Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Cllr Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku here
The Johannesburg Council meeting descended into chaos today, and the Speaker was forced to adjourn proceedings due to the disruptive behaviour of ANC councillors during the Adjustment Budget vote.
In a clear attempt to derail the democratic process, ANC members resorted to shouting and heckling to prevent the vote from proceeding, because the budget would not have passed.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) firmly rejects this Adjustment Budget, which exposes the ANC/EFF/PA/ActionSA coalition’s continued mismanagement of Johannesburg’s finances. This budget is built on deception, with inflated revenue projections, reckless cuts to critical infrastructure – especially water infrastructure spending, and an unsustainable borrowing plan that will sink the city further into debt.
In the middle of a water crisis, Executive Mayor, Dada Morero felt it apt to allow his executive to table a budget that would have cut water infrastructure spending.
The DA will not be intimidated, nor will we support this budget without serious changes.