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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg condemns the disgraceful reality of the massive executive payouts in the City of Johannesburg.

This includes the shocking revelation that even the CEO of the Johannesburg Property Company earns more than the City’s own Accounting Officer.

The ANC-led coalition continues prioritising bloated salaries and executive benefits over basic service delivery. This is while residents are forced to endure escalating tariffs, prolonged power outages, water shortages, collapsing roads and failing infrastructure.

Johannesburg’s salary bill has ballooned to over R21 billion while communities are left abandoned by a government that has lost touch with the daily struggles of residents.

The assessment by CoGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa into Johannesburg’s governance failures confirms exactly what residents already know: this administration protects bureaucracy while the City collapses.

Even more concerning is that many who are now attempting to distance themselves from the Minister of Finance’s warning letter are the same political parties and councillors who repeatedly voted for unfunded budgets, reckless loans and unsustainable borrowing that likely subsidises these excessive salary structures.

Residents should not be treated as an ATM for a failing administration and politically connected executives.

These failures will be corrected when Helen Zille becomes Mayor of Johannesburg after 4 November 2026. The DA will restore financial discipline, accountability and service delivery to South Africa’s economic hub.

Issued by Cllr Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku - DA Johannesburg Caucus leader