Note to Editors: Please find English soundbite by Cllr Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg is deeply concerned by the alarming developments at the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), confirming that the board has resolved to retain two Chief Executive Officers. This deeply troubling move raises serious red flags.
The DA has seen documentation revealing that JPCs board, read ANC cadres, resolved to extend the contract of former CEO Helen Botes for an additional month — even though her term officially ended in September 2024. This is on top of a three-month extension granted to current Acting CEO, Musah Makhunga, at the same board meeting.
More alarming still, is the silence from Johannesburg’s Group Governance unit. It failed to flag this questionable arrangement to either the Chair of the Board or the shareholder. This blatant lack of transparency and the accompanying procedural irregularities can’t be ignored.
The DA has long warned of unlawful appointments within the City of Johannesburg and particularly at JPC.
Our lawyers previously wrote to both the Executive Mayor and former Speaker, concerning the reappointment of Ms Botes and others in senior roles. It is also noteworthy that the DA’s criminal case for corruption against Helen Botes has already been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) by the Hawks.
The Executive Mayor, Dada Morero, allegedly intervened to keep Ms Botes within the City’s structures — not for JPC, but allegedly as part of a plan to move her to City Power. This move would come as the current CEO of City Power, who is under serious scrutiny, faces possible suspension amid multiple investigations about possible maladministration at City Power.
It’s becoming painfully clear that the ANC’s internal factional battles in Johannesburg are spilling over into City governance structures, using governance institutions as pawns in a much larger political game.
The DA has formally written to the Executive Mayor, with the relevant documentation showing this irregularity, demanding that he immediately reverse this unlawful arrangement. We have also escalated the matter to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to intervene in the Mayor’s blatant disregard for the rule of law and principles of clean governance. Johannesburg deserves better. JPC doesn’t need two CEOs — it needs accountability, transparency, and good governance. The DA will not stay silent while ANC cadres continue to manipulate City institutions to serve their internal factional battles.