The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has suspended the City of Johannesburg’s bond trading. The suspension comes after COJ failed to submit its annual reporting documents for the year ended 30 June 2025. The move followed earlier notices in January and February in which the city said it would miss the relevant deadlines.
“The JSE refers to the announcement released on 2 February 2026 and wishes to advise that the abovementioned issuer has failed to comply with the JSE’s Debt and Specialist Securities Listings Requirements,” the exchange said.
“Accordingly, the listing of the issuer’s debt securities and the registration of the issuer’s placing document have been suspended with immediate effect,” the JSE said.
The COJ claims to be above board and suggesting that the decision by the JSE is just a minor procedural.
“The City of Johannesburg notes the procedural suspension of its listed debt securities by the JSE, following the timing of its audited financial statement submission,” the city said in a statement. “The City wishes to emphasise that this is a technical compliance matter related to reporting timelines, not an indication of financial distress or instability.”
According to JSE, “This process is about ensuring accuracy, compliance, and transparency in audited financial statements – not financial instability.”
The City expects to finalise its financial statements by 31 May 2026, after which the suspension should be lifted, and normal bond trading will resume.
