Bankrupt Joburg imperils national economy, warns Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana

DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille is pressing for Joburg to be placed under National Treasury financial administration, while the ANC wants a meeting with the minister to protect a two-year, R10.3bn staff wage deal.

On 23 April, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana wrote to the Johannesburg mayor, Dada Morero, stating that the City could not afford its recent salary increases.

At issue is a R10.3-billion, two-year salary deal the City signed with the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in November 2025 to ward off protests ahead of the G20 meeting in Johannesburg. Workers say it addresses the outstanding salaries and benefits that they’ve been awaiting for years.

By Ferial Haffajee

Full story at  Daily Maverick.