Under the failing ANC-led administration Boipatong residents in Emfuleni Local Municipality are facing a severe lack of service delivery. This community is plagued with numerous challenges ranging from poor sanitation, sewer blockages, no refuse collection and no proper tarred roads. There is no maintenance on sewage infrastructure, the sewer pipes are old and have not yet been replaced. Almost all the main sewer drains in the area are blocked with raw sewage flowing all over the road to the surrounding houses and next to Lebohang Secondary School. The area reeks of raw sewage, it is a health hazard and poses a health risk to the community and learners. The residents claim that their children are often sick due to the foul air they are inhaling. They also claim that the drain next to the Lebohang Secondary School has been overflowing since 2014 and nothing has been done to fix it. This sewer has had a negative impact on informal traders in the area as they are unable to trade outside due to raw sewerage on the streets. The refuse collection system has collapsed, the residents are now resorting to illegal dumping and the streets are full of litter as there is no one cleaning the streets. Corruption, maladministration and irregular expenditure has led to the collapse of this ANC-led Emfuleni Local Municipality. The DA will not sit back while our people are deprived of their basic human right to proper sanitation as enshrined by the constitution. We will be staging a political sit in at the offices of the Emfuleni Local Municipality Mayor, Jacob Khawe to ensure that all the main sewerage holes are fixed in Boipatong. During the DA political sit in, we will ensure that we don’t leave the Mayor’s office unless the sewer is fixed. The residents of Boipatong have suffered enough under the ANC government and they are in desperate need of CHANGE that only the DA can bring. Come 2019 when the DA governs Gauteng we will ensure that we prioritise and speed up service delivery in these forgotten communities. |
Failing ANC Municipal Chief Financial Officers shielded by obstructive MEC Moiloa
Gauteng Cooperative Governance MEC Uhuru Moiloa is blatantly hiding from the public the qualifications of both the Chief Financial Officer of Lesedi Municipality and the Chief Financial Officer of Emfuleni Municipality. Both these municipalities are being financially mismanaged by the failing ANC causing a complete break-down in service delivery which is taking a toll on residents. In a written response by the MEC to DA questions, MEC Moiloa stated that the qualifications of the CFO of Lesedi were confidential. During a sitting of the Gauteng Legislature yesterday, the MEC provided the same terse response when questioned by the DA about the CFO of Emfuleni. It defies belief that the MEC refuses to disclose the qualifications of these individuals as they are public servants and their qualifications should be a matter of public record. The CFO of Lesedi, Paul Mpele is under investigation by the Hawks, yet the MEC claims to have no knowledge of this. ANC-run Ekurhuleni’s CFO Gugu Malaza has been suspended from her position due to her non-disclosure of her dismissal from the SABC. The DA objected to Malaza’s appointment because at the time it was public knowledge that she had been dismissed by the SABC due to procurement and financial irregularities that took place on her watch. Despite this, the failing ANC went ahead and appointed her. The failing ANC in Gauteng has absolutely no regard for the financial well-being of the municipalities they run. The MEC’s responses indicate that there is possibly something to hide from the public. In the DA-led municipality of Tshwane, a skills audit of employees has been completed, the findings of which will be made available soon. Should any individual be found to occupy a position without the necessary qualifications, the DA will act to rectify this situation. In 2019, a DA provincial government will bring change that ensures residents of Gauteng are served by skilled individuals who will ensure the accelerated delivery of services. |
Retention of Mahlangu and Hlongwa shows ANC’s moral bankruptcy
| by Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health
The decision by the ANC in Gauteng to retain scandal-plagued Brian Hlongwa and Qedani Mahlangu on their Provincial Executive Committee shows utter moral bankruptcy How is it possible for them to be in senior ANC leadership positions when they are implicated in terrible misdeeds? In the case of Hlongwa, an SIU investigation implicates him in R1.2 billion corruption when he was Gauteng Health MEC from 2006-2009. Mahlangu should forever hang her head in shame for the Life Esidimeni tragedy in which 144 mentally ill people lost their lives. Both of them have been protected by the ANC and there have been inexcusable delays in putting them on trial in a court of law. This shows yet again that the failing ANC only care about themselves and not the people of Gauteng. |
DA welcomes Hlongwa resignation but prosecution must follow
The Democratic Alliance welcomes the resignation of Brian Hlongwa as ANC Gauteng Chief Whip. This follows sustained pressure by the DA. This is long overdue and is no doubt due to the ANC feeling vulnerable because of the upcoming elections. According to the DA’s Hlongwa Monitor, it is 126 days since the SIU report which revealed Hlongwa’s involvement in R1.2 billion corruption when he was Health MEC from 2006 to 2009. But there were many previous disclosures that implicated him in horrendous corruption which continues to cripple the Gauteng Health Department. He has been protected for a long time and it is disgraceful that he served so long in a senior ANC position despite the corruption cloud over his head. It reflects badly on Premier David Makhura who should have acted against him far sooner. Hlongwa must now be prosecuted without delay in a court of law and be punished for his misdeeds. Only the DA can bring change to Gauteng and build One South Africa for all, where corruption is stopped. |
DA’s motion calling for resignations of MECs who failed to prevent Bank of Lisbon fire, to be debated tomorrow
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) motion on the Bank of Lisbon fire will be debated in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature tomorrow. The motion to be voted on calls for Infrastructure Development MEC Jacob Mamabolo and Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa to resign for their failure to heed multiple warnings that the Bank Of Lisbon building was a health hazard and staff should have been moved elsewhere. The fire on the 5th September 2018 tragically claimed the lives of three firefighters and injured many others. There needs to be accountability not only for the fire, but for all unsafe provincial buildings that endanger staff. The ANC government’s perpetual inaction in the face of multiple warnings is reminiscent of the negligence and callousness of the Life Esidimeni tragedy. The media are invited to attend this debate. The details are as follows: Venue: Gauteng Provincial Legislature, 43 Rissik Street Johannesburg Time: 11am |
Will failing ANC make the right decision on Hlongwa and Mahlangu?
| by Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health
The ANC’s Integrity Commission is due to announce tomorrow its decision on scandal-plagued Gauteng ANC Chief Whip Brian Hlongwa and former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu. It is disgraceful that they were both recently re-elected to the failing ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee. This is despite massive evidence that Hlongwa was implicated in R1.2 billion corruption when he was Health MEC, and Mahlangu was responsible for the Life Esidimeni tragedy that led to 144 deaths. With elections around the corner, the failing ANC is anxious that they will lose votes if they continue to hold prominent positions. The DA hopes that the failing ANC makes the right decision and removes them both from public life. But voters should not be fooled – as President Cyril Ramaphosa said earlier this year when he warmly hugged Mahlangu at an ANC march in Soweto: “a comrade is always a comrade”. If they are dismissed now, they could very well reappear in other positions after the elections. Instead of delays and high-level protection they should both appear before a court of law and be punished for their misdeeds. |
Will failing ANC make the right decision on Hlongwa and Mahlangu?
by Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health
The ANC’s Integrity Commission is due to announce tomorrow its decision on scandal-plagued Gauteng ANC Chief Whip Brian Hlongwa and former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu.
It is disgraceful that they were both recently re-elected to the failing ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee.
This is despite massive evidence that Hlongwa was implicated in R1.2 billion corruption when he was Health MEC, and Mahlangu was responsible for the Life Esidimeni tragedy that led to 144 deaths.
With elections around the corner, the failing ANC is anxious that they will lose votes if they continue to hold prominent positions.
The DA hopes that the failing ANC makes the right decision and removes them both from public life.
But voters should not be fooled – as President Cyril Ramaphosa said earlier this year when he warmly hugged Mahlangu at an ANC march in Soweto: “a comrade is always a comrade”.
If they are dismissed now, they could very well reappear in other positions after the elections.
Instead of delays and high-level protection they should both appear before a court of law and be punished for their misdeeds.
Makhura attempts to defend the indefensible
The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the remarks made by Gauteng Premier, David Makhura outside the Germiston Council Chambers today, after the Motion of No Confidence against Ekurhuleni Mayor, Mzwandile Masina. It is ironic that the Premier is lashing out at the DA-led administration while the failing ANC–led municipalities are struggling to deliver services to our people. These statements were a desperate attempt by the Premier to distract the people of Gauteng from the implosion of the Merafong, Emfuleni and Rand West municipalities. The Emfuleni Local Municipality which is now under administration due to corruption and maladministration is failing to deliver service to its residents. Merafong Local Municipality and West District municipalities are unable to provide basic services as they have invested public funds illegally with VBS Mutual Bank, which was put under curatorship earlier this year. These ANC- led municipalities owe millions of rands to Eskom and Rand Water. Premier Makhura lambasted the DA-led Metro in Gauteng saying that there is backward service delivery in the City of Tshwane which is incorrect. The Premier conveniently forgets that he oversaw a corrupt ANC administration looting the city’s resources. The City has made an operating surplus of R704 million, compared to the R2 billion deficit inherited from the failing ANC. Tshwane is making progressive in terms of delivering services to its own people despite challenges we face in Tshwane it’s still a better city than it was under the failing ANC. The DA-led administration inherited crippled and bankrupt metros from the failing ANC and transformed them into world class cities. Tshwane residents are experiencing real service delivery and good governance. In Tshwane we sold the mayoral mansion and used the money to build 40 RDP houses for our people who are in desperate need for housing. We are giving our people the dignity they deserve and the security of tenure by handing over 4417 title deeds to our residents in Tshwane. While we have also connected water and electricity to those who have previously had no access to these basic services under the failing ANC. In Ekurhuleni, the failing ANC-led administration has a habit of starting housing projects and leaving them incomplete indicating that they care little about the people that they are meant to serve. R34 million was wasted on the Germiston Extension 46 housing project which was meant to provide emergency housing for the residents of Angelo informal settlement. However, the houses were built on unsafe mining land and against the reasonable and clearly expressed objections of the intended beneficiaries. KwaMazibuko Hostel in Katlehong shows very little evidence of general maintenance, despite R 750 000 budgeted for 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 According to the Auditor-General’s report for the 2016-17 financial year, the vulnerable municipalities mentioned include Emfuleni, Mogale City, Merafong, Sedibeng and the West Rand District Municipality. These failing ANC-led municipalities all recorded deficits for the financial year under review. The DA-governed Midvaal municipality was the only one to obtain a clean audit. Midvaal has the lowest unemployment rate in the province This clearly indicates that where the DA governs, we are accountable to all our citizens. Through our commitment to foster a people-centred government, the DA will bring this change to all residents of Gauteng. |
DA-led City of Tshwane administration remains committed to expose the truth of tender irregularity
The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the urgent interdict applied for by the City Manager for the City of Tshwane, Moeketsi Mosola, to prevent the release of the GladAfrica report, has been granted by the Labour Court. We suspect that the interdict application was purely a move to supress the facts contained in a report on the GladAfrica contract. If the City Manager had nothing to hide he should have allowed the report to be heard in Council today. The Tshwane City Manager has accused the DA of planning to loot the municipality coffers to fund our election campaign for next year. This allegation is outrageous and the City Manager should in fact want the report to be released and the truth to be exposed to the public. The DA-led City of Tshwane’s administration is committed to uprooting corruption and ensuring that due processes are followed in terms of the awarding of tenders. Corruption, maladministration and tender irregularities have no place where the DA governs. We will ensure that those implicated in this matter face the full consequences of their actions. |
41 000 Patients treated for violence and accident injuries at Bara hospital
More than 3000 patients a month are treated for violence and accident-related injuries at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. These shock figures are revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature. Last year, 40 802 patients were treated in the trauma emergency unit, broken down as follows:
There were 3400 trauma injuries per month treated in 2017, decreasing somewhat to 3141 injuries per month so far this year. The violence extends to the Casualty unit itself where patients sometimes threaten staff. According to Ramokgopa, there was a major incident reported on 24 July this year and other minor incidents with intoxicated patients and their families. She says that “most of these incidents happen over the weekends and public holidays, due to the influence of alcohol and they get injured and want to be assisted first when they arrive at casualty”. It is distressing that violence and motor accidents put huge strain on this hospital. The overall damage to society of these injuries is enormous. A broad approach is needed to bring down violent crime and road accidents, much of which is fueled by alcohol. |