Serious crime increases in Ekurhuleni, despite Lesufi declaring crime fighting an ‘elevated priority’

Note to all editors: Please find attached soundbite by Ruhan Robinson MPL

Despite considerable progress in some categories of crime, the Democratic Alliance (DA) remains concerned about the unacceptably high level of crime in the City of Ekurhuleni, especially considering Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s repeated declaration to make crime fighting an “elevated priority” in Gauteng.

Tembisa South Police Station continues to lead as the crime capital of Ekurhuleni, recording a 216.7% increase in murder year-on-year and ranking 23rd in South Africa. The number of attempted murders at this police station has also increased by 125%. Sexual assault, a crime primarily perpetrated against women, surged by 100%, despite lower rates recorded provincially.

Although the number of assaults with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm is low, it is concerning that five Ekurhuleni police stations, including Ivory Park, Tembisa, Etwatwa, Tsakane, and Daveyton, remain among the top ten in the province for this crime category.

Other key crime statistics that saw significant increases in Ekurhuleni include:

• Murder: 50% increase at Katlehong.
• Attempted murder: 65% increase at Ivory Park.
• Attempted murder: 52.4% increase at Katlehong.
• Attempted murder: 123.1% increase at Etwatwa.
• Attempted murder: 200% increase at Dawn Park.
• Attempted murder: 75% increase at Edenpark.
• Rape: 56.3% increase at Edenpark.
• Carjacking: 75% increase at Tembisa.
• Carjacking: 100% increase at Boksburg North.
• Carjacking: 78.9% increase at Alberton.

Overall, some crime levels in Ekurhuleni have shown a slight decrease; however, carjacking and residential robberies have increased by 17% and 16%, respectively. The increase in both statistics is significantly greater than the increase in the provincial statistics.

These statistics do not paint a picture of a provincial government that has prioritised fighting crime, but one that has lost the fight against crime. They also do not inspire confidence but demonstrate the lack of a clear, bold, and comprehensive plan to regain control of our streets and rebuild a Gauteng where people feel safe and secure.

A DA government would implement a three-pronged strategy for crime fighting in Gauteng that includes crime prevention, law enforcement, and victim support. There would be a greater emphasis placed on crime prevention, specifically. This would include increasing natural surveillance, surveillance technology, and police visibility. The time for the DA to put these plans into action and rescue Gauteng residents from a government incapable of safeguarding them is not far off but fast approaching with every passing moment.

DA takes stand against illegal Council meeting in Ekurhuleni

Six hours after the ordinary council meeting in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) was scheduled to resume today, the speaker called for an extraordinary council meeting to be had first – an illegal action on her part.

In response, the Democratic Alliance (DA) refused to participate in the illegality and thus walked out of the meeting.

The much-anticipated Auditor-General (AG) report was due to be tabled in this extraordinary meeting. The problem with this, however, is that the previous council meeting was never concluded, neither was the business of the day. Therefore, calling an extraordinary meeting, before the former sitting of council was concluded is wholly illegal.

We believe in law and order and will always hold ourselves and our counterparts to that standard.

The meeting continued and will most likely end up in court. Yet another blot on the name of the already struggling CoE. What our counterparts do not understand is that if we cannot even uphold the rules of council, and hold one another to account within the legislative framework presented to us, how can we be trusted to execute our core mandate and deliver services to the people of Ekurhuleni.

Not only do they set a poor example of leadership, but they create a vacuum wherein the very findings of the AG report the EFF so desperately tried to hide, will blossom. While lawlessness may be embraced by the ANC and EFF, it has no place in our city.

The DA remains steadfast in our commitment to advocating for the dissolution of this Council. We are determined to provide residents with the chance to remove this coalition of disorder and lawlessness and elect a DA government that can rescue this city.

Correction: DA will vote to stabilise Ekurhuleni amidst political turmoil

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Ekurhuleni notes the rumours of the possible motion of no confidence in the Speaker of Council, Cllr Nthabiseng Tshivhenga as well as the Executive Mayor, Ald Sivuyile Ngodwana.

While we will not ignore the fact that service delivery has all but collapsed and the city’s finances have been eroded since the ANC/EFF coalition took over in March last year, we cannot comment on the hearsay surrounding the possible motions of no confidence.

The DA will await official council processes and should any motions of no confidence appear on the agenda to be debated at the next council meeting, the DA will vote to put residents first and stabilise the metro.

We will not be drawn into any ‘cowboy politics’ and we will not be used to settle political scores.

The DA’s focus has always been – putting the residents first, good governance and adequate service delivery. The municipality must not be allowed to be used as a political showground where the only people who benefit are the politicians and communities suffer.

Government must have a positive impact on the lives of those whom we were elected and privileged to serve – the residents of Ekurhuleni. Should any motions be tabled to be heard in council, the DA will act for the best outcome for the residents across Ekurhuleni.

DA to conduct oversight inspections at Inxiweni and Silwerkroon Old Age Home in Ekurhuleni

Tomorrow, Thursday, 29 June 2023, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Shadow MEC for Human Settlements, Mervyn Cirota MPL, the DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Human Settlements, Evert Du Plessis MPL, and the DA Shadow MEC for Social Development, Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL, will be conducting an oversight inspection at the Inxiweni RDP houses in Tembisa and the Silwerkroon Old Age Home in Alberton.

The Silwerkroon Old Age Home is currently not fully utilised. Eight rooms are standing empty due to a lack of funds to pay for the painting and maintenance of these rooms. In addition, the residents who are currently housed at the old age home do not have their needs attended to and have not received a visit from a social worker in two years.

In Inxiweni, residents have been waiting for title deeds since 2009. According to the Department of Human Settlements, the land on which the RDP walk-up flats have been built has not been subdivided. This means that title deeds cannot be issued, despite the department promising residents that they would start issuing title deeds after our oversight inspection last year.

The media is invited, and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

Details of the oversight inspections are as follows:

Oversight inspection 1

Date: 29 June 2023
Time: 10:00
Location: Silwerkroon Old Age Home, Alberton

Oversight inspection 2
Date: 29 June 2023
Time: 11:00
Location: Inxiweni, Tembisa

Rand Water once again leaves Gauteng residents in the lurch

Just one day after the vandalized Palmietfontein pump station was repaired, another burst pipeline has residents in parts of Ekurhuleni, Primrose and Tshwane left without water.

This is a double blow to many residents suffering from two pipeline bursts in five days because of Rand Water’s lack of maintenance and suffering as a consequence of Eskom’s infrastructure failure and the effect of load-shedding on the provision of water and sewer lines.

For a long time now, we have been aware that maintenance, just like infrastructure protection, has become a significant problem at Rand Water. As a result, our residents are feeling the brunt of these systematic failures.

Damaging water infrastructure is robbing our people of life and livelihoods and is tantamount to treason. This should be treated with the contempt it deserves.

It is high time that the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) step up to the plate and set up an inter-governmental task team to deal with the vandalism and protect our key infrastructure.

DA to assess school readiness for the 2023 academic year in Ekurhuleni

Tomorrow, Tuesday, 17 January, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho MPL and DA’s Spokesperson for Education, Sergio do Santos MPL will conduct an oversight inspection at Laerskool Birchleigh, Hoërskool Birchleigh, Phomolong Secondary School and Olifantsfontein Primary School.

The purpose of the oversight inspection is to assess the state of school readiness in Ekurhuleni for the 2023 Academic Year.

Gauteng schools are in high demand for learner placements, particularly for Grades 1 and 8. The DA will inspect if the schools have enough furniture, stationary and sufficient mobile classrooms which are needed in a conducive learning environment.

Members of the media are invited and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

The details of the oversight are as follows:

Date: 17 January 2023

Oversight inspection one:
Venue: Laerskool Birchleigh, Olivenhout St, Birchleigh, Kempton Park, 1618.
Time: 08:30-09:00

Oversight inspection two:
Venue: Hoërskool Birchleigh, 34 Maroela St, Birchleigh, Kempton Park, 1621.
Time: 09:30-10:00

Oversight inspection three:
Venue: Phomolong Secondary School, Choolorkop, Edenvale, 1624.
Time: 10:30-11:00

Oversight inspection four:
Venue: Olifantsfontein Primary School, 8 Premier St, Clayville, Olifantsfontein, 1665.
Time: 11:30-12:00

The DA welcomes the appointment of the Mayoral Committee by Mayor Tania Campbell in Ekurhuleni

The Democratic Alliance is delighted to announce the Mayoral Committee (MayCo) for the City of Ekurhuleni.

Mayor Tania Campbell announced the following group of councillors to her MayCo:

MMC for Finance: Cllr Fanyana Nkosi (Democratic Alliance)

MMC for Health and Social Development: Cllr Jennifer Glover (Freedom Front Plus)

MMC for Transport: Ald. Mabekenyane Thamahane (Democratic Alliance)

MMC for Water, Sanitation and Energy: Cllr Senzi Sibeko (Democratic Alliance)

MMC for Real Estate: Cllr Tambo Mokoena (African Christian Democratic Party)

MMC for Corporate and Shared Services: Cllr. Golden Maduana (Democratic Alliance)

MMC for Human Settlements: Ald. Alco Ngobese (Inkatha Freedom Party)

MMC for City Planning: Ald. Heather Hart (Democratic Alliance)

MMC for Environment and Waste Management: Cllr. Brandon Pretorius (Democratic Alliance)

MMC for Community Safety: Cllr Khathutshelo Rasilingwane (Democratic Alliance)

While success will not be achieved overnight, we know that Mayor Campbell and her team will continue to drive programmes and projects that it had already begun, and the multi-party coalition has spent 10 months working to undo the damage done by the ANC over the past two decades..

The DA wishes Mayor Campbell and her team all the best as they continue to work towards restoring service delivery and getting things done for the residents of Ekurhuleni.

DA to engage Inxiweni and Sethokga Hostel residents over delayed title deeds, illegal invasion

Tomorrow, Thursday, 27 October, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow MEC for Human Settlements, Mervyn Cirota MPL and the Ekurhuleni MMC for Human Settlements, Cllr Mabekenyane Thamahane, will conduct an oversight inspection at Inxiweni RDP houses and Sethokga Hostel in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni.

In 2009, the rightful beneficiaries of Inxiweni RDP houses were handed over their house but never received their title deeds.

For the longest time, the DA has been engaging with the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and the City of Ekurhuleni to issue title deeds to the rightful beneficiaries of Inxiweni RDP houses, and this is yet to happen.

The DA will also assess the state of the infrastructure at Sethokga hostel which has been illegally invaded. To date, the rightful beneficiaries have not been allocated to their housing units despite an eviction order being granted against the illegal occupants.

The DA will engage with the residents to ascertain the challenges that they are faced with and determine why the illegal occupants at Sethokga Hostel have not been evicted.

Members of the media are invited and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

Details of the event are as follows:

Oversight inspection one:
Location: 152-2 Mbele St, Ixiweni, Tembisa, 1632
Time: 10:00 -11:00

Oversight inspection two:
Location: Kopanong St, Sethokga, Tembisa
Time: 11:30-12:30

Gauteng ECDs continue to suffer as DSD fails to disburse the Covid-19 stimulus package

Maphindis Day Care Centre in Mpilisweni section, Thokoza, Ekurhuleni is struggling to provide children with balanced meals and to sustain its operations due to the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s (DSD) failure to pay out the Covid-19 Early Childhood Development (ECD) Stimulus Package.

ECDs continue to suffer while children starve, yet the department has received R77 million from the ECD Employment Stimulus Relief Fund which is supported by the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme.

This centre is one of many ECDs across the province that are struggling to sustain their operations due to financial constraints.

Maphindis Day Care Centre has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic as most of its funders have pulled out. Parents cannot afford to pay the ECD fees for their children as many have lost employment during this period. The centre is now dependent on food donations and a little money received from a few parents that can still afford to pay for the ECD fees. This centre is also struggling to pay for its operational costs and to ensure that children have access to all ECD basic educational needs.

The department received the money in October 2020, and to date, it has only paid out R37 million to the ECDs across the province which is equivalent to 48 percent of the total money.

This was revealed by the Gauteng Department of Social Development MEC, Morakane Mosupyoe while responding to my oral questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

This money is meant to help the ECD services recover from the loss of income because of the pandemic and not for the department to keep in its coffers.

Furthermore, ECD facilities are mainly run by women and therefore the slow disbursement of this stimulus package perpetuates the suffering of women.

The DA will continue to engage with the affected ECDs and put pressure on the department to disburse the money. We will also be writing to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Social Development Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Refilwe Kekana to call for an urgent meeting with MEC Mosupyoe and the HOD to explain to the committee the reasons behind the delays in disbursing the ECD stimulus package.

Failure to spend this money is a serious crime to those that need it the most as it will be returned to the treasury. The DA will fight for this not to happen.

71% of government contracts in Ekurhuleni awarded to service providers outside the municipality

The ANC-PA-IRASA Coalition government in Ekurhuleni has exported 71.5% of its total tenders awarded in the first quarter of this financial year to businesses operating outside the municipality.

Total expenditure on procurement of goods and services for the first quarter amounted to R60.7 million, however only R17.3 million of this was spent on local service providers.

In a municipality with a 39% unemployment rate, it is concerning that opportunities for residents of Ekurhuleni are exported to other municipalities or provinces.

I have been to a light industrial business hive in Etwatwa which, at a price tag of R44million, is nothing more than a white elephant as the facility has sat vacant for two years since it opened.

If projects like this were fully operational, residents would be in a better position to upskill themselves, grow their businesses and contribute to the needs of Ekurhuleni while making a living for themselves – ultimately, feeding their families and creating jobs.

I have seen other such hives across the municipality that are in a similar state.

Public funds invested in projects such as these to assist people are nothing but monuments standing testament to the ineptitude of the ANC and its coalition partners in Ekurhuleni.

Ekurhuleni cannot continue its current trajectory.

Residents deserve a government that stimulates an environment conducive to economic growth and job creation, not a government that traps residents in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness.

Under a DA-led Ekurhuleni, centres such as these will be repurposed to ensure that they fulfil the functions they were intended to do. In the DA municipality of George, youth cafes such as these have been used to stimulate economic activity for the youth and upskilling programmes have gone a long way to reducing unemployment in economically depressed areas.

Functioning Hives will ensure that government spending is localised because the requisite skills and functions will be available at a local level – ultimately benefitting the people of Ekurhuleni.

A DA government in Ekurhuleni will get things done to ensure that Ekurhuleni works!