Wednesday, 30 July 2025 · 2 h 6 min · 1 video · 2021–2026 council
8th Special 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
- Services, housing and development
- Other business (no topic tag)
- Procedure: roll call, apologies, breaks
- Decision (2)
- ‖Adjourned or paused (1)
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 8th Special Council Meeting was held in honour of the late Councillor Brenda Dammie, ANC Deputy Chief Whip and Rules Committee chairperson, who died on 20 June 2025. 00:04:08 01:48:58 The Speaker apologised to the bereaved families for the late start, which she attributed to traffic and freeway accidents. 00:04:08
Condolence messages came from the ANC, ACDP, ActionSA, COPE, DA, IFP, PA, PAC, UIM, EFF, UDM and AIC, followed by tributes from the Chair of Chairs and Mayor Morero. 00:12:03 00:26:46 00:31:17 00:37:24 00:44:12 00:49:16 00:52:17 00:55:36 01:01:40 01:06:40 01:20:09 01:30:01 01:32:16 01:39:11 Al Jama-ah's Councillor Gwamanda was called but was not present, and the Speaker warned the EFF's Councillor Mosehla that he was nearing 10 minutes. 01:06:40 Mayor Morero spoke about attacks and false claims against councillors, including a false social media story about his son. 01:39:11
The Speaker said the meeting also officially removed Councillor Dammie's name from the chamber, a ritual known as ukusula igama, and the council flag, a candle and flowers were placed on her seat. 01:48:58 01:54:55 Her brother, Mr Rali Moloisane, thanked the Mayor, MMCs, councillors and the community, and urged Council to stay united. 02:00:25
Council noted apologies and late arrivals, including the Mayor's, and approved a 10-minute break, after which the Speaker said Council would resume for the business of the day. 00:08:36 02:05:09
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: 68 Rea Vaya buses for Alexandra Bus Company carried 112 for, 95 against, 3 abstain
In brief
Chapters
22What was discussed, in order. Click a time to watch.
- 00:04:08
Opening, moment of silence and notice of meeting
The meeting opened with a moment of silence and prayer. The Speaker read the notice of the eighth special Council meeting, held in honour of the late Councillor Brenda Dammie. She apologised to the bereaved families for the 9:30 start, caused by traffic and freeway accidents.
Report an error - 00:06:09
Speaker's tribute to Councillor Dammie
The Speaker paid tribute to Councillor Dammie's life and courage, including her public advocacy during her breast cancer illness. She called on councillors to keep her legacy alive.
Report an error - 00:08:36
Applications for leave of absence and apologies
Caucuses and office-bearers tabled apologies and late arrivals, including the EFF, IFP, DA, PA and the Chair of Chairs, who tabled the Mayor's late arrival. The Speaker asked Council to note the apologies.
ArnoldsAICAvant-SmithSimonsePAMaremaANC
Report an error - 00:12:03
ANC message of condolence
The ANC's message was delivered by Councillor Tsotetsi after a hymn. She described Councillor Dammie as ANC Deputy Chief Whip, Rules Committee chairperson, mentor to the women caucus members and a stylish leader. The segment ended with a song for OR Tambo.
Report an error - 00:26:46
ACDP condolence message
Councillor Harris offered the ACDP's condolences and read Psalm 23. He described Councillor Dammie as a stylish servant-leader who faced cancer with strength. He urged her family to be strong.
Report an error - 00:31:17
ActionSA condolence message
Councillor Edward spoke of Councillor Dammie as her friend ("Choma"). She recalled their time together at the Wits School of Governance and Dammie's fight for her ward after the spaza-shop food poisoning deaths. She conveyed ActionSA's condolences.
Report an error - 00:37:24
COPE condolence message
Councillor Mokome conveyed COPE's condolences. He recalled Councillor Dammie's humour and her impromptu photoshoots in Council, and her open-door service to Ward 29 residents.
Report an error - 00:44:12
DA condolence message
Councillor Harman spoke of his friendship with Councillor Dammie, formed at the Wits School of Governance and in the Rules Committee. He said she cared about the alderman, councillor protection and funeral policies coming to Council that week. He conveyed the DA caucus's condolences.
Report an error - 00:49:16
IFP condolence message
Councillor Makhuba conveyed the IFP's condolences, quoting Matthew 5:4 and Revelation 21:4. She said Councillor Dammie led the ANC caucus with dedication.
Report an error - 00:52:17
Patriotic Alliance condolence message
Councillor Kaldine paid tribute on behalf of the PA and the Section 79 Development Planning Committee, which Councillor Dammie had chaired. She praised Dammie's advocacy for development, accountability and dignity.
Report an error - 00:55:36
PAC condolence message
MMC Nkokou paid tribute for the PAC, describing Councillor Dammie as a principled leader who held the executive accountable on service delivery. He invoked Robert Sobukwe and urged continuing her work.
Report an error - 01:01:40
UIM condolence message
Councillor Abdool spoke of her affection for Councillor Dammie and her peace in knowing she is with God. She addressed Dammie's daughter and urged the family to give her love. She called for councillors to see one another as human beings beyond party lines.
Report an error - 01:06:40
EFF condolence message
Al Jama-ah's Councillor Gwamanda was called but did not speak, so the Speaker moved to the EFF. Councillor Mosehla spoke at length, largely in Sepedi. He asked for health check-ups for councillors and urged the Mayor to continue Dammie's projects. The Speaker reminded him he was near 10 minutes.
Report an error - 01:20:09
UDM condolence message
Councillor Zigebe described Councillor Dammie as a motherly mentor who treated him warmly across party lines. He recalled their January trip to the Eastern Cape for a colleague's funeral. He extended the UDM's condolences to the family.
Report an error - 01:30:01
AIC condolence message
Councillor Mhlongo said Councillor Dammie always responded to residents, whether to protests, broken pipes or distress calls. He said she called many colleagues "chomi" and chose purpose over position. He asked Council to honour her by serving people better.
Report an error - 01:32:16
Chair of Chairs' closing tribute
Councillor Marema, who sat next to Councillor Dammie, remembered her as a quiet but firm leader and Rules Committee chairperson. He recalled her dress sense, her love of soccer and her quiet illness. He drew lessons from her consistency and loyalty to the people.
Report an error - 01:39:11
Executive Mayor's tribute
Mayor Morero recalled Councillor Dammie's ANC activism and her sacrifice in leaving a doctor's appointment to vote on the budget. He spoke about attacks and false claims against councillors, including a false social media story about his son. He also recalled her asking for Kaizer Chiefs tickets.
Report an error - 01:48:58
Speaker's closing condolences and Council record of Councillor Dammie
The Speaker extended Council's condolences and recounted that Councillor Dammie was sworn in on 10 August 2016. She served as Rules Committee chairperson and ANC Deputy Chief Whip, and died on 20 June 2025. The Speaker noted she had completed a Wits School of Governance certificate but did not graduate. The council flag, a candle and flowers were placed on her seat.
Report an error - 01:53:12
Singing and chanting in the chamber
Members in the chamber broke into song and chanting for Councillor Dammie while the Speaker was still speaking. The Speaker asked for it to stop so she could continue.
Report an error - 01:54:55
Ritual removal of Councillor Dammie's name from the chamber
The Speaker said the meeting was also held to officially remove Councillor Dammie's name from the chamber, a protocol ritual known as ukusula igama. This was followed by an extended period of singing and chanting.
Report an error - 02:00:25
Remarks from the Dammie family
Councillor Dammie's brother, Mr Rali Moloisane, thanked the Mayor, MMCs, councillors and the community. He recalled his sister's devotion to the ANC. He urged Council to stay united and keep serving the people.
Report an error - 02:05:09
Adjournment for break and resumption arrangements
The Speaker announced a 10-minute break because the meeting had started half an hour late. She asked councillors to sign the second register. The family would be ushered out by the political leadership and protocol officials.
Report an error
Promises
1Commitments 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, 0 with no date. Overdue first; dates are AI readings of what was said; tap or hover a label for how. All promises.
Due the same or next dayMargeret Sheron Arnolds · AIC
Council will resume for the business of the day at 11:45 after a 10-minute break.
02:05:39· by 11:45 on the day of the sitting· Report an error
Not raised again in 20 sitting days since; no City report.
Evidence: quote
“We'll get back into Council for the business of the day at 11:45.”
Decisions
2What council approved, rejected or put off.
- 00:11:53
Applications for leave of absence and apologiesapproved
The Speaker asked Council to note the apologies and late arrivals tabled by the caucuses and the Chair of Chairs.
- 02:05:09
Adjournment of the memorial sittingapproved
The Speaker announced a 10-minute break, with Council to resume for the business of the day at 11:45 and councillors to sign the second register.
Attendance and conduct
25Who was away and why, as said in the chamber.
Apologies read out 22
- Arriving late (15)
- Telekoa, Mogapi, Mabaso, Magwentshu, Shawe, Da Gama, Campbell-Cloete, Koekemoer, Fourie-Shawe, May*, Ponsonby, Wilskut, Nzimande, Ndlela, Shange
- Other reason (1)
- Khanyile
* Name as heard; not matched to exactly one councillor.
Sound or equipment problem 1
- 00:31:42
The chair asked the councillor about to speak to switch on the microphone.
Not present when called 1
Warned or stopped by the chair 1
Transcript
352Every line, linked to the video.
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