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MEC Mazibuko Must Investigate Costs Of OR Tambo Games

OR Tambo Games

The DA will write to Sport, Recreation Arts and Culture MEC, Faith Mazibuko, to launch an investigation into alleged corruption at the OR Tambo Games held earlier this year.

According to a reply to a DA question on the Games, MEC Mazibuko, had stated that normal Supply Chain Management processes were followed in accordance with the respective council’s policies and the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

District and Local Municipalities

However, in the breakdown of costs for both Sedibeng District and Emfuleni Local municipalities it is plain to see the exorbitant costs that were incurred.

Sedibeng and Emfuleni spent the following amounts on line items which totalled over R580 000:

  • R199 659.60 unaccounted for in Emfuleni’s budget for the Games;
  • R27 360.00 on 3 Quantum 15 seater taxi’s;
  • R17 779.00 on Nandos lunch packs;
  • R12 072.60 on uniforms;
  • Two line items citing “sport equipment” to the value of R33 955.00;
  • In Sedibeng, R155 028.60 spent on “attire”; and
  • R54 800.00 on “supply and delivery of transport for participants”.

(Click here to view the reply)

Blatant Corruption

If standard processes were followed according to Supply Chain Management and MFMA regulations, one has to ask how the most expensive quotes have been selected to render services to the municipalities.

The DA will not stand by and watch blatant corruption take place in district and local municipalities governed by the ANC.

The MEC must urgently launch an investigation into the matter and ensure that those who abuse public funds are held to account.

 

 

Media enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Emfuleni

060 558 8299

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Gauteng ANC running scared ahead of municipal elections

Shifting Landscape

The recent reshuffling and cadre deployment of Mayors and officials in local municipalities across the province can mean only one thing: Gauteng cooperative governance MEC Jacob Mamabolo and the provincial ANC are running scared ahead of the 2016 local government elections.

The latest victim of the ANC’s tactics is the Municipal Manager of Lesedi Municipality, Ayanda Makhanya who was placed on precautionary suspension by a council resolution.

MEC Mamabolo has been requested to play a leading role in the statutory 90-day investigation.

Earlier this week, the “Mayor of Sedibeng has replaced the Mayor of Emfuleni, who has been moved to Sedibeng”.

This reeks of fear by the ANC.

Two wrongs certainly do not make a right and MEC Mamabolo’s idea of changing things around is ill-thought.

The MEC would do well should he consider firing poor performing mayors and municipal officials – not deploy them with the hope that the problems faced at these municipalities will disappear.

The only the change that can and will take place is at the ballot box when voters choose the DA to run their local municipalities.

It is a well-known fact that where the DA governs, services are delivered, and life is better.

Media enquiries:

Fred Nel MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

083 863 2427

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Gauteng Legislature Prevents DA From Participating in NCOP Debates

NCOP Provincial Week

The Office of the Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature is deliberately attempting to prevent DA delegates from participating in debates at the National Council of Provinces.

On 30 July, NCOP Chairperson Thandi Modise invited provincial delegates to attend NCOP plenaries on 4 and 6 August, and to participate in debates on International Mandela Day and the Reports of the NCOP Provincial Week.

Click here to view the letter.

However, the invitation was only sent to the DA on Sunday morning, and came to the attention of our personnel this morning.

Deliberate Sabotage

The DA has already written to the Deputy Speaker, Mr Uhuru Moiloa and expressed our protest over what we believe is a deliberate attempt at sabotaging the DA’s participation in debates of much consequence.

Two weeks ago NCOP delegates were taken on a sanitised tour of the West Rand to inspect service delivery projects that had little to do with its mandate of advancing the developmental agenda of municipalities.

Had it not been for the DA’s efforts to add more site visits to the programme, delegates would have seen very little evidence of municipalities on the brink of collapse.

Shutting Down Opposition Parties

The DA has long held the view that a great divide exists between the ANC of today and what it was during the presidency of Nelson Mandela.

The repeated attacks on the judiciary, the media and the Public Protector, as well as the state capture of institutions to protect the President at all costs are clear signs that the ANC will do anything and everything to strengthen its grip on power.

Shutting down opposition parties from carrying out their constitutional mandate of oversight and robust debate, is further testimony of this hegemonic behaviour.

 

Media enquiries:

Mike Moriarty MPL

DA Chief Whip in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature

082 492 4410

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West Rand Residents Object Strongly to Proposed Metro

West RandSolly Msimanga DA Gauteng Provincial Chairperson

This past weekend residents of the West Rand came out in their numbers to object to the proposed creation of a metropolitan municipality.

On Saturday and Sunday the DA ran a coordinated awareness campaign throughout the Merafong, Mogale City, Westonaria and Randfontein local municipalities, informing residents of the proposals, and that the deadline for objections expires on 5 June.

Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB)

Residents were completely unaware of the proposals and the deadline, but immediately undertook to lodge their objections with the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB), and signed the DA’s petition opposing the metro – which would be lodged as part of our objections.

The DA is strongly opposed to merging these local municipalities into a metro, as we believe that Cooperative Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his provincial counterpart Jacob Mamabolo had other avenues to address the host of administrative governance issues plaguing these municipalities.

The Tshwane Experience

The Tshwane experience has also shown that service delivery has not improved when merging poor performing municipalities, despite the fact that municipal rates were increased – as the debt burden is simply too much to bear.

Tshwane had to absorb a cost of R1 billion to accommodate the merge, and was only compensated R20 million by the provincial government.

This week, the MDB is scheduled to host public participation meetings in each of the four municipalities, and the DA calls on the greater public to arrive in their numbers and raise their concerns and/or objections with the board.

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

  • Tuesday 2 June, Randfontein Council Chamber at 14h00
  • Wednesday, 3 June, Mogale City, Centenary Hall at 15h00
  • Thursday 4 June, Westonaria, Banquet Hall at 15h00
  • Friday 5 June, Carletonville Civic Centre at 15h00

 

The DA will remain at the forefront of the battle for better service delivery and to prevent the formation of a dysfunctional West Rand Metropolitan Municipality.

 

Media enquiries:

Solly Msimanga MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Chairperson

060 558 8308

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