The City of Johannesburg welcomes the recent judicial decision regarding the informal traders’ matter and acknowledges the Court’s ruling referring the issue to mediation. The City respects the Court’s call for dialogue and constructive resolution and confirms its commitment to participating in the mediation process.

The Head of Legal in the City, Mr Segala Malahlela explained that: “Pursuant to submissions made by the City’s legal counsel, the Court directed that the matter be referred to mediation before former Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo, who has already been appointed to mediate a similar dispute arising from an application instituted by the South African Informal Traders Forum and other traders in October 2025. The City is encouraged by the Court’s decision to refrain from interfering with the lawful exercise of the City’s powers.”

Fellow residents of Johannesburg, partners in business, faith leaders, workers, comrades, and compatriots,

As we gather with our families and loved ones to celebrate Christmas—a season marked by renewal, reflection, and hope—I extend my warmest wishes to every resident of our great city. Christmas reminds us that, even in challenging times, collective effort, compassion, and decisive leadership can usher in new beginnings. Let us come together as a city to embrace the spirit of unity and community this festive season.

Johannesburg remains the heartbeat of South Africa’s economy and the economic capital of Africa. This festive season offers us an opportunity not only to reflect on how far we have come, but also to recommit ourselves to building a city that works — a city that is inclusive, resilient and future-focused.

Government acknowledges the significant hardship experienced by households, businesses and communities across Gauteng following the recent Rand Water infrastructure maintenance, which resulted in widespread water supply disruptions. We recognise that access to water is a basic human right, and we empathise deeply with residents who have been affected, particularly vulnerable households and those in higher-lying areas. 

In response to the situation, the Minister of Water and Sanitation and the Premier of Gauteng convened an urgent meeting on 19 December 2025 with all key stakeholders, including Rand Water, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Gauteng Provincial Government, the City of Johannesburg and Johannesburg Water. The purpose of the engagement was to receive a comprehensive, first-hand update on the maintenance programme, assess its impact, and ensure decisive interventions to accelerate recovery and stabilise supply. 

The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, will attend the memorial service for DJ Warras “Shady Lurker,” Warrick Stock, today to honour his life, legacy, and the profound impact he made on the creative and music communities.

The memorial service will take place at The Galleria (M1 Place, 10 Eastern Service Road, Marlboro, Sandton) at 11:00.

While bulk water supply has been restored and several systems across the city are gradually stabilising, the Midrand supply system remains the most constrained and has not yet fully recovered.

The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr Dada Morero, mourns deeply upon receiving the heartwrenching news from the Stock family regarding the tragic passing of Warrick “Warras” Stock.

The brutal and senseless murder of DJ Warras has profoundly impacted Johannesburg and the nation. A beloved media personality, activist, businessman, and devoted citizen, DJ Warras cared passionately about the future of our city and its people. His departure leaves an irreplaceable void, touching not only his family and loved ones but also all who admired his bravery and dedication to revitalising the inner city.

The City of Johannesburg continues to experience significant pressure on the electricity network as the rainy season intensifies. The heavy and persistent rainfall has resulted in a surge of weather-related outages across multiple regions (Service Delivery Centres), placing additional strain on an already overstretched system. Moisture-related cable faults, damaged overhead lines, and compromised equipment have become increasingly common, leading to prolonged interruptions in several areas.

As a result of these harsh weather conditions, the rate of equipment failure has escalated. Substations, transformers, mini-substations, and cable networks are enduring heightened pressure, with many units reaching the end of their operational capacity far sooner than expected. In addition to weather-related failures, vandalism, cable theft, illegal connections, and meter bypassing remain some of the most destructive contributors to outages. In areas such as Lyndhurst, Rembrandt Park, and Woodlands Estate, transformers and Ring Main Units have been vandalised or stolen, resulting in large-scale outages that require complete replacement of equipment rather than simple repairs. Similar incidents in Fleurhof, Ennerdale, Lawley, and other regions continue to undermine restoration efforts.

In an article published by the Fourways Review on 11 December 2025, titled “Six months later, City of Johannesburg fails to deliver promised outdoor advertising audit”, reference is made to the proliferation of illegal outdoor advertising signs across the City.

The article further suggests that the City has not taken meaningful action to address these violations. The City of Johannesburg wishes to place on record that this assertion is incorrect. The City continues to escalate its enforcement efforts in line with the City of Johannesburg Outdoor Advertising Bylaw.

The City of Joburg has been recognised by CDP, the global environmental non-profit organisation, for its leadership in transparency and action, securing a place on CDP’s respected annual ‘A’ List.

CDP operates the world’s only independent environmental disclosure system, with over 1,000 cities, states and regions reporting environmental data through in 2025.