According to a 2025 report by the City of Johannesburg, the CEOs of its municipal entities, such as City Power and Johannesburg Water, earn annual salaries ranging from R4 million to R7 million. This comes as residents continue to experience frequent water shortages and load-shedding, despite the city's budget of over R70 billion for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
The Auditor-General's 2024-2025 report highlighted irregular expenditure of R1.2 billion across these entities, raising questions about value for money. In contrast, the average household in Johannesburg spends about R2,500 monthly on basic services, with many unable to afford consistent supply.
City spokesperson Mlimandlela Ndamase stated in a March 2026 press release that executive pay is benchmarked against the private sector to attract skilled leadership. However, opposition parties like the DA have called for a salary review, citing poor service delivery metrics.
As of May 2026, no official decision has been made to reduce CEO compensation, though the city council is scheduled to debate the issue in June 2026.
