Thursday, 23 October 2025 · 2 h 55 min · 1 video · 2021–2026 council
44th 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
- Other business (no topic tag)
- Procedure: roll call, apologies, breaks
- Decision (6)
- ◯Quorum count (1)
- ‖Adjourned or paused (4)
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 44th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting, convened at the executive's request to consider a report on recruitment and appointment of the City Manager, ended without debate when the leader of executive business withdrew the report. 00:02:30 02:50:51 The Speaker then adjourned the meeting and announced the ordinary council meeting for 30 October at 10:00. 02:51:51
Before the item was reached, the Speaker granted caucus breaks to the EFF for one hour, the ANC for 45 minutes and the PA for 30 minutes. 00:15:29 01:24:37 02:15:43 The EFF and ANC caucuses ran over, and Cllr Rahn (DA) complained that there was no live feed and that the delays were abusive; the Speaker said she would look into the feed. 01:22:28 02:12:01 Cllr Magwentshu (ATM) said he had wanted a caucus before the report was withdrawn, but the Speaker said his hand went up after the leader of executive business spoke. 02:51:51
At the opening, Cllr Christians (DA) said there was no quorum; the Speaker proceeded as agreed at the rules committee, and a count found 172 councillors in the chamber. 00:00:48 00:04:53 The Speaker announced that eight ActionSA PR councillors had ceased to be councillors and welcomed Cllr Ismael Steenkamp after the Patriotic Alliance won the Ward 29 by-election. 00:02:30
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This week in council: City Manager recruitment report withdrawn at 44th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting
In brief
- 6 decisions: 4 approved, 1 deferred or withdrawn, 1 noted or other.
- 4 promises on record, including: The Speaker will announce which councillors have registered as present later in the day.
- 1 quorum count.
- 35 apologies read out. MMC or Mayor not present for their business: 2; Sound or equipment problem: 3; Warned or stopped by the chair: 3.
Chapters
12What was discussed, in order. Click a time to watch.
- 00:00:48
Opening and call to order
The Speaker called the 44th Extra-Ordinary Council Meeting to order amid noise in the chamber. Cllr Christians objected that there was no quorum to open. The Speaker said she and he had sat in rules a few days earlier and she would follow what the rules dictated.
Report an error - 00:02:30
Welcome, purpose of the meeting and membership changes
The Speaker welcomed dignitaries and officials and said the executive had asked her to convene the meeting to consider a report on recruitment and appointment of the City Manager, under Rule 16. She congratulated the Patriotic Alliance on winning the Ward 29 by-election and welcomed Cllr Ismael Steenkamp. She announced that eight ActionSA PR councillors had ceased to be councillors and that replacements would be sworn in later.
Report an error - 00:04:53
Quorum count
The Speaker asked councillors to sit so legal and protocol staff could count those present, and said only seated councillors would be counted. After the count, she announced 172 councillors in the chamber and asked them to sign the register. She also asked Rules Committee members to be seated first at future sittings.
Report an error - 00:11:09
Applications for leave of absence
The Speaker read out written apologies and then took apologies from caucus representatives. Cllrs Boer, Avant-Smith and Mofokeng gave apologies for their members, and representatives of the EFF, IFP and ActionSA did the same. The Speaker then asked that the apologies be noted as received.
ArnoldsAICBoerFF+Avant-SmithMofokengANC1 unidentified
Report an error - 00:15:29
Recommendations to council and EFF request for caucus
The Speaker moved to recommendations to council and asked the leader of executive business to table. Before this, Cllr Mogapi requested a one-hour EFF caucus. The Speaker granted it and asked that everyone be back at 11:15.
Report an error - 01:22:28
Resumption after EFF caucus
The Speaker asked the rowdy chamber to settle after the EFF caucus, which ran about two minutes over. She asked Cllr Mogapi to report back, and Mogapi said the EFF was ready to proceed.
Report an error - 01:24:37
ANC requests 45-minute caucus
As the council returned to recommendations, Cllr Mofokeng asked for a 45-minute ANC caucus. The Speaker granted it, warned that there was no lunch provided, and set the return time at 12:05.
MofokengANCArnoldsAIC
Report an error - 02:12:01
Late return and live feed complaint
The Speaker asked ANC councillors to come in, as the caucus ran about five minutes over. Cllr Rahn complained that there was no live feed, that there was only one item on the agenda, and that the delays were abusive. The Speaker said she would look into the live feed and that it worked on her phone, then said Cllr Mofokeng was ready to continue.
ArnoldsAICRahnDAMofokengANC
Report an error - 02:15:43
Patriotic Alliance requests 30-minute caucus
Cllr Kaldine raised her hand and asked for a 30-minute PA caucus. The Speaker criticised councillors for taking advantage of the rules but granted it and set the return time at 12:40.
Report an error - 02:48:13
Return from PA caucus
The Speaker asked for the PA's report-back but held it until the leader of executive business, the Mayor, the chief whip and the chair of chairs were back, since they had to table the item. When they were in place, Cllr Kaldine reported that the PA was ready to proceed.
Report an error - 02:50:51
Executive withdraws the City Manager recruitment report
The council resumed on recommendations and the leader of executive business was asked to table. Instead of tabling, the leader rose to withdraw the report on the City Manager recruitment and appointment process.
ArnoldsAIC1 unidentified
Also discussed: ActionSA: Cllr Chuma will abstain and asks for a revised report (8 May 2025)
Report an error - 02:51:51
ATM caucus request, announcements and adjournment
Cllr Magwentshu said he had wanted a caucus break before the report was withdrawn. The Speaker said his hand went up after the leader of executive business spoke. She announced the ordinary council meeting for 30 October at 10:00 and a councillors' imbizo in Alberton the next day with transport provided, then adjourned the meeting.
Report an error
Promises
4Commitments 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, 1 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
The Speaker will announce which councillors have registered as present later in the day.
00:05:20· by later on during the day· Report an error
Not raised again in 14 sitting days since; no City report.
Evidence: quote
“then later on during the day, we will tell you Councillors that have registered.”
Due the same or next dayMargeret Sheron Arnolds · AIC
02:52:48· by today, immediately after adjournment· Report an error
Not raised again in 14 sitting days since; no City report.
Evidence: quote
“The agenda link and hard copies for councillors who have requested such will be distributed today”
Due the same or next dayMargeret Sheron Arnolds · AIC
Transport will be provided from the Metro City to Alberton for the councillors' imbizo.
02:53:19· by tomorrow· Report an error
Not raised again in 14 sitting days since; no City report.
Evidence: quote
“there will be transport from the Metro City to Alberton.”
No dateMargeret Sheron Arnolds · AIC
The Speaker will look into the complaint that there is no live feed of the meeting.
Not raised again in 14 sitting days since; no City report.
Evidence: quote
“We'll find out about the live feed.”
Decisions
6What council approved, rejected or put off.
- 00:15:13
Applications for leave of absenceapproved
The Speaker asked whether the apologies were noted as received, and the council moved on to recommendations.
- 00:16:22
EFF request for one-hour caucusapproved
The Speaker granted the caucus, to return at 11:15.
- 01:25:06
ANC request for 45-minute caucusapproved
The Speaker granted the caucus, to return at 12:05.
- 02:15:53
Patriotic Alliance request for 30-minute caucusapproved
The Speaker granted the caucus, to return at 12:40.
- 02:51:43
Report on the recruitment and appointment process of the City Managerwithdrawn
The leader of executive business withdrew the report before it was tabled or debated.
- 02:53:19
44th Extra-Ordinary Council Meetingadjourned
The Speaker adjourned the meeting after the report was withdrawn; the ordinary council meeting is set for 30 October 2025 at 10:00.
Attendance and conduct
43Who was away and why, as said in the chamber.
Apologies read out 35
- Arriving late (13)
- Kunene, Masuku*, Tshwaku, Rambani, Kgeletsane, Mathe*, Lobi, Morero, Mgcina, Khanyile, Mkhize, Zwane, Moatshe
- Ill health (10)
- Nkosi, Molise, Ntoele, Mabidilala, Siphiwe Simelane, Mavhona, Mnyameni, Mkhonto, Nkomo*, Aphane
- Leaving early (3)
- Christians, Nzimande, Wissler
- Other reason (1)
- Ngwenya*
* Name as heard; not matched to exactly one councillor.
MMC or Mayor not present for their business 2
Sound or equipment problem 3
Warned or stopped by the chair 3
Transcript
100Every line, linked to the video.
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