DA to brief media on City of Johannesburg strife

Tomorrow, Wednesday 26 February 2020, DA Johannesburg Caucus Leader, Councillor Funzi Ngobeni, DA Provincial Chairperson, Mike Moriarty, DA Gauteng Leader, John Moodey, ten DA Shadow Members of Mayoral Committee (MMC) and DA Councillors from the City of Johannesburg, will brief the media on recent developments since the DA lost the administration of the City of Johannesburg to the African National Congress (ANC).

The delegation will respond to the latest remarks made by the ANC Mayor, Geoff Makhubo on the state of the City’s finances, the upcoming Adjustment Budget and allegations of corruption against some senior officials.

They will also share the steps the DA is taking in regards to the continuous flouting of rules by the illegitimate Speaker and the ANC and give an update on former DA Councillors who defied the party.

Details of the briefing are:

Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2020

Time: 10:00

Place: Auditorium, Second Floor, Nkululeko House, 21 Ernest Oppenheimer Avenue, Bruma

Protest Action Rocks Unstable Merafong

Protest Action

Protest action has flared up in Merafong as municipal workers have blocked the council building with refuse removal trucks demanding payment for overtime work.

Workers at the protest claim that they have not been paid for the long hours of overtime that they have worked, citing that normal working hours are hampered by the unavailability of fuel and other tools they require to do their jobs.

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Service delivery in the municipality has dropped to an all-time low with residents and businesses taking matters into their own hands by repairing potholes and cutting grass themselves.

Slow Service Delivery

Despite paying thousands of rands to the council to ensure that services are delivered, business in Carletonville have sent members of their own staff to repair damaged potholes in the area as the council refuses to do so.

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These companies are also paying private security companies to guard substations to ensure that electricity is not disconnected.

Last year, a ring-feed cable was stolen, leaving some residents without power for up to seven months.

The cause of the slow delivery of services is due to the fact that the municipality claims that it does not have the resources to deliver on its mandate.

Municipal Public Accounts Committee

Merafong has one of the lowest collection rates in the province and instead of addressing its problems, it simply chooses to ignore them.

The financial mismanagement of this municipality has left its residents and businesses in a dire situation.

The DA insists that the Municipal Public Accounts Committee conduct an investigation into the financial mismanagement of this municipality. Residents of Merafong can no longer suffer under this uncaring ANC-led administration.

In DA governed municipalities, prudent financial management is executed to ensure that residents receive the services that they are constitutionally entitled to, but also that investors are attracted to the region to uplift and improve the quality of life for all.

 

 

Media Enquiries:

Ina Cilliers MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Merafong

060 556 4344

[Image source]

Randfontein: Another Example of Failed Governance

Randfontein MunicipalityFred Nel DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

The Randfontein Municipality, indebted to Eskom for an amount of R81m, has managed to strike a deal to pay off the debt over 27 months in instalments of R3million a month.

While this will come as a relief to the residents of Randfontein, who were faced with the possibility of being disconnected as a result of the municipality’s debt, the fact remains that the ANC led administration in Randfontein is not up to the task of looking after its residents.

Debt and Low Collection Rates

Debt has been accumulating in the municipality since 2011 due to low collection rates, inadequate measures taken to combat cable theft and poor financial management.

Of considerable concern is that this huge debt will be carried over to the new local municipality when Randfontein and Westonaria merge after the 2016 local government elections.

MEC Must Investigate

Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, must launch an investigation to probe why the situation was allowed to develop and take action against those responsible.

Local municipalities have become hotbeds for corruption, nepotism and cronyism – driving many into the ground.

Examples need to be made of those responsible, this poor model of governance can no longer be perpetuated in Gauteng.

 

Media enquiries

Fred Nel MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

083 263 2427

[Image source]