Civil Society Mobilises for JCA Summit-8 Amid Unmet City Commitments
Joburg Crisis Alliance Pledges Ongoing Action Until Water Is Guaranteed
The Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA) will host its 8th Summit on 6 December 2025, focusing on strengthening civic activism and planning for 2026. The Summit comes amid unfulfilled post-G20 service delivery promises, the Mayor’s failure to respond to commitments made at the 1 November Water Crisis Protest, an ongoing water crisis, and rising threats against councillors.
JCA to Host Summit-8: Charting Johannesburg’s Civic Future
The Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA) will host its eighth Summit on Saturday, 6 December 2025, a gathering that comes at a critical moment for Johannesburg as the city heads into a pivotal election year in 2026. The Summit will reflect on the key developments of 2025, consolidate civil society’s collective voice, and shape a shared plan of action for 2026.
This year’s Summit places a strong emphasis on civic activism, offering a dedicated networking and learning session for community organisations within the JCA network. The goal is to strengthen collaboration, improve effectiveness, and deepen sustainable, community-centred organising.
The gathering takes place against a backdrop of major challenges confronting Johannesburg:
Post-G20 service delivery promises remain untested. While the City pledged to maintain and expand the rapid service improvements made along G20 routes, residents have yet to see these commitments materialise meaningfully across the city. The JCA stresses the need for vigilance and accountability.
Commitments to civil society are still unmet. A month after the Water Crisis Protest on 1 November, the Mayor has not responded to organisers or addressed the list of submitted demands—an ongoing silence that erodes public trust.
The water crisis continues. The JCA welcomes the South African Human Rights Commission’s recent intervention, noting that it reinforces residents’ rights-based demands for reliable water services.
Threats to councillors are escalating. The resignation of Cllr Lucinda Harman, citing months without institutional support, and the killings of Cllrs Thulani Buthelezi and Zakhele Mathe earlier in the year, highlight a disturbing rise in intimidation and violence against public representatives. This trend is unacceptable in a constitutional democracy.
Although Summit-8 marks the final formal JCA activity for the year, the Alliance affirms that its vigilance will continue throughout the festive season—traditionally a period when service delivery failures and public-safety risks intensify.
Join the movement for a better Joburg.