Joburg budget vote collapses over R1.3 billion rise in salary bill

THE City of Johannesburg's council meeting to approve the 2025/26 operating adjustment budget was abandoned after the proposal failed to secure the necessary support, prompting Deputy Mayor and Finance MMC Loyiso Masuku to withdraw the item.

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

Following a vote requiring support from at least 136 of the city’s 270 councillors, speaker Margaret Arnolds announced that out of the councillors present, 58 had chosen to abstain while another 67 rejected it outright.

Arnolds said 117 councillors had voted "yes" but this fell short of the 136 needed to carry through the item.

This prompted Masuku to withdraw the matter.

"We would also like to inform Samwu (SA Municipal Workers’ Union) that the EFF, DA and ActionSA rejected their salary and wage (increases) implementation," she said, sparking loud protestations and accusations of the parties being enemies of the workers.

Much of the opposition to the adjustment budget was due to R1.35 billion overspending on employee-related costs.