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Western Cape Strengthened Mathematics Strategy launch

Good morning

  • Acting SG, the DDG: Institution Development and Coordination, Archie Lewis,
  • DDG: Curriculum and Assessment, Haroon Mohammed, and our WCED officials,
  • Guest speakers and academics,
  • Principals and teachers,
  • And all invited guests,

Today marks a real turning point for our province as we unveil the Western Cape Strengthened Mathematics Strategy for the next five years.

We have been concerned about our province’s performance in Mathematics for some time. While we have had, and continue to have, the highest matric pass rate for Maths in the country, there has been a worrying trend in Maths participation.

We have also seen a gradual improvement in systemic test results, until the pandemic came along and reversed a lot of those gains – especially in the early grades. So the Department had to take these learning losses into account when developing the strategy too. (I don’t need to remind everyone how important these tests are in telling us whether we are making progress with our interventions. It really is a pity that other provinces don’t have access to the same kind of data.)

I won’t unpack the detail of the strategy as you have heard from many capable officials doing so, but I hope that you have found these two days to be a celebration of Mathematics teaching, and a source of encouragement for the task ahead.

Our Maths teachers have already done incredible work to get our children interested and improving in Maths – and I am glad that the new strategy has a strong human resources component to it. You are our most valuable resource in this endeavour and you can really feel a love for the subject when we engage with these teachers.

But…are we are adults and parents unintentionally undermining their work?

31% of 15-16 year olds in a multi-country study by the Programme for International Student Assessment said that they were nervous of doing Maths problems. 33% said they would get tense doing their Maths homework, and 60% worried that Maths classes would be difficult. Unfortunately, studies also show that girls are more likely to experience this anxiety than boys are.

This anxiety is developed from an early age, and our children look to us as adults and especially as parents for guidance. In fact, studies have shown that teachers’ and parents’ attitudes toward their students’ and children’s ability in Maths are key determinants in the development of “Maths anxiety” in learners.

We need to think about how we speak about Maths as adults. (I’m excluding our Maths teachers here of course, because we know you all have a special love for numbers that you try to instil amongst your learners!)

Self-fulfilling prophecies

We often hear someone say “I wasn’t good at Maths” or “I didn’t enjoy Maths at school”. I’ve been guilty of saying this as recently as this week.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, the American astrophysicist and author, pointed out something very important, saying: “Somehow, it’s okay for people to chuckle about not being good at math. Yet, if I said ‘I never learned to read,’ they’d say I was an illiterate dolt.”

We need Maths in our everyday lives, yet are comfortable proclaiming that we are not good at it, creating two false impressions.

Firstly, it creates an impression that you either have an innate genetic ability for Maths, or you don’t, and that there is no changing this. Certainly, not everyone will become a renowned mathematician. But when it comes to high school Maths, pretty much anyone can manage through hard work, preparation, and self-confidence.

A group of psychologists undertook a study with junior high school students in the United States to determine whether a student’s beliefs about mathematical ability changed their outcomes on tests. They presented two ideas to the learners: that you have a certain amount of intelligence which you can’t change, or that you can significantly change how intelligent you are.

The learners who agreed that they were able to change how intelligent they were achieved higher scores in Maths than those who believed you couldn’t change your level of intelligence. The psychologists then worked with some of the learners in the latter group to convince them that they could develop their intelligence through hard work and that the brain will make new learning connections. They received a startling result: as the learners’ beliefs changed, they worked harder, and their scores increased!

This is not one lone study – many others have come to the same conclusion about how our self-beliefs affect our ability to achieve. So when we say things like “I’m not a Maths person” to our kids, we may well be creating a self-fulfilling prophecy about their mathematical abilities, without even realising that we are doing it! Why on earth would we hamper our child’s enjoyment of Maths – and their future career prospects – by suggesting that you are either good at it or not? We should rather be reminding them daily that anyone can improve if they put in the hours.

The same goes for those who urge children to switch from Maths to Maths Literacy because it will be easier for them. I have previously raised my concerns about this, particularly as a result of the pressure from ‘league tables’ based solely on the matric pass rate. I will happily see a school encouraging more learners to take Maths and have those learners getting 60% for it, than have them getting 80% for Maths Literacy. We must emphasise quality over quantity.

Maths as a skill

The second problem with these phrases is that the past tense creates the impression that Maths was just something you did at school, didn’t enjoy, and now you don’t have to do anymore. Obviously, nothing could be further from the truth: not only does Maths have a functional use (from shopping to working out your taxes), but it also develops the problem-solving techniques and abilities that you apply to all aspects of your life and career daily – as the programme of this conference illustrates.

We are all still doing Maths, every day, all the time. And yet, our own anxiety about Maths persists into adulthood.

A lot of the difficulty has to do with how those of us who – like me – are not education experts see Mathematics at school: as a subject, instead of a skill.  Shakuntala Devi – who was popularly known as “The Human Computer” for her mental calculations – asked: “Why do children dread mathematics? Because of the wrong approach. Because it is looked at as a subject.”

It is clear from the speakers at this conference that Maths has a place across all fields, from archaeology to art, and that the skills it teaches us are applied across all subjects – in just the same way that reading applies. We already have a Reading Strategy and Team READ, so adding Team Maths is the logical next step!

As you will no doubt be aware by now, I resigned as Minister of Education this week, to pursue new opportunities. But I can promise that I will be watching with great interest to see how the implementation of this strategy will affect our learners’ performance over time. I wish you all the very best in this endeavour, and have no doubt that you will continue to pour your expertise and dedication into our children’s hearts and minds so that they, too, can appreciate Maths in the way it should be appreciated!

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NCOP outcome on Tshwane intervention is driven by political maneuvering

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is dismayed by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP’s) announcement in favour of the dissolution of the Tshwane Council by the Gauteng Provincial Government without due process.

It is clear that the outcome was politically driven and that the NCOP is caught in the web of lies the province is weaving.

The DA vehemently disagrees with the decision to put the City of Tshwane under administration.

The matter will be heard in court on 24 March 2020 and we are confident that it will be set aside.

This is a principled fight that concerns the preservation of our democracy and democratic processes.

This outcome sets a dangerous precedent where municipalities that do not have an outright majority will be forced to go to elections every 90 days if parties do not agree in council.

Alternative solutions are required as this may become a prevalent occurrence after the 2021 local government elections.

Section 139 (1) (c) of the Constitution should be the last resort and in fact more emphasis should have been placed on Section 154 that indicates assistance to a local sphere from provincial and national spheres of government.

The report tabled by the NCOP today is factually flawed and is a clear indication that the NCOP and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Nikosazana Dlamini Zuma failed to hold Gauteng COGTA MEC Lebogang Maile accountable for the misleading information he continues to dish out to the public.

The sudden rush to have the NCOP certify the Gauteng Provincial Government’s intervention in the Tshwane Municipality is nothing short of political exploitation and an incorrect interpretation of the Constitution.

This intervention was only referred to the NCOP last week, leaving the Select Committee on COGTA with very little time for adequate engagement.

During its submissions to the NCOP yesterday, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) noted that new elections could result in no party obtaining a majority, risking a hung Council, with no political leadership. If the MEC was serious about assisting the City of Tshwane and not attempting a power grab through the backdoor, it should have approached SALGA to assist in finding solutions and lobbied all parties to work together.

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Joy for new Home Owners in DA-run Drakenstein

“Secure tenure and access to opportunities.” That, said Executive Mayor of the Drakenstein Municipality Conrad Poole, was what their title deeds will mean to beneficiaries who received ownership of their homes in Gouda.

Joined by Western Cape Provincial Human Settlements Minister Tertius Simmers, Alderman Poole handed out 150 title deeds to jubilant residents. The handover was the highlight of the first phase of a project that will see the construction of 372 homes and provide the occupants with title deeds.

To date, all 150 homes have been constructed and all beneficiaries have taken occupancy.

The Executive Mayor advised beneficiaries not to sell their homes but to keep it as a legacy for their families or use it as collateral to raise loans to educate their children or grandchildren. A title deed, said the Mayor, could help secure the future of a family, a community and even a Municipality.

The project started in 2014 and created job opportunities and skills transfers during construction. The project also caters for people with disabilities and special needs.
It has brought about a definite improvement in the quality of the living environment of the beneficiaries, creating the necessary conditions to lead a dignified life, create a vibrant community and contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty.

It also provides people with secure tenure and access to opportunities which is in line with Drakenstein’s vision to be a “City of Excellence”.

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“Improving operating performance, declining debt” Moody’s rates DA-led Tshwane

The Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Cllr Stevens Mokgalapa, is pleased the ratings affirmation of a stable (Ba1) outlook for the City’s credit profile provided by Moody’s this week.

Moody’s has reaffirmed that the City’s (Ba1/Not Prime (NP) stable) reflects “improving operating performance, declining debt and steadily rising liquidity”.

This is a vote of confidence in the DA-led administration’s focus of financial stability and accelerated service delivery.

This positive outlook for the City’s short and long term performance is an encouragement for the administration to continue to uphold the highest standards of efficient and sustainable solutions for clean governance.

Indeed there’s room for improvement [and improved ratings] with specific reference to improving liquidity and continued strong operating performance.

Mayor Mokgalapa takes this opportunity to hail the hard work and dedication of the City’s leadership that keeps the administration on a positive growth trajectory.

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Cape Town housing breaks new ground

Behind the scenes, the DA-run City of Cape Town has been working hard on 33 social housing projects, working to uplift residents from all walks of life by giving them access to housing, and in many cases, an asset that they can pass on to future generations.

Salt River Market

One of the most exciting projects that the DA-run City of Cape Town is currently driving is the development of the Salt River Market site that will deliver up to 850 housing units.

Maroela South Housing Project

The R115 million project in Kraaifonteing will provide 570 housing opportunities to residents.

The housing project will consist of 395 State-subsidised Breaking New Ground houses for qualifying beneficiaries on Cape Town’s Housing Database and 175 Gap houses for people who earn between R3 500 to R22 000 a month.

“We are making progress every day and getting closer to enhancing the living conditions of our beneficiaries. Success is only achieved when we all work together.”

– Cllr Malusi Booi, MCM for Human Settlements

Valhalla Park Housing Project

The project will be home to 777 housing beneficiaries.

All of the housing opportunities in the area will be state-subsidized, meaning they will be solely for beneficiaries on the City of Cape Town’s housing list.

Owning a home is something that some residents say they could only dream of. Where we govern, we are pleased to be part of turning that dream into a reality.

Handing over title deeds to rectify the injustices of the past.

Forty residents from Wallacedene, Langa, Atlantis, Joe Slovo, Kleinvlei, Wesbank and Mfuleni recently received full and unambiguous ownership of their homes, some of whom have waited for over 20 years to receive their title deeds.

“The handing over of title deeds allows homeowners to live in dignity in a home that they can call their own. It is an investment that will grow in value that becomes an asset for the homeowners and their loved ones.”

– Cllr Grant Twigg, MCM for Urban Management

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Quality of Life Survey – Overall satisfaction in Johannesburg increases by 4%

I have noted the release of the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) Quality of Life (QoL) survey, which is released every two years, and seeks to examine the broad levels of satisfaction experienced by residents in Gauteng.

The survey also provides useful insights into perceptions held by residents at municipal – level using a sample size with a low margin of error.

The survey, conducted approximately 18 months after the coalition government stepped into office, mirrors many of the inherited challenges faced by the City and affirms the current administration’s new focus on targeted service delivery through the Diphetogo – programme.

The survey found that:

  • Satisfaction levels with respect to water services, waste removal, energy, roads, emergency services, metro police services have increased since 2016;
  • Overall satisfaction with local government in Johannesburg has increased by 4%, while overall dissatisfaction decreased by 2%;
  • Access to services in RDP houses stands at 15%, up from 13% in the previous survey;
  • Only 9% of residents do not have any streetlights in their area, compared to the Gauteng average of 18%;
  • Compared to the Gauteng average of 27%, only 19% of Joburg residents do not have access to storm-water facilities in their area; and
  • The number of respondents that said that they were very dissatisfied with local government decreased by 7%

With respect to the residents’ quality of life, the survey noted improvements in perceptions by residents namely in the categories of family, community, connectivity, security and socio-political attitudes.

One of the earliest challenges faced by the multi-party coalition government was the fact that, despite the residents of our City voting for change in the last local government election, the budget which we inherited was that of the previous administration; severely hampering efforts to bring about immediate and widespread changes to the City.

In addition, much like the rest of the country, Johannesburg is susceptible to the impact of our uncertain economic environment, which has been deeply felt by our residents.

Within the first quarter of 2018, the country entered a recession, the cost of living was increased for many of our residents through unaffordable VAT and fuel prices. I have no doubt that combination of these factors played a significant role in perceptions held by our residents.

In addition to this, levels of corruption which have been uncovered, amounting close to R24 billion coupled with the R170 billion infrastructure backlog means that that opportunities to meaningfully improve the lot of residents have been squandered over the years.

Instead of hiding these facts behind millions in self-promoting marketing, the City has sought to honestly engage with our residents on the state of the City and to work with communities to build a better Johannesburg.


Bearing the above in mind, the current administration is working hard to improve the City’s budgeting processes through the Diphetogo-programme, launched earlier this year, to directly prioritise expenditure service delivery backlogs and improve the experience of residents in our city.

We are under no illusions as to how much work remains ahead of us in terms of improving service delivery and bettering the lives of the residents. When I began my tenure as the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, we set ourselves high targets, to achieve the level of change demanded in 2016.

The real test will come when the next survey is conducted, the results of which should be released in 2020. By that time, the current administration would have had the opportunity to improve its budgeting process, and the effects of the Diphetogo-programme, which flows from our new budget framework and plans for
service delivery under the new administration.

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90 Title deeds delivered to Ivory Park residents

Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Housing in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Meshack Van Wyk, handed over 90 title deeds to beneficiaries from Ivory Park on Friday, 9 November 2018.

“The Title Deeds Programme is one of the key priorities of this administration and as a government that delivers, the department is pleased to be delivering title deeds to the people in Region A,” said the MMC.

During his recent visit to the area, MMC Van Wyk was made aware of the community’s many needs. Issues such as the delivery of houses remains a key area of concern and has led the department to develop plans that will address these needs.

Today the MMC visited senior citizens at their homes in order to personally deliver their title deeds and others were assisted to get to the event to collect theirs. A total of 90 title deeds were handed over.

There are a further 70 title deeds that have not yet been collected by residents and MMC Van Wyk urges the beneficiaries to get to the housing office in their area to collect it.

The City of Johannesburg’s delivery of title deeds is in accordance with the 2017/18 Integrated Development Plan’s priorities to ensure pro-poor development that addresses inequality, poverty and provides meaningful redress.

The MMC has promised the residents of Joburg that in the current financial year, the department had set a target of issuing 3 500 title deeds, and it was a target they put all resources towards meeting.

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Johannesburg welcomes R2 billion investment into the inner city

Today, I am proud to support the Divercity Urban Property Fund’s investment of R2bn in Johannesburg as part of its strategy to create thriving mixed-use inner-city precincts. This investment, the largest in the Johannesburg CBD for some years, will be focused on the redevelopment of the iconic ABSA Towers Main building and Jewel City.

Newly launched Divercity is an investment fund backed by the experience of some of South Africa’s leading property investors and developers. It is set to renew and re-energise the country’s urban centres with its unique focus on inner-city precinct development that combines commercial buildings with affordable residential space to create inclusive and diverse neighbourhoods. Its strong business case is also transformative in a uniquely South African sense.

For the City of Johannesburg, the investment is an indication of investor’s renewed confidence in the potential held within the inner city.

Since coming into government, I have long maintained that the revitalising the inner city but turning into a construction site of redevelopment is key component in creating jobs within the Johannesburg local economy and through strategic public private partnerships, also creating affordable quality housing for residents.

By working together with all sectors of society, we can progressively transform the inner city into a space where residents can live work and play.

I am delighted that the Divercity Urban Property Fund has heeded my invitations to property developers, funders, professionals and the construction industry to work with the City to redevelop the various precincts of the City.

Following a competitive bidding process, Divercity has acquired the 30-storey ABSA Towers Main building from ABSA, conditional on approvals from the Competition Commission.

The currently unoccupied building will be redeveloped into a one-of-a-kind mixed-use building, including 520 affordably priced residential rental apartments, a floor of coffee shops, restaurants and recreation space, child care facilities, a public park, integrated public transport facilities and a wealth of public art.

ABSA will also be leasing back nine floors with 10,000sqm of office space in the redeveloped building. Once completed, the development will be valued at over R400m.

The project will commence in early 2019, with ABSA expected to reoccupy the towers early in 2020. The 20 floors dedicated to residential accommodation and recreation will be launched in various phases.

Besides creating an inclusive new world-class ‘live, work, play’ environment, the project is also designed to enhance the area as a whole.

As part of a wider neighbourhood development initiative, a pedestrian-friendly walkway with street furniture, lighting and art will be created from ABSA Towers Main all the way to Maboneng. This unique urban intervention prioritizes pedestrians and people of the local community above vehicular traffic.

Between ABSA Tower Main and Maboneng is Jewel City, the former heart of the diamond and precious metals trade in Johannesburg, which spans six city blocks that have been closed off to the public for decades.

Through Diversity, Jewel City will reopen to the public as a vibrant mixed-use precinct with a fully pedestrianized streetscape and a total development value of over R1.2bn once fully completed. The project includes the redevelopment of existing buildings as well as the construction of over 40,000sqm of new buildings in the precinct.

The rejuvenated Jewel City will include an abundance of amenities such as a school, clinic, gym, parking and convenience retail as well as fast food and restaurants. It will also include 20,000sqm of commercial space, 1,200 new residential apartments in phase one and up to 1,000 in phase two. The pedestrian-friendly walkway between Absa Tower Main and Maboneng will past directly through it.

Work on the Jewel City project will begin in November with the first phase of retail, commercial and residential space set to be ready by August 2019.

In the next 18 months alone, with its ABSA Towers Main and Jewel City projects as well as R400m of residential accommodation under development in Maboneng, Divercity will launch more than 75,000sqm of new residential space in Joburg – more than 2,500 apartments in total.

As part of the City’s own initiative, Council approved the release of 71 buildings earmarked for the regeneration of the inner city. The development of these buildings is set to take place through public private partnerships with developers within the city.

These buildings are expected to deliver at least 4000 units for student accommodation, small business premises and affordable accommodation for some of our poorest residents.

This is part of Diphetogo, real change, this administration has promised residents of this City.

The City is sensitive to the fact that skills development, employment and SMME development must happen alongside plans to transform the inner city in order to address the unemployment that faces many of our residents. We believe that through the redevelopment of our 84 properties, almost 5000 temporary jobs will be created during the construction phase.

As part of the submission process, developers will be required to set out how many work opportunities are to be generated as part of their bid. This will create opportunities for our residents, particularly our youth, to enter the job market.

These 84 properties have been available to potential investors and this will be available for interested parties to respond to until the 30 of November 2018.

I am delighted that efforts of this administration, working together with the private sector, if finally bearing fruit for the people of our City.

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City to lower water restrictions and tariffs to Level 5 from 1 October 2018

Summary

  • Cape Town’s dam levels are nearing 70% of storage capacity due to good rainfall at the beginning of winter and the phenomenal conservation efforts of Capetonians
  • Water restrictions and the associated tariffs are thus to be conservatively lowered in the interim to Level 5 from 1 October 2018
  • This will bring tariff relief of between 26,6% and 70% per kilolitre of water depending on the usage and tariff category
  • The water usage target will be increased from 50 litres to 70 litres per person per day and the daily collective consumption target will increase by 50 million litres to 500 million litres to ensure that water conservation efforts remain in place

The Western Cape Water Supply System’s dams are now at 68% capacity, a very significant improvement on the situation at the end of the previous winter, when they were at 38% capacity. This was during a drought so uncommon that it only has an estimated return period of 311 years.

The very low supply storage resulted in the imposition of Level 6B water restrictions in February 2018. The enormously positive response from Capetonians when called upon to reduce water usage, as well as advanced pressure and water management programmes by the City, saved the day and Cape Town avoided the worst-case scenario.

Once dam capacity again exceeded 50% at the beginning of July 2018, the City called for a discussion with the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) around the relaxation of restrictions. Since then, two meetings have been held with the other large users in the system, both urban and agricultural, and the DWS. Agreement was reached among the users for a gradual reduction in the overall restrictions, including reducing the urban usage restriction from 45% to 40% of what it would normally be allocated.

Rainfall remains highly variable, and while May and June saw rainfall close to that of an average year, July had very poor rainfall. This improved somewhat in August and so far in September the positive trend continues.

 

Moderate proposals for interim relief

The relaxation of restrictions is a moderate proposal that is based on a hydrological risk assessment that indicates that it is safe to do so at the level of risk that is agreed upon. Of course, the amended Level 5 restriction guidelines for water usage will apply and we are confident that the significant behavioural change that we’ve seen pertaining to water conservation will prevail to a large extent.

The DWS undertook to respond by 31 August 2018, but have yet to do so. It appears that the DWS is reluctant to make any adjustments before the end of the hydrological year at the end of October 2018, when assessments are usually made.

The City believes, with the full support of the other catchment users such as other municipalities and the agricultural sector, that an interim adjustment is fully justified and appropriate at this stage.

The City will thus move from the current Level 6B restricts to Level 5 restrictions as from 1 October 2018. A further reassessment of future adjustments will be made once the DWS makes a ruling for the new hydrological year or advises on an interim relaxation.

 

The key elements of Level 5 restrictions are as follows:

  • An increase in the personal water use limit from 50 litres per person per day to 70 litres per person per day
  • A resetting of the overall City water usage target from 450 million litres per day to 500 million litres per day
  • A relaxation of restrictions for commercial and industrial water users from a 45% to a 40% usage reduction
  • A lowering of tariffs to Level 5 tariffs:

Residential tariffs (excluding VAT)

  • 0 – 6 kL: Down 26,6% from R28,90/kL to R21,19/k
  • 6 – 10,5 kL: Down 25% from R46/kL to R34,43/kL
  • 10 – 35 kL : Down 56% from R120,27/kL to R52,39/kL
  • Above 35 kL: Down 70% from R1 000/kL to R300/kL

Commercial and Industrial tariffs

  • Down 18% from R45,75/kL to R37,50/kL

There is a similar reduction in sanitation tariffs.

During the worst period of the crisis, the City made a compact with our businesses and residents. Together, we agreed to do absolutely everything in our power to get Cape Town through this extreme situation but we can only do so with assistance from all of our customers.

We beat the drought together. It is essential that an appropriate relaxation of restrictions takes place not only so that economic activity can be improved, but also so that water tariffs can be relaxed from the current high levels to give the necessary tariff relief to households and businesses in recognition of the great sacrifices that have been made.

Much work is planned over the next few years to augment the City’s water supply. Our water conservation awareness and demand management will continue as always.

We are situated in a water-scarce region. At the moment, we will still rely on our dams to provide the majority of our water.

Given the unpredictable nature of our rainfall, it is imperative that we diversify our supply for the future, and entrench the water-saving mind-set we have cultivated over the past year.

Note to editors:

Interlinkage between restriction levels and tariffs

  • The City does not budget to make a profit on the sale of water.
  • Restriction levels are linked to dam levels, and restriction tariffs are linked to the volume of water used by Cape Town
  • This means that if the restriction level is reduced, individual water usage is expected to increase as the tariff decreases which enables the City to repair and maintain the water infrastructure

Please see http://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20research%20reports%20and%20review/Water%20Outlook%202018%20July%202018.pdf for additional information.

Please also visit the City’s website for full tariff details.

 

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Luthuli House ‘employee’ arrested in cash-in transit heist blitz

Yesterday, I was informed of the arrest of four (4) cash-in transit heist suspects, among them an individual believed to be an employee at Luthuli House, the national headquarters of the governing African National Congress (ANC).

The suspects were allegedly involved in a cash-in transit heist in Dobsonville, Soweto, which led to a man-hunt being launched.

Some of the suspects were arrested on July 6 while the remainder were apprehended in the early hours of July 7.

The raid was conducted by a joint operation of the JMPD’s K9 Narcotics Unit and the SAPS. Four hijacked vehicles were recovered, two of which were used in the robbery.

I have received confirmation that one of the four suspects arrested is alleged to work at Luthuli House, at the time of his arrest.

News of this arrest comes as a shock given the recent spate of cash-in-transit heists in Gauteng, posing a threat to the innocent lives of motorists and pedestrians. Millions of Rand have been stolen with only a negligible amount recovered. That means more dirty money remains in criminal hands to fund further criminal activity.

South Africa is truly in the grip of lawlessness and it is my firm belief that this is so because of the culture of impunity that has been allowed to fester by the ruling elite.

The arrest of this individual does bring into question whether the ANC has been aware of the arrest of this individual, since it took place almost two weeks ago, and, if so, why they have remained silent on such an important matter. It also begs the question of how the ANC, while running National Government, can employ individuals who so brazenly undermine public safety and the rule of law in our Country.

We must do more to reinvigorate our law enforcement agencies and achieve the collaboration that will turn the tide against criminality in Johannesburg. These arrests demonstrate how, by working together, the SAPS and the JMPD have succeeded in taking dangerous criminals off our streets.

The City of Johannesburg with its recruitment of an additional 1500 JMPD cadets will add to the crime fighting abilities of our City.

Case by case, we will achieve a Johannesburg that is safer for its residents and a place that criminals will want to stay away from.