GOOD Speech by Matthew Cook,
GOOD National Chairperson and City of Johannesburg Councillor
26 March 2025
*Note to Editors: This speech was delivered during the 29th Ordinary Council Meeting of the City of Johannesburg.
Madam Speaker,
While going through the Community Development Mid-Year Performance Report for the 2024/25 financial year it must be noted that in this period, the department was under the reigns of three MMC’s. It is not surprising therefore that the reports are simply unsatisfactory and the department appears to be grappling with a number of critical issues.
Speaker, I do however believe that the current MMC, Tebogo Nkonkou is a passionate person who is adamant to make progressive advancements in this portfolio and who will fight for those who need it most. I would therefore like to take this opportunity, through you Speaker, to highlight some issues which MMC Nkonkou should place focus on in the final months of this financial year.
Speaker, the department has only collected 34% of its mid-year revenue target.
This massive shortfall is unacceptable and speaks to poor financial discipline, ineffective revenue strategies, and a lack of urgency. A department that cannot meet its basic revenue obligations puts strain on the entire City’s financial sustainability.
Speaker, despite having an approved capital budget of over R65 million, only 25% has been spent at mid-year. The excuse given is the downtime of the SAP system — but this only highlights poor contingency planning and weak project management.
The City’s residents cannot wait on excuses while projects remain incomplete.
Speaker, the report itself admits that many City facilities are in disrepair, posing serious health and safety hazards. Years of neglect, poor workmanship, and lack of supplier panels continue to cripple our ability to deliver quality services. There is no excuse for allowing City-owned community facilities to deteriorate to this extent.
Speaker, the persistent non-performance of the JPC, coupled with outstanding accounts, is leading to service disruptions and risks to mid-year funding. The department has failed to take decisive action against this ongoing problem.
We are dealing with regular facility closures due to water outages, electricity failures, and protests — with no clear mitigation plans in place. These repeated disruptions leave communities without access to critical amenities.
Speaker, rather than correcting shortcomings, the department continues to request deviations from its SDBIP targets, particularly around cleanliness and service standards. This indicates an attitude of avoidance instead of proactive problem-solving.
Speaker, the Community Development Department’s mid-year report is riddled with excuses, missed targets, and financial mismanagement. While communities wait for improved services and facilities, this report offers little more than inflated statistics and recycled challenges.
What residents of Johannesburg deserve is a clear, actionable turnaround plan.
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