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Merafong Ward Committee elections a chaotic sham

11 May 2017

The ANC is thwarting fair electoral practice in Merafong as the municipality does not have an official policy that governs the election of ward committees. The pending ward committee elections are in breach of the Municipal Systems Act, which stipulates that more than seven days’ notice must be given before such elections are held.

I will write to the Gauteng MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Paul Mashatile, to request that his department facilitates the implementation of a policy at Merafong that will govern ward committee elections. I will also log a formal complaint with the IEC in the region.

Worryingly, the Speaker told the DA that he needs to get these elections done as he is under a great deal of pressure from the ANC caucus. This follows the cancellation of the initial round of ward committee elections which were scheduled to take place at the end of February. The previous cancellation was due a lack of funds. The Speaker also previously failed to follow the correct procedure in formally approaching the IEC to handle the election of ward committees, as well as having failed to provide a budget for the IEC to do so.

On Monday, 8 May 2017, The Speaker’s office gave notice to ward Councillors that ward committee elections will take place this coming Sunday, 14 May 2017, less than a week from the date of announcement. To make matters worse, the IEC was completely unaware that these elections were taking place until as late as Tuesday, 9 May 2017.

In many wards, less than 10 nominations were received and Councillors have been told to ‘co-opt’ members. There is also no evidence of public participation as these elections were not advertised at all.

Councillors are expected to manage the logistical arrangements for these elections. This goes against the grain of good practice as ward Councillors should merely observe these elections. It is rather the municipality that is meant to drive the election processes, in a fair and transparent manner.

The ANC is exerting undue influence in these ward committee elections. The extent to which these elections are being manipulated for the sake of party gains is a matter of great concern.

The DA will continue to monitor these elections. We remain committed to the principle of free and fair elections, in the face of a self-serving ANC.

Media Enquiries

Ina Cilliers MPL
DA Merafong Constituency Head
060 556 4344

Anneke Scheepers
DA Gauteng Communications Manager
079 511 7501

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Schools and old age homes without water as Merafong reportedly lags on Rand Water payment plan

The DA has been inundated with calls from residents in Carletonville who are alarmed that their taps are running dry. I will write to Mayor Mogale-Letsie to inquire what the municipality will do to address the water shortage.

Initial reports suggest that Rand Water has lowered the pressure of the water supply to the town because the municipality has not been honouring its weekly payment arrangements.

It appears as though most of the town below the 007 reservoir has been affected. Despite numerous unanswered calls to the municipality, the water supply has remained cut since the end of last week.

It is doubtful whether Merafong will be able to pay Rand Water at month end as this stands to hinder the payment of salaries at the severely cash-strapped municipality. Municipal officials have asked Councillors to request that residents conserve water as best they can. This is an indication that the situation will not improve in the near future.

The DA’s Cllr Devin Nuweneysen has been working tirelessly to bring water tankers into his community as it is among the worst affected. Several schools and old age homes are currently without water, yet the municipality has only supplied one tanker with a 5000 litre capacity. The tanker has not serviced any of the affected old age homes, schools or hospitals in the area as yet.

The fact that the Merafong Municipality routinely leaves water leakages unattended makes matters worse for those who must now go without water. In light of these ongoing water shortages and leakages, I have submitted a petition to have the Mayor of Merafong removed. The petition is currently with the Petitions Committee in the Provincial Legislature. The DA is committed to ensuring that the people of Merafong receive the delivery to which they are entitled. This will require adequate leadership for a start.

The ANC has long since forgotten about the people and they care only for their own interests. Rather than focusing on governing well where they are still in power, they seem more committed to disrupting DA governments. This is why more people across Gauteng are realising that the DA is the only party that can bring about change and put a stop to poor delivery.
 
 
Media Enquiries

Ina Cilliers MPL
DA Merafong Constituency Head
060 556 4344
 

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Merafong water crisis: millions of litres jettisons from Fochville reservoir

The DA is alarmed at the water wastage that is taking place due to failing water infrastructure in the Merafong Municipality.

Millions of litres of drinking water is flowing through the streets in the Fochville area due to pipe bursts and leaks.

I will write to the Gauteng MEC for Local Government, Paul Mashatile, to request that his department does an urgent audit of the bulk services infrastructure at Merafong. I will also request that he pay special attention to the maintenance of the municipal water supply infrastructure.

Since last Friday, the DA Ward Councillor for Fochville, Annette Venter, has made numerous unanswered calls to the Merafong Municipality. Her attempts to get a reaction about the constant leaks, burst pipes and broken pressure release valves around the area of the Reservoir have been ignored. Neither the Mayor, nor the Water Services Manager could be reached for the entire weekend and no-one from the municipality responded has since to the serious and persistent leaks.

The DA has been reliably informed that the municipality is completely overwhelmed by the number of water leaks and valve breakdowns. We are further informed that the municipality no longer has the expertise to deal with these issues. It seems that years of cadre deployment and mismanagement by an uncaring ANC government is now bearing fruit.

To make matters worse, Merafong is also experiencing a collapse of supply chain management. As a result, the parts needed for repairs are routinely unavailable.

Water leaks in the Merafong area are a chronic but preventable problem. These leakages contribute greatly to the occurrence of sinkholes in areas like Khutsong.

The MEC must ensure that the municipality explains in full the cause and the extent of the damage caused by the pipe bursts. He must hold those responsible to account. The DA will continue to do all that it can to ensure that the residents of Merafong receive the service delivery to which they are entitled.

Media Enquiries

Ina Cilliers MPL
DA Merafong Constituency Head
060 556 4344

Anneke Scheepers
DA Gauteng Communications Manager
079 511 7501

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DA congratulates Midvaal on receiving the 2016 Diamond Arrow Award

The DA congratulates the Midvaal Municipality on being named the best performing municipality in the Sedibeng District, by PMR Africa. The municipality has received the Diamond Arrow Award for outstanding delivery in 2016.

The award is a tribute to the standard of excellence that marks DA governments.

Midvaal Municipality was celebrated as being the top performer in terms of social upliftment, attracting foreign investment, fighting crime, developing and enhancing infrastructure and maintaining a clean environment.

Performing well in these areas means that the municipality is delivering on the obligation that it has to the people of Midvaal, that is to create an environment where they can live lives that they value.

DA governed municipalities are a beacon of South Africa’s potential during the trying times that our nation faces. They are a testament to the difference that a DA government makes. The DA is committed to governing well to attract investment and enable business growth that creates jobs.
 
 
Media Enquiries

 
John Moodey MPL
DA Gauteng Leader
082 960 3743
 
Anneke Scheepers
DA Gauteng Communications Manager
079 511 7501

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DA condemns ANC’s violent attack at Joburg IDP meeting

 

Members of the ANC violently attacked a meeting about the Joburg Integrated Development Plan (IDP) which was held at Midrand High School last night. The DA condemns the incident in the strongest terms and calls on the ANC leadership to call its members to order. The DA also encourages the City of Johannesburg to lay criminal charges against the culprits.

 

Paul Mashatile must immediately act against the ANC members who arrived with bricks and weapons to attack those who attended the meeting. This is nothing short of an attack on democracy in action.

 

The ANC has no right to prevent the people of Joburg from attending public meetings, where they are consulted about the City’s development planning. The ANC has been voted out of office and must allow the business of government to continue.

 

Photographs taken at the scene reveal bloodied floors and displaced furniture. The DA has been informed that the disruption was premeditated. It is unacceptable that people who want to improve the state of Johannesburg are subject to violent attack. It seems as though the ANC is doing all it can to derail the work of the City of Joburg.

 

The ANC must come to terms with the reality that it failed to govern adequately in the City of Johannesburg and that the people have spoken. The DA will not be deterred by violence and thuggery. We will continue to make every effort to make progress in Joburg. We will also continue to do so in a manner that is inclusive and open.

Media Enquiries

John Moodey MPL
DA Gauteng Leader
082 960 3743

Anneke Scheepers
DA Gauteng Communications Manager
079 511 7501