshivendaNdo livhuwa.

00:44:28Thank you Councillor Chuma. EFF, Councillor Nkosi.

EFF: Cllr Nkosi calls for filled vacancies and a Botes remedy

00:44:37Yeah. Uh greetings Speaker, greetings to the 29 committed, hard-working, and resilient battalions of EFF led by our caucus leader, Commissar Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku, and our Chief Whip, Thabisa Mogapi. Greetings to all Councillors, staff employees, especially cleaners and security personnel, the media, and the public at large. Speaker, the City of Johannesburg is inundated with negative publicity and yes, uh some of it comes from the DA's callous stance against the CoJ.

00:45:14As Councillors, we can never be shy to hold the executive to account as envisaged in the Constitution and the two centers of power approach. The executive led by the Mayor need to listen attentively to key issues so that we have an effective governance within the City of Johannesburg. We will continue to work for an effective governance. Unlike the organization that resolve issues through court systems, we recognize that the three spheres of government are lawmakers. As lawmakers, we must not always run to the law interpreters, which is the courts.

00:45:54Most importantly Speaker, as the Economic Freedom Fighters, we are known for always providing cogent arguments. However, we would be failing in our revolutionary duty guided by our cardinal pillars, complimentary pillars, manifesto, and all guiding principles within the EFF's arsenal in pursuance of an effective governance on behalf of our people. Mayor, listen attentively. The image of the CoJ is directly linked to you and your office. We have to entrench this view because the Mayor's position is not automatic, not a personal attachment, as in future there could be a different individual from a different organization as seen in the preceding years.

00:46:36Mayor, here are the key issues that you must attend to. The EFF wants to see all vacant positions filled within, uh which includes uh the HODs in the Public Safety, also Health and Social Development Department. The EFF also wants to see the quick expedition towards a permanent CM position. Mayor, the EFF seeks the correction of the Helen Botes debacle and ask that this is done expeditiously before some run to the courts. Mayor, we also seek performance management appraisal against the responsibilities of the Acting CM as well as the Acting COO.

00:47:16Mayor, as alluded, the image of the city and its operation lies squarely in your hands. Please address the issues and ensure all delegated responsibilities are attended to. We have a problem with the DA's us against them stance of frequently sending the CoJ to court. When the DA wins, it will be all over the news.

Point of order by Cllr Echeozonjoku on the EFF remarks

00:47:38Councillor Nkosi, Councillor Nkosi, please hold on. Which point of order are you standing on, Councillor Echeozonjoku?

00:47:48Thank you Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I'm rising on uh Rule 72, and I just want to say to

00:47:55We can't hear you, eh. Please pull the mic closer.

00:47:5772. The Councillor must not mislead this house. When the issues go to court, it's because all other avenues have been exhausted.

00:48:10Councillor Echeozonjoku, it's his freedom of speech. He never mentioned any political party.

00:48:20He said DA.

00:48:40Councillor Echeozonjoku. Councillor Echeozonjoku, please control your caucus, especially Councillor Sifumba, with the remarks she just made. But the meeting will proceed. The Councillor, which is Councillor Nkosi, will proceed. Councillor Nkosi, you are left with one minute.

00:49:08When the DA wins, it will be all over the news.

00:49:13Hold on Councillor Nkosi. Remember EFF, when someone has a point of order, we pause the time. Don't worry, we pause.

00:49:22isiZuluHhayi Councillor Zitha.

00:49:25Councillor Nkosi, you may continue.

00:49:36Yeah, we have the problem of uh that organization of having an us against them stance of frequently sending the CoJ to court. When that organization win, it will be all over the news. However, when it loses against the municipality, it is nowhere on the news outlet. Obviously, this is what is called claiming easy victories. DA must decide whether they must they want to be part of the municipal council or a legal entity. Speaker, the EFF is deeply concerned about these matters and ask that we pull our socks, work together, and ensure that we hold everyone into account. Thank you.

00:50:29isiZuluSiyabonga Councillor Nkosi.

UDM: Cllr Zigebe supports the report

00:50:32UDM, Councillor Zigebe. Councillors. Councillor Zigebe.

00:50:44Madam Speaker, I am debating for my dinner now and not just singing for supper. Before I proceed with the business of the day, allow me to stand in reverence and recognition of Ancestors' Day, which will be commemorated tomorrow, the 9th of May, a day of spiritual significance that transcends mere ritual. It is a reminder that governance in Africa is not a sterile exercise of power, but a sacred calling, one that must be rooted in both ancestral wisdom and the living principles of African indigenous spirituality. In our traditions, leadership is not only accountable to the electorate, but also to the ancestors, those who walked before us, who dreamed of a liberated people and a dignified land.claim

00:51:24It is in this context that we must locate our work as public representatives. The late Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe, a towering figure of both political and spiritual depth, once reminded us and I quote, "Spiritual poverty is the worst form of poverty. A spiritually bankrupt people cannot develop or defend themselves," close quote. We must therefore recognize that the ethical failures we often lament in government are not always legal, they are spiritual. As we honor this day, may we recommit ourselves to a governance that is not only efficient, but ethically grounded, culturally conscious, and spiritually aligned with the values of Ubuntu, accountability, and justice. Let this council be reminded that the city we build is also a reflection of the spiritual order we uphold. Spirituality indeed must lead.claimemotive

00:52:11Honorable Speaker, the report on the acting arrangements for senior managers in the City of Johannesburg comes at a time when our commitment to governance is under national scrutiny and local expectation. The Government of Local Unity has rightly so elevated good governance as one of its strategic priorities. I want to acknowledge the commendable work done by Group Corporate and Shared Services in maintaining operational continuity during a time of leadership transitions. The fact that 17 of the 22 senior manager positions in core departments are permanently filled is no small achievement, especially when viewed against a backdrop of legal disputes, contractual terminations, and evolving organizational demands. It is also worth noting that acting arrangements have been made in compliance with the Municipal Systems Act and relevant CoGTA circulars.claim

00:53:00This, Speaker, speaks to a governance culture that remains anchored in legislative compliance even amid transition. While acting appointments are a necessary feature of any dynamic administration, we must always ensure that they serve their intended purpose, to bridge gaps, not become the bridge itself. The extension request before us today for several key group head positions signal both a capacity for resilience and a need for urgency in permanent recruitment. As government, we must balance continuity with certainty. We must assure both our residents and our workforce that senior leadership will not remain in prolonged flux. A revolving door at the top can affect morale at the base and ultimately the pace and quality of service delivery.

00:53:48Speaker, I raise this with utmost respect for process, but with equal recognition that good governance is also about predictability. The repeated extensions of acting roles, while legal and often necessary, carry a subtle cost. They may unintentionally affect long-term planning, performance accountability, and strategic execution. This is why the recruitment processes currently underway, such as those for the City Manager, Head of Public Safety, and Head of Social Development, must be finalized with priority. We cannot allow red tape or administrative bottlenecks to delay permanent appointments any further. Let us also use this transition period to invest in succession planning and leadership development. We are fortunate that many of the current acting incumbents come from within the system.

00:54:32This reflects a maturing institution capable of grooming talent internally. But we must not limit their contribution to interim roles. These individuals must also be empowered through mentorship, training, and transparent pathways to permanent uh leadership. Honorable Speaker, we govern through policy, but also we must be we have a responsibility of the example that we're showing.

00:54:55isiXhosaUme le phandle, out of order wena.

00:54:59We support this report.

00:55:01Councillor Zigebe.

00:55:06isiZuluSiyabonga Councillor Zigebe.

DA: Cllr Rahn rejects the report as retrospectively legitimising irregular appointments

00:55:08DA, Councillor Rahn. Councillor Rahn, you have

00:55:15Thank you Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker

00:55:18six minutes, oh you took two minutes. Can I start again? Yes.

00:55:26Alright. Uh Madam Speaker, esteemed members of council. The Democratic Alliance has carefully considered the contents of this report, and we must express our deep concern. Once again, we are presented with a submission seemingly designed to retrospectively legitimize a series of irregular acting appointments, appointments that, despite being dressed in the language of administrative necessity, reveal serious procedural flaws and a worrying disregard for legal and statutory requirements. Let me be clear. The DA unequivocally rejects this report and its recommendations. We cannot, in good conscience, support the continued erosion of the legal framework established by the Municipal Systems Act and CoGTA Circular 24 of 2022.

00:56:11These frameworks provide clear guidance for acting appointments, including that only suitably qualified divisional managers may be appointed to act, that acting appointments must not exceed three months unless expressly authorized by the MEC, and that acting appointments must not be used as informal pathways to permanent placements or political favor. Despite this, we are once again asked to retrospectively endorse arrangements that flagrantly breach these rules without any credible indication that proper lawful recruitment processes are underway. In several cases, individuals have been in acting positions far beyond the legal framework and with no evidence that they even meet the minimum requirements.claim

00:57:02Even more concerning, some of these appointments were never brought before council to begin with. Now we are being asked to extend appointments that were unlawful from the start. A prime example is the Acting Chief Operating Officer, the COO. This appointment was never approved by council, yet we are now expected to rubber-stamp and extend it. Let's be clear, the Acting City Manager does not have the authority to make such appointments unilaterally. The law is crystal clear. Appointments must be made by council in consultation with the City Manager. In this case, council did not appoint the Acting COO, and we are being asked to legitimize something that was never legal to begin with.claim

00:57:46This is not good governance. This is administrative convenience bordering on institutional malpractice. The Democratic Alliance will not legitimize or normalize this conduct. Accordingly, we reject the formalization of the acting arrangements outlined in the report, oppose any blanket delegation of appointment of powers of the Acting City Manager without specific council approval. Let me be clear. If these unlawful practices continue, we reserve all of our rights. Just a note on flouting lawful practices, where is the report on the interdicted appointment of the ED of Human Settlements, or has that just gone quiet?claim

00:58:31We also call for an urgent, transparent, and merit-based process to permanently fill all senior management vacancies within the bounds of legal and ethical governance. While our city crumbles and service delivery is AWOL, we are still paying these managers bonuses. Is this what all of our huge loans are for? How is it possible that the city scores the Acting COO a 4.7 out of 5 when we have no asset list of CoJ properties, dangerous buildings kill over 70 people, and our own Metro Building has been shut down for almost two years?claim

00:59:11Is this the kind of management that we reward? Her bonus of R413,000 is shameful and a disgrace. The time for celebrating mediocrity, shortcuts, and circumvention is over. Governance by workaround must end. I thank you.claim

00:59:40Thank you Councillor. ANC, Councillor Raphadu, nine minutes.

ANC: Cllr Raphadu defends the report

00:59:54Thank you Madam Speaker uh for the opportunity. Madam Speaker, indeed

01:00:00Do you know that since this Government of Local Unity has taken over the administration, there's been an increase in the percentage of days in a year that all section 56 positions were filled by a permanent staff member rather than an acting member. The good news does not stop there. Do you know that this government after taking over we have filled positions or acting positions in less than four months. So I will take

01:00:30from the words of MMC Mnisi that indeed this is a call for action and undisputedly so a road map to hope. So we are bringing these items to council so that we show the transparency and the hope in these people that are appointed in these positions. We are glad that the culture of intimidation that was happening

01:01:00while the people are across the room were leading has ended. Where people were threatened because of the colour of the skin, where people were threatened because they looked and smelled. I don't know if stupidity does not take brain power. Don't worry, Madam Speaker, stupidity does not take brain power.

Point of order by Cllr Rahn on racial remarks

01:01:14Please hold on. Please hold on, Councillor Raphadu.

01:01:20SesothoAko eme hanyane.

01:01:23Councillor Rahn.

01:01:25Thank you, Madam Speaker. Sorry, I'm rising on rule 72 for misleading the house. Councillor Raphadu is misleading in the racial tone that he implied there that we were racially going after people. He needs to provide proof of that statement.

01:01:43Councillor Rahn. Councillor Raphadu, you may proceed.

01:01:49Thank you, Chairperson Raphadu not just Councillor Raphadu.

01:01:55Chairperson Raphadu, [inaudible].

01:01:57Thank you very much. We need to make that distinction. To make that distinction clear, Madam Speaker. There's a distinction there. It's not a "therefore" type of approach. Let me continue, Madam Speaker. There's another point of order on a point of order.

01:02:13I already took a point of order and you were the first one, Caucus leader to say you're not supposed to do that when I did it to the chair of chair and Chairperson Raphadu.

01:02:26Councillor Raphadu, we are not going to take another second point of order, you may continue.

01:02:35So Madam Speaker, thank you very much that culture that was you know sickening and finding itself within these corridors is no [inaudible] and I'm glad that majority of our section 56 managers are on permanent position [inaudible] needs to continue so that we get to a point where the permanent positions that are in this place.

01:03:00Madam Speaker, let's remind ourselves, many of these people on the other side, [00:03:05] (no speech)

01:03:09we all know, every time people act and we come here to ratify it's not a new phenomenon. So they can't come here and act like, hey we are doing something wrong, something is sinister while when they were in power they were doing the same thing. We would just ratify somebody's position while they were in power.

01:03:30So we need, Madam Speaker, not to be misled by the sound bites and the gossip and whatever that they're trying to mislead the residents of the City of Johannesburg about. Madam Speaker, organisational stability is the cornerstone of any organisation and that is why we as the Government of Local Unity are standing here to say, here are the reports to ratify the appointment of these people to continue the work so that we get to a point

01:04:00where, when I quoted that there has been an increase in the number of days of section 56 managers that are permanently in their position. So we are glad and confident as this government that indeed, MMC Mnisi, we are on the road map to hope and this is a call to action. Thank you very much, we support these things. [00:04:20] (no speech)

01:04:24Thank you, Chairperson Raphadu. MMC Masuku.

MMC Masuku responds on delegations and Section 79 attendance

01:04:36Good afternoon, Madam Speaker. Thank you very much. Fellow councillor, Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, the Chief Whip of Council and all councillors. I think where we will, Councillor Boer, through you Madam Speaker, we note your concern and I think it's a genuine concern in terms of section 79claim

01:05:06and attendance and I think various MMCs will obviously implore the City Manager, Acting City Manager to ensure that when officials are requested to attend the section 79 committees that is something that the Acting City Manager must ensure it happens because it's about accountability, it's about oversight. We note that concern as it is a genuine concern and most of us as MMCs, we do comply and attend section 79claim

01:05:36regularly. But if there is a concern now officially raised in council, I think it's something that the Acting CM has taken note of as well. On the issue, you're correct in raising section 59. But I think in line with what the Executive Mayor said in his state of the city, because he took us down memory lane of different Executive Mayors. And I think it's important to make this reminder that yes, indeed, delegationsclaim

01:06:06must be reviewed. But if you recall, Councillor Boer, in 2013, the delegations that were here in the city, I was not a councillor, but because there are archives in the city and we read, the delegations of 2013 were rescinded and then they were reviewed and adopted in 2008 and then adopted in 2013. Now 2013claim

01:06:36ended, there was a new leadership in 2016 and the leadership that came in was sitting this side. We were sitting that side in 2016. I was sitting there where Councillor Santana sits. In 2016 that leadership did not review delegations, meaning the city continued with the delegations that were approved in 2013 by this council. Fast forward to 2021. 2016 it was the erstwhileclaim

01:07:06Mayor that was an accidental Mayor. Then we moved to 2021. 2021, as said by the Executive Mayor in his memory lane, we got the first female Mayor. That leadership with their MMCs also did not review the delegations of council, meaning we continued with the delegations of 2013. Now Madam Speaker, Mayor Morero did not start a term, he found a term starting of government. Mayor Gwamandaclaim

01:07:36did not start a term, he found a term that had started by the former Mayor 2021. That means only in 2026 local government, it will be a new term when then delegations have to be reviewed. So it's important for council to follow that process because the 2013 delegations remain and those delegations allow us to do the process that we have done, to bring a report that ratifies and allows for the firstclaim

01:08:06three months the City Manager to continue with the process and then that's why we have a recommendation, a specific recommendation, Speaker. Recommendation number four says that the council be requested to authorise the Acting City Manager or his delegate in line with the Municipal Systems Act of 2002, to apply to the MEC for extension of the acting arrangements for a further three months. Because

01:08:36the delegations allowed us to do the work that we did in line with what we have done and I want through you, Madam Speaker, to refute this assertion that we are inventing something new. With all the Mayors that I have mentioned, this is how an acting arrangement report comes to council. There is nothing new. We have always done it like this and if for whatever reason there was anything sinister, we would not have brought the report. We are transparent, Councillor

01:09:06Raphadu is correct. We are bringing the report because we are transparent. There's absolutely nothing that we are hiding. Councillor Raphadu, thank you so much for your comments and Councillor Zigebe, and I agree that the city must continue to operate and in us operating it is in line with ensuring that we stabilise senior management. And then Councillor Nkosi or Councillor Raphadu already mentioned this. When we came in,

01:09:36our intention was to stabilise senior management and we've done that by appointing senior managers. It's as if he read my responses, but Councillor Raphadu is spot on. We have worked on that and our intention is to continue to make sure. Even the section 79 committee of GCSS has acknowledged that and that acknowledgment includes councillors of different caucuses in that particular section 79 committee. Madam Speaker, we ask council

01:10:06in line with the recommendations to allow us to proceed and that this report goes on and we ask the MEC to allow us that we extend for the next three months. Thank you. [00:10:21] (no speech)

Vote on the acting arrangements for senior managers

01:10:28Thank you, MMC Masuku. Councillors, the recommendations are on pages 1.11 to 1.12. Is the item agreed to?

01:10:40No!

01:10:53The no's have it.

01:10:55I hear yes, I hear no, so we are going to.

01:11:01I'm not done. I'm not done. All those in support of this item, please raise your hands. [00:11:15] (no speech)

01:13:51Councillors, you can lower your hands. [00:13:55] (no speech)

01:14:02All those against this item, please raise your hands. [00:14:08] (no speech)

01:15:39Councillors, you can lower your hands. All those councillors who are abstaining from this voting process, please raise your hands. [00:15:52] (no speech)

01:17:58Councillors, you can lower your hands. [00:18:01] (no speech)

01:18:05Let's give legal two minutes to consolidate the numbers. [00:18:10] (no speech)

01:18:48Councillors, all those who did not want to participate, who abstained is 35. The no's, 62, the yes's, 112. The item passes.

Announcements and closure

01:19:09Uh councillors, we are now on announcements.

01:19:14Councillors, please be reminded that the budget meeting and debate is scheduled for the 28th and 29th of May 2025, and if anything changes we will notify you and the notice and related documents will be distributed in due course.

01:19:31We are on closure now.

01:19:33Thank you so much, councillors, for your contribution. The meeting is adjourned. [00:19:39] (no speech)