Joburg has been captured; the Council must be dissolved

28 September 2023

The DA in Johannesburg is renewing its call for the Dissolution of Council. We are deeply concerned about the fact that yet another council sitting has been cancelled, this time using a fire as an excuse.

The puppet Mayor and his MMCs are squabbling in public, roads are exploding, City-owned buildings are taking fire, the city is deteriorating while they spend time and limited resources on unnecessary ventures such as the renaming of a street.

The Speaker of Council, Colleen Makhubele’s promise that she will “bring the ANC back to Johannesburg” has now truly come to fruition.

The City of Johannesburg has been captured, and it happened at the hands of those who were supposed to be responsible for safeguarding it. This week we have seen the Mayor and MMCs attend the renaming of William Nicol Drive while refusing to attend a meeting with residents regarding the water crisis. The fact that Johannesburg Property Company whose assets are worth billions, has a board run by a receptionist, alongside several ANC branch members – is a testament to the disaster that the City has become.

Several ANC Regional Executive Members including Former President Jacob Zuma's daughter are employed as Advisors to the Executive Mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda. This is in violation of the Municipal Systems Act, Sec 71B.

Precisely for this reason the DA is calling for the dissolution of Council. Just removing the Mayor and his MMCs will not solve the problem. We have a systemic failure of governance in the City in need of a complete overhaul.

By dissolving Council, all Chairpersons of Committees and all councillors will be without any positions. That will give all residents a second opportunity to decide who they will trust with their vote. Any political party serious about service delivery and governance will support this Motion to dissolve Council.

Issued by Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, DA Johannesburg Caucus Leader, 28 September 2023