We could be so much better than ‘Pikitup Strike Joburg’

Note to Editors: The following remarks were delivered by Herman Mashaba at the Baragwanath Taxi Rank, to commuters and supporters, during a community interaction about the Pikitup Strike and Voter Registration.

Here at Baragwanath Taxi Rank, the effects of the Pikitup strike are desperately visible, with commuters standing in queues among piles and piles of uncollected rubbish, while the ANC government in the City of Johannesburg is too weak to deal with unions.

I am saddened and dismayed that our poor residents, who struggle every day to get ahead, walk among mounting rubbish and filth to get to their transport. We could be so much better than this.

The Pikitup strike is a clear illustration of how the ANC puts its alliance with COSATU before peoples’ service delivery needs. Parks Tau would rather keep unions happy, than keep Joburg clean.

This is a failure by the Mayor, and shows that Parks Tau is not a people’s Mayor.

Today, the DA’s message is clear: A vote for the DA will be a vote for a government that puts people first, and which is not held to ransom by union alliances.

I repeat today that we respect the rights of trade unions and their activities, but the rule of law must be obeyed, and that decisive action will be taken against members who break the law.

The ANC and Mayor Parks Tau do not care about the city’s residents. They have left us all behind; they are insiders, and the rest are outsiders who walk through rubbish and filthy streets.

We could be so much better than this.

The DA will bring change to Johannesburg, and through our “Service with Pride” vision we will ensure that city officials put people first. Service delivery must be the priority, which it is sadly not at the moment.

We will transform the city administration into one which is responsive and caring to people’s needs, and create a truly world-class city.

Because where the DA governs, life is better.

 

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Willie Venter

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