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Joburg by-elections: DA will continue building a City that works

After an intense campaign period, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has retained wards 54, 83 and 112 in yesterday’s by-elections. The DA councillors in these wards will continue to work tirelessly with communities to ensure that quality services are delivered.

It is regrettable that the African National Congress (ANC) has managed to take hold of another ward in Johannesburg, that of ward 109. We fought a tough campaign but recognise that we have much work ahead of us to turn things around in the metro and the ward.

However, we are encouraged that we retained three wards despite challenging circumstances, which we work to address in all that we do.

I wish to thank all DA members and activists who worked so hard on these campaigns after an even tougher general election campaign.

Only a DA-led government can bring change to the people of Johannesburg. The DA remains steadfast in our commitment to create One South Africa for All.

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Joburg SOCA: DA-led Joburg coalition showing that change is possible

Since assuming office in 2016, the DA-led coalition government has made strides in delivering real change by building a City that works for and with the people.

Today’s address by DA Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba, has proven that his administration is working around the clock to deliver on its commitment to stop corruption, create job opportunities and deliver quality services to the people of Johannesburg.

Mayor Mashaba’s administration has achieved the following in a short period:

  • Against the national trend, creating a net of 110, 000 new jobs and reducing unemployment by 1.1%.
  • In the mixed-income housing space, the City has provided over 6261 units over the last two years.
  • 6659 title deeds have been handed out by the multi-party government since coming into the office. This has ensured that thousands of Johannesburg residents experience the joy of  home ownership.
  • Focus on refurbishing sub-stations as the first phase of stabilising the City’s electricity grid.
  • The length of roads classified as being in a poor or very poor condition has been reduced from the 4000km inherited, by 806km of road resurfacing by the JRA.
  • The City’s investment in electrifying informal settlements has investment, with a record breaking R750 million budgeted over the next 3 years
  • With 500 derelict buildings, the City now has the opportunity to provide quality low-cost housing opportunities and space for small businesses and start-ups.
  • City will be delivering over 4000 sites and service stands in the 2019 calendar year, substantially more than could be delivered by way of traditional RDP housing.

These are some of the hallmarks of Mayor Mashaba’s administration and what it can bring to the people of Johannesburg.

What has been achieved by Mayor Mashaba’s administration shows that the DA works and coalition governments do indeed work. Change is possible, and on 8 May the people of Gauteng will be able to usher in this kind of change across the whole province.

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ANC’s premeditated thuggery denied people the opportunity to hear Mashaba’s plans for Alex

On Monday evening, the genuine concerns of the people of Alexandra were overshadowed by rogue ANC connected individuals, who relentlessly refused to allow a meeting between City of Johannesburg (COJ) Mayor Herman Mashaba and residents to get underway.

The meeting was convened solely to address the concerns of the residents of Alexandra and to unpack the DA led COJ plans, and how it will reverse two decades of empty promises and non-service delivery at the hands of ANC’s previous failed regime.

However, ANC thugs hijacked the meeting because they do not want the residents to know the plans the Mayor has to change the lived experiences of the people of Alexandra.

No amount of premeditated and deliberate disruption will halt the City of Johannesburg’s plans  to ensure that the needs of Alexandra are catered for and undoing the broken promises, failed delivery of basic services and ANC’s rampant corruption over the last 25 years.

The DA led COJ empathise with the legitimate concerns of the residents of Alexandra, and have committed themselves to bring real tangible change to the people of Alexandra, these include:

  • In the 2018/19 financial year, R20 million was allocated for the refurbishment of the Helen Joseph Hostel and R15 million for the refurbishment of the Madala Hostel. Contractors have been appointed and engagements with the residents are underway.
  • The opening of 2 new clinics in Alexandra (River Park and Thoko Mngoma) with a third to be opened in the coming weeks (4th Avenue);
  • R45 million has been allocated for the building of the Banakekelen Clinic over the next 3 years.
  • The extending of clinic operating hours at the River Park Clinic.
  • The City has developed an updated Illegal Dumping Strategy, with increased penalties for offenders, to be finalised by the end of the financial year
  • The City is on track to open the Alexandra Opportunity Centre before the end of the 2018/19 financial year. This facility will be used to provide a basket of services included skills development opportunities and SMME support to residents.
  • The City will be completing the Alexandra Automotive Hub before the end of the financial year.   R13.5 million was allocated in the Adjustments Budget to allow for this

The people of Alexandra and other poor communities have been let down by the previous regime’s  failure to deliver basic services. Instead of addressing the grievances of the people, our opponents incite violence and anarchy in DA led municipalities in order to hold onto their narrow electoral prospects.

Unlike the previous failed regime in the COJ, we remain focused on our objective to uplift and empower the people of Alexandra and other poor communities. The DA is committed to building One South Africa for All, not destroying the country through violence and devastation.

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Ramaphosa, Makhura and Tau, join me and Mashaba in accounting to the people of Alex

On Thursday, 18 April 2019, I will be hosting a townhall meeting with Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba and the people of Alexandra so that we can reflect on what has been done since 2016, and what more needs to be done to make Alex into a place to be proud of. In addition to this I extend an invitation to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and former Mayor Parks Tau to account for the period between 1994 and August 2016.

This engagement with the people of Alex will also present an opportunity for all three spheres of government to forge a partnership and commitment to working together in order to put the people first. Above all, we are servants of the people, therefore party politics should be put side so that we can build a broken community.

It is most disappointing that the ANC chose to play with the lives and emotions of the people by hijacking and criminalising a community movement. From day one the City of Johannesburg Executive was ready to engage with the community, but ANC Ward Councillors instead chose to fuel fires running a disinformation campaign and spurring the community to engage in criminal acts. On Sunday, 07 April 2019, I will be laying charges against the Ward Councillors we have been identified as the ringleaders of a carefully coordinated campaign to fuel the fires of anarchy in Alex.

Further to this, I have written to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to probe whether the ANC is indeed in violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct. The harshest sanction that comes with a violation of the Code is being disqualified from contesting the elections.

As the DA, in both government and opposition, we are committed to Building One South Africa for All by ensuring that communities like Alex become places of pride, development and production.

I trust that Ramaphosa, Makhura and Tau will heed the call by joining me and Mayor Mashaba, a man of action, on 18 April.

When the people we commit to serve call, we have a duty to answer and listen

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DA Gauteng Premier Candidate Solly Msimanga lays criminal charges against ANC for inciting violence in Alexandra

Today, I laid criminal charges against the ANC at the Alexandra Police Station for inciting violence in the community in order to influence the outcome of the general elections on 8 May.

   

I presented the SAPS with evidence of how the ANC was conspiring to instigate violence by coordinating plans with local affiliates on the ground to embark on violent protest actions, and sow anarchy.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has seen WhatsApp messages from a South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) group, where activities aimed against Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba were coordinated.

Furthermore, we have seen a WhatsApp exchange where one of the organisers infers that their actions are being supported by the ANC. Further digging on social media revealed that the organisers were wearing ANC regalia.

The ANC is a party of criminals not leaders. Cyril Ramaphosa, David Mabuza, Jessie Duarte, Malusi Gigaba, and the endless list of ANC politicians implicated in corrupt activities shows that criminal behaviour is the first agenda item at ANC meetings. Unlike the DA, which puts the people of South Africa first.

From the get-go, social media mobilisation regarding the Alex protests was driven by ANC members, most prominently by the Criminal Syndicate’s Head of Campaigns, Fikile Mbalula.

The protest is being led by ANC ward councillors, and not the legitimate community leadership who have raised issues with the City of Johannesburg. The councillors have resisted any attempt to hand over a memorandum to the City of Johannesburgand have blocked efforts by the City to hold meetings with community leadership.

It is clear that the ANC are running scared of losing the elections on 8 May and will stop at nothing to hang on to power in Gauteng.

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ANC’s links to #AlexTotalShutdown are clear – IEC and SAPS must act

It is becoming clearer that the violent and destructive action taking place in Alex is not a service delivery protest.

What is happening in Alex is criminal chaos, which is being carefully coordinated by the ANC and its affiliates, who face electoral loss in Gauteng on 8 May.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has seen WhatsApp messages from a South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) group, where activities aimed against Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba are coordinated. We have further witnessed ANC Councillors spurring protestors to engage in the destruction of property and racially abuse the Johannesburg MMC for Safety, Michael Sun.

It is no secret that the ANC and its affiliates treat money meant for service delivery and development as their own, therefore a loss at the polls will leave corrupt ANC politicians and officials with empty pockets. The stakes are high and the ANC has no plan so its only strategy is to manufacture a service delivery protest, and play with the lives and emotions of the people they continue to rob of opportunities.

Furthermore, we have seen a WhatsApp exchange where one of the organisers who infers that their actions are being supported by the ANC. Further digging shows the organisers on social media wearing ANC regalia.

How long will the ANC continue to act criminally before the law enforcement authorities act against this criminal syndicate pretending to be a political party that serves the people?

Today, I will be writing to the National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, to investigate the incitement of violence by the ANC. I will also write to the Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, to investigate whether the prima facie evidence disqualifies the ANC from contesting the General Elections.

The ANC is a party of thugs not leaders. Cyril Ramaphosa, David Mabuza, Jessie Duarte, Malusi Gigaba, and the endless list of ANC politicians implicated in corrupt activities show that criminal behaviour is the first agenda item at ANC meetings. Unlike the DA, which puts the people of South Africa first.

From the get-go, social media mobilisation was driven by ANC members, most prominently by the Criminal Syndicate’s Head of Campaigns, Fikile Mbalula.

Losing Gauteng on 8 May is an everyday fear for the ANC, which has failed to response to the real needs of the people; this was evident in 2016 when the people of Tshwane and Johannesburg voted for change, and in the case of Midvaal, where the DA was rewarded for its quality of service delivery and development. As the DA, we do not take our people for granted because being in government is a privilege not a right.

Had the ANC poured its energies into developing the community instead of stealing R1,7 billion meant for the Alex Rejuvenation Project, it would not be up to the DA government to pick up the pieces. It is worth mentioning that the elected Ward Councillors in Alex are from the ANC, and are the very same people who are literally stoking fires and playing with the lives of the people of Alex, all for the sake of short electoral gains.

For over two decades the ANC squandered the responsibility and privilege to change the lives of the people who entrusted them to lead, leaving in their trail broken promises and empty stomachs.

The protest is being led by ANC Ward Councillors, and not the legitimate community leadership who have raised issues with the City of Johannesburg. They have resisted any attempt to hand over a memorandum to the City of Johannesburg and have blocked efforts by the City to hold meetings with community leadership.

Yesterday, Johannesburg Mayor Herman called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to account for his Criminal Syndicate’s more than 20 years of failed governance in Alex, while he will account for what the DA-led multiparty government has done for the people of Alex since 2016.

Indeed, more needs to be done in Alex but equally we have invested significant resources into building what the ANC neglected for more than 20 years. Some of these service delivery investments include:

  • Electrification of 686 stands in informal settlements in Alexandra;
  • The extension of operating hours in the library serving Alexandra;
  • The opening of 2 new clinics in Alexandra (Rover Park and Thoko Nongoma) with a third to be opened in the coming weeks (4th Avenue);
  • The extending of clinic operating hours at the River Park Clinic;
  • The provision of substance abuse treatment facilities at the River Park Clinic;
  • R60 million over 3 years to complete the new Banakekelen Hospice and Clinic in Alexandra;
  • R20 million in 2018/19 which will begin the construction of the Alexandra Sports and Youth Development Safe Hub;
  • R80 million being spent in the 2018/19 financial year by Joburg Water on replacing water and sewer pipes in Alexandra;
  • The construction of the Joe Nhlanhla pedestrian bridge in the 2018/19 financial year;
  • The completion of the Alexandra Automotive Hub in 2018/19 as a job creation initiative in Alexandra;
  • The Alexandra Opportunity Centre will open in 2018/19 providing support to SMMEs in Alexandra;
  • The completion of Jukskei Water Management Plan to protect people and property close to the Jukskei River in times of flooding;
  • The installation of 100 new public lights in Alexandra; and
  • R20 million to be spent in 2018/19 on improvement of the Helen Joseph Hostel in Alexandra.

We are committed to building a new Alex that works, is safe and where quality services are delivered.

Political opportunists and criminals will only hold the people of back. Our mission of Building One South Africa for All means delivering on the promises of 1994.

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DA Gauteng Premier Candidate saddened by passing of Mayor Mashaba’s sister

The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Premier Candidate, Solly Msimanga, is saddened by the passing of the City of Joburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba’s sister, Salome Mashaba today.

Her passing is a tragic loss to the Mashaba family and she will be sorely missed.

She has left an indelible mark in the community of Hammaskraal in Tshwane.

On behalf of DA in Gauteng l extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mayor Mashaba at this time.
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DA committed to giving Gauteng residents security of tenure

Today, I witnessed the handing over of 36 title deeds in Soweto by the City of Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba.

33 businesses and three different churches in Soweto were given title deeds. This is part of the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) commitment in ensuring that those who occupy the land, where their businesses and churches are situated become the owners of the land.

This is not the first time that we have handed over title deeds to business owners in Soweto.

Last year June, as part of the City of Johannesburg’s Land Regularisation Programme, we handed over title deeds to business owners who have been waiting for 30 years to become land owners.

We want South Africans to own their land and property, which is why the Land Regularisation Programme which aims to redress the distribution of council-owned land is so important.

Land ownership plays an important role in growing our economy and by handing over these title deeds, we are ensuring that our people who previously did not have an opportunity to own land are now given this chance.

The DA does not only pay lip service when talking about land ownership, but walks the talk by ensuring that businesses and churches operating from city-owned land are given title deeds.

Under the governance of the DA, the past injustices will be directly addressed and ownership will be rapidly expanded to those who were previously excluded.

Secure property rights are the cornerstone of any successful economy and any uncertainty around this will destabilise our economy.

The DA is the only party that is committed to giving people security of tenure by issuing titles deeds to businesses, churches and homeowners.

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ANC disrupts Council to keep Parks Tau and Geoff Makhubo out of the Ethics Committee

The ANC in Johannesburg has collapsed Council today, at the point at which it was ready to vote on a motion to refer former MMC of Finance, Cllr Geoff Makhubo, and former Mayor, Parks Tau, to the Ethics Committee.

The motion, arising from the City’s forensic work and an article by amaBhungane, allege that Regiments Capital, the sinking fund managers appointed by the City, sought to buy influence in the ANC.

This was ultimately achieved by allegedly sponsoring ANC Regional Conferences and benefitting the wives of former Mayor Tau and former MMC Makhubo in deals with millions.

Further to this, Cllr Makhubo’s consulting firm, Mololwani Consulting, scored a contract with Regiments in which his contractual responsibilities with Regiments Capital included maintaining strategic relationships with the City of Johannesburg. For this, Cllr Makhubo allegedly benefitted to the tune of at least R30 million.

Cllr Makhubo’s contractual responsibilities with Regiments Capital included maintaining strategic relationships with the City of Johannesburg. Cllr Makhubo safeguarded Regiments Capital’s interests and derived the benefits, in part, while he served as the MMC of Finance for the City.

The reports noted that former Mayor Tau actively intervened in a tender process in which Regiments Capital had been disqualified. A new tender process later appoint them later.

The behaviour of the ANC in Council today comes as no surprise. The ANC has demonstrated their commitment to paying lip service to fighting corruption while doing everything in their power to protect those implicated in it. Numerous points of orders were raised to disrupt Council and when that didn’t work, they elected to howl and sing over the Acting Speaker.

This serves to demonstrate that the ANC’s renewal or New Dawn is a cheap facade designed to disguise itself to the South African public from what it truly is. The ANC’s efforts to prevent this motion from going through, are reminiscent of former President Jacob Zuma being protected by ANC MP and Ministers who now claim to be part of the New Dawn.

The multi-party government will not rest until former Mayor Tau and former MMC of Finance Makhubo face the Ethics Committee for what they are alleged to have done.

With 4000 cases under investigation in the City, involving a staggering R24 billion, it was clear that the former leadership of the City could not claim not to have not known. As it turns out they knew, because they were allegedly leading from the front in the outright shameless looting of our City.

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CoJ Adjustment Budget passed: Only the DA gets things done

The DA-led City of Joburg has passed the City’s Adjustments Budget for the 2018/2019 financial year.

This budget was approved a month earlier than has been the practice in the past.

The early approval of this budget will allow the various departments and entities an additional opportunity to fully utilise their budgets and deliver on key projects.

This will ensure that our people in the City of Joburg are provided with effective and efficient service delivery.

During this financial year the following projects will be prioritized:

  • R82 million additional spending for the electrification of informal settlements, bringing the budget to R200 million;
  • R25 million additional spending has been made available for the procurement of mobile clinics by the City, up from R5 million in the approved budget;
  • R20 million additional spending for the installation of new city-wide public lighting;
  • R15 million for the procurement of a mobile sub-station to reduce power outages related to sub-station damage;
  • R130 million for the electrification of Fleurhof and South Hills developments- crucial projects for addressing housing needs in the City;
  • R50 million additional spending for the upgrading of Council-owned flats and old-age homes;
  • R30 million additional spending for transitional housing in the Inner City to give effect to the City’s Inner-City Revitalisation Plan;
  • R50 million has additionally been allocated for road reconstruction and rehabilitation;
  • The budget for traffic calming measures has been doubled to R20 million given the large number of requests received by residents, especially around schools;
  • R35 million for upgrades to the City’s EMS, JMPD and Disaster Management Operations Centre in order to improve safety and security in the City;
  • R10 million for much needed fire and rescue equipment including equipment used in urban search and rescue;
  • R15 million for the expansion of the Olifantsvlei Cemetery to provide more burial space in the City; and
  • The budget for the revamping of informal trading stalls within the inner-city has been doubled to R20 million

In addition, the audited financials for 2017/2018 indicate a saving of over R446 million compared to the 2015/2016 financial year.

This is a clear indication that the DA is committed to ensuring that where we govern, we provide service delivery and invest the people’s money back into developing communities, increasing access to opportunities and building One South Africa for All.

When we govern Gauteng after the elections in May, we will ensure that we speed up service delivery across the province.

This general election is the most crucial since 1994 and the people of Gauteng have to choose between a government of liars and looters or a government that gets the job done and puts the people first.

The DA is the only party that gets things done and can bring change in Gauteng.