MPL Archives - Gauteng

March 24, 2015

Delayed Electrification Sets Khutsong Ablaze

Residents of Khutsong south, ext. 5, near Carletonville, have taken to the streets, burning tyres and blockading roads over the non-electrification of RDP houses in the area.

Over a thousand RDP units in the area are still without power – despite owners taking occupation more than three years ago.

This is another example of how residents in Merafong have been forgotten by the ANC-led municipality.

In the third quarter of this financial year, only 21% of Merafong’s R294 million capital budget had been spent, and it is likely that residents will continue to suffer at the hands of an uncaring government.

In February of this year, I called on the Gauteng MEC for Local Government, Jacob Mamabolo, to institute a provincial intervention in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution and to place Merafong under provincial administration.

To date, there has been no move to by the MEC to take the matter in hand.

As a result of this inaction, the DA has moved to petition for the removal of the Mayor and Municipal Manager before the situation is beyond fixing.

This petition has so far collected 6 000 signatures and is rapidly increasing.

If no action is taken soon, residents of Khutsong ext. 5 will continue to remain on the periphery of society.

Media enquiries:
Ina Cilliers MPL
DA Constituency Head: Merafong
060 556 4344

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March 24, 2015

DA Calls for Urgent Intervention at Lyttelton Police Station

This morning Councillor Clive Napier of Ward 57 (Lyttelton-Centurion) and I visited the Lyttelton Police Station which remains under-resourced almost a year after the Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malubane was made aware of the problem.

Residents of the greater Centurion area have for months been victim of sustained criminal activities, ranging from hijackings, to armed robberies and burglaries, while the Lyttelton Police Station has simply not had the necessary manpower and resources to protect the community.

Despite a number of dedicated police officers at the station, they are hampered in their work through understaffing, a shortage of vehicles and the lack of safe holding cells.

The reconstruction of the gate house and charge office has been on hold for years, further hampering the effective operation of the police station.

The DA has received a petition with hundreds of signatures from Centurion residents requesting a thorough and urgent investigation into the staffing and equipment shortages of the police station as well as the condition of its infrastructure.

The DA will hand over the petition to MEC Nkosi-Malobane and Provincial Police Commissioner Lesiba Mothiba, and demand that the shortfalls are addressed with utmost urgency, and for the police station to be upgraded

Centurion’s residents need an effective and well-resourced police station to combat rapidly spiralling crime levels in the area

Media enquiries:

Solly Msimanga MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Centurion

060 558 8308

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March 23, 2015

DA Moves to Stop Illegal Tshwane Land Auctions

The land auctions announced by the City of Tshwane municipality to take place tomorrow (24 March 2015) should be stopped as they are not legal.

In a reply to me last week from the Gauteng MEC for COGTA it transpired that the City did not follow proper public participation processes to determine whether the properties it intended to sell are necessary for current or future municipal service delivery.

Public Not Properly Consulted

It is my view that the public and other stakeholders were not properly consulted to determine whether the land to be auctioned was necessary for municipal service delivery.

At least 11 of the properties are currently zoned as public open space and selling it off could find the City in contravention of its own Spatial Development Framework (SDF), which requires a minimum number of public open spaces required for the city’s population.

In the light of the City’s densification policy, public open spaces are a critical design element.

Click here to view the list of properties on auction (Pdf, 15Mb).

Land for Education and Low Cost Housing

One of the properties offered for sale is currently zoned for education purposes. The report that served before the council to seek approval for the sale of the properties did not indicate whether the Department of Education would require this property for future use as a school.

Properties currently zoned for housing are also among the list, which may impact on the Gauteng government’s plans to deliver housing to the poor.

Land for low cost housing is already scarce and by selling it off land Tshwane worsens the situation. It also goes against Premier David Makhura’s plans to use state owned land to spark development and growth.

Two of the properties are currently zoned as transport hubs and one property earmarked for sale was required as a future transport hub.

Disqualification

There is also concern that some of the properties have rivers, streams and fountains, and may be ecologically sensitive, which disqualifies them from being sold.

It also seems as if the projected prices properties may fetch as presented to the Tshwane Council, were heavily inflated – as many were based on future value after development had taken place.

Current value may be much lower than purported by the Tshwane municipality.

To this end I wrote to Gauteng Cooperative Governance MEC Jacob Mamobolo to urgently intervene in terms of his powers as provided for in the Municipal Systems Act.

In the meantime, the DA will compile a submission to the Office of the Public Protector to investigate the legality of the Tshwane land auctions.

Media enquiries

Fred Nel MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

083 263 2427

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March 23, 2015

Departmental Bungling Could Shut Down SMMEs

At least five SMMEs participating in the Mohlakeng Hub on the West Rand face closure if the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) fails to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Randfontein Local Municipality to inject R6 million in to this project over the next three years.

GEP has until 31 March 2015 to sign this agreement.

Aim of the Hub

Coupled with this cash injection, the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and its entity, GEP, have agreed to foot the bill for participants’ municipal bills, but cannot do so until the MoU is signed.

The aim of the hub is to incubate SMMEs in the following sectors:

Carpentry;
Furniture manufacturing;
Welding and steel works;
Embroidery and clothing manufacturing.

Not Functional

At a presentation to the Gauteng Economic Development Portfolio, it was revealed that despite service provider WESTCOL facilitating training, the hub is currently not functional.

What is of even more concern is that there are no partnerships in place with experienced incubators or hubs to increase the knowledge capacity of participants.

The hub also requires an intensive incubation programme to assist participants in growing their businesses and understanding the market environment.

The Importance of SMMEs

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, in his State of the Province Address emphasised the importance of SMME stimulation and growth to aid in the re industrialisation of the province.

However, Mohlakeng is one of many examples where the administration jeopardises the future of small and medium sized business by not creating an environment conducive to sustainable market access or competitiveness.

Rather, for many it is like starting on the back foot.

Gauteng Economic Development MEC, Lebogang Maile, must ensure that this MOU is signed before five more SMMEs in the province fail as a result of bureaucratic bungling.

The DA will monitor this situation closely to ensure the sustainability of this project.

Media enquiries
Janet Semple MPL
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Economic Development
082 462 8239

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March 23, 2015

Gauteng Hospitals Owe R2.9 million on Over-priced Diesel

Gauteng hospitals owe R2.9 million to companies that supply diesel for boilers, tractors and back-up generators.

This is revealed in a written reply by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

Companies Owed

The Gauteng Health Department buys diesel from a number of companies in terms of a contract by National Treasury.

The following companies are owed money:

Kiarah Chemicals cc R936 835
One Line Project Solutions cc R491 150
Kebaratile General Trading R29 227
Afric Oil Pty Ltd R373 219
General Energy Systems Pty Ltd R1 065 358

I am aware of cases where late supply of diesel has led to generators failing after power cuts, and boilers with no steam to provide heat and sterilise surgical instruments.

Discounted Rates

I am also concerned that the department pays R12.38 per litre of diesel, which is a bit more than you would pay at a local garage.

Surely a discount rate could have been achieved as part of the diesel tender?

This is yet another example where the department is getting poor value for money and there are supply disruptions because of non-payment.

The department should pay its bills and ensure a reliable diesel supply for hospitals.

Media enquiries:

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health

082 333 4222

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March 23, 2015

John Moodey to Present the True State of Ekurhuleni Metro

This morning DA Gauteng Provincial Leader, John Moodey, DA Ekurhuleni Caucus Leader, Cllr Fortune Mahano and DA Ekurhuleni caucus members will brief the media over the true state of the Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality.

The briefing will take place outside the Wanneburg Clinic in the informal settlement of Makause near Primrose, Germiston, where the DA will present its policy alternatives in the run up to Executive Mayor Mondli Gungubele’s State of the City Address on Wednesday.

Date: Monday, 23 March 2015

Time: 09:30

Venue: Wanneburg Clinic, Pretoria Road, (between Bus and Mimosa Roads) Primrose

Click here to view map.

There will be ample opportunity for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend.

Media enquiries:

Cllr Fortune Mahano

DA Ekurhuleni Caucus Leader

072 451 2645

Angela Barnes

DA Media Liaison – Ekurhuleni Caucus

083 701 9972

March 22, 2015

John Moodey to Present the True State of Ekurhuleni Metro

True State of Ekurhuleni

Tomorrow, Monday 23 March 2015, DA Gauteng Provincial Leader, John Moodey, DA Ekurhuleni caucus leader, Cllr Fortune Mahano and DA Ekurhuleni caucus members will brief the media over the true state of the Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality.

Event Details

Date: Monday, 23 March 2015

Time: 09:30

Venue: Wanneburg Clinic, Pretoria Road, (between Bus and Mimosa Roads) Primrose

Click here to view map.

There will be ample opportunity for interviews and photographs. Members of the media are welcome to attend.

Media enquiries:

Cllr Fortune Mahano

DA Ekurhuleni Caucus Leader

072 451 2645

Angela Barnes

DA Media Liaison – Ekurhuleni Caucus

083 701 9972

March 22, 2015

Esselen Park Ext 3: Residents Under Threat from Collapsing Wall

The R7 million catchment wall situated in the Esselen Park Ext 3 RDP development, Ekurhuleni meant to protect the development from excess water flow is collapsing – putting many lives and property at risk.

Houses built on the periphery of this wall are at risk of serious damage due to the instability of the ground on which it is built.

This is compounded by the inadequate storm water system that cannot cope with excess water during periods of heavy rain.

As a result, this wall has shifted and has already collapsed in parts.

Despite numerous attempts by DA Ekurhuleni Ward Councillor, Johann Jordaan, to have this issue addressed by both Ekurhuleni’s Housing and Storm Water Departments, the situation has deteriorated.

I will write to the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Housing, Jacob Mamabolo and insist that he intervene urgently – before there is an unnecessary loss of human life.

Media enquiries:

060 558 8297

Johann Jordaan

DA Ekurhuleni Ward 91 Councillor

083 770 5726

March 20, 2015

Gauteng Transport MEC Victimises Whistle-blower

Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) MEC, Ismail Vadi and Head of Department (HOD), Ronald Swartz are condoning attempts by senior management to silence a whistle-blower who has attempted to expose corrupt and collusive activities.

Irregularities

According to DA information the whistle-blower has attempted to report sever financial irregularities to both the MEC and HOD, only to find himself having being suspended.

The whistle-blower alleges how he had uncovered what appears to be the irregular appointment of one senior official, but also how this official and the person who allegedly colluded to ensure her appointment, irregularly awarded tenders to the value of R19.5 million.

The whistle blower alleges that the tenders were awarded in contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Treasury Regulations and department financial controls.

Investigation and the Lack of Political Will

After no action was taken by the HOD, this matter was raised with the MEC, again to no avail.

This matter has been the subject of a Public Service Commission investigation, a report which the whistle-blower claims has been ignored by the MEC and HOD.

Once again, we are exposed to the nefarious workings of officials employed in departments throughout Gauteng and the lack of political will to tackle these issues head on.

What is of utmost concern is that when officials attempt to do the right thing, they are maligned by those in the upper echelons of power.

Gauteng Premier, David Makhura’s much lauded approach to corruption needs to be put to task in instances such as these.

The DA will follow this case up with both the Premier Makhura and MEC Vadi as a matter of urgency.

Media enquiries:

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

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March 19, 2015

Gauteng’s R500 million 3G and Tablet deal: DA Lodges PAIA Application for Tender Documents

Public Access to Information Act and Tender Documents

Ashor Sarupen DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Finance

Today the DA lodged an application in terms of the Public Access to Information Act (PAIA) to obtain the tender documents relating to the procurement of tablets and 3G connectivity for schools, which the Auditor-General found to have been awarded irregularly to suppliers in violation of supply chain management regulations.

These tenders amounted to R500 million.

This was disclosed in the annual report for the Gauteng Department of Finance.

Gauteng Finance MEC, Barbara Creecy, promised a full scale investigation in September 2014 during a debate on the annual report.

However, some six months later, nothing further has been announced and no action appears to have been taken.

The MEC has not mentioned the matter subsequent to this debate.

Gauteng Online, Gauteng Offline

It is unsettling that the MEC only spoke of the investigation in September 2014, when the DA has seen correspondence from the Auditor-General – as far back as May 2014, indicating that the tenders were irregular.

Of particular concern is that the contract for 3G connectivity was awarded to the same supplier who was awarded the Gauteng Online tender, which was meant to provide and manage computer labs to schools.

The project was marred by problems and derided as Gauteng Offline – which is now being replaced with tablets.

The application for the tender documents is done in the interests of transparency and accountability.

The DA will further demand through questions, and processes in the Gauteng Legislature, that the MEC provide answers as to why there has been no progress reported on the investigation.

Media enquiries:
Ashor Sarupen MPL
DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Finance
076 334 5147

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