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Economic MEC’s Township Economy Programme Lacking Substance

Township Economy Revitalisation Programme

Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, has promised to work with township business owners in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, who have sited municipal rates as the major stumbling block holding back their growth, in an effort to bolster his departments Township Economy Revitalisation Programme (TERP).

However, what the MEC has failed to realise is that while his intervention, while outwardly noble, is far too focused on one location for his TERP to be viable across Gauteng.

Of all three metropolitan municipalities across the province, Ekurhuleni has the lowest rates for water, electricity and other municipal services.

Limited Information, Limited Consultation

While the claims of township business owners in Tembisa are, as the MEC put it – most likely legitimate, Tembisa is not the only township in Ekurhuleni nor the province where business owners have challenges paying municipal rates.

For the TERP to truly distinguish itself and be a viable programme, wider consultation must be held with all stakeholders from all municipalities across Gauteng both local and metro.

What is evident from the limited information offered by both the MEC and the Department is that TERP is more of a talk shop project than one of any real substance and it is highly unlikely that any real significant change will be made to improve the climate of township economies.

Cumbersome Bureaucratic Regulation

One of the ways in which the MEC could assist would be to establish special economic zones in townships, as recommended in the Department of Trade and Industry’s Industrial Policy Action Plan, reducing cumbersome bureaucratic regulation and incentivising SMMEs.

The DA will continue to support township businesses and offer positive solutions to get people working in sustainable ways, not simply attempt to gloss over real issues with empty promises.

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

[Image source]

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Merafong Water Crisis Now Affecting Emergency Services

Dysfunctional Municipal Services

Dysfunctional municipal services in Merafong have led to the complete destruction of a family home in Carletonville as emergency service workers could not carry out their relief work when the home caught alight.

Upon arrival emergency services could not locate the nearest hydrant as there were no markings on the street lights – which were out of order.

When one was located, the water pressure was too low for fire fighters to douse the flames.

As a result, the home was completely gutted and the family lost all their possessions.

Deteriorating Infrastructure

This incident has highlighted the precarious situation in which Merafong finds itself. Should there be a large scale fire, the municipality will simply not have the means to protect the lives of residents.

More than 52% of water in Merafong is lost every month due to ageing and deteriorating infrastructure, despite the local municipality insisting that it has a water loss management plan.

The DA has, on numerous occasions called on Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, for a provincial intervention in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.

Time and time again our requests have been ignored while residents of Merafong are left in desperate need of assistance.

The DA has assisted the family by providing blankets, food and water, however, if the situation in Merafong is not addressed urgently, this could become the norm.

(Pictures available on request)

 

Media Enquiries:

Ina Cilliers MPL
DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Merafong
060 556 4344

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Budget Vote Speeches: Office of the Premier

 

Speech by

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Leader

“Premier needs to slay Goliath of greed, corruption and mismanagement”

Speech highlights:

  • Gauteng is plagued by the triple threat of poverty, unemployment and inequality
  • However, the threat to effective governance is corruption, maladministration and non-accountability by a severely under skilled and unprofessional public service
  • Gauteng’s citizens need a responsive government that effectively deals with health care, crime, drugs, gangsterism and youth unemployment
  • Life in townships has improved dramatically, but all those gains are lost through municipalities unable to deliver quality basic services and maintenance of infrastructure
  • Municipal service delivery will not improve by creating larger and more cumbersome metros, as other legislative means need to be exhausted before considering such steps
  • Provincial government must settle its debt to local municipalities as it drastically reduces their income and ability to deliver services
  • Households are under increasing pressure as the insistence to continue with e-tolls and above inflation increases in fuel, municipal services and electricity are driving up commodity prices.
  • While the premier has noble intentions to improve the quality of life of Gauteng’s residents, he first has to undo 21 years of slow, cumbersome and ineffective government.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

Speech by

Jack Bloom

DA Gauteng Spokesperson for the Office of the Premier

“Gauteng requires total make-over”

Speech highlights:

  • A relatively small item in the Premier’s Office budget is R6 million for the continuation of Gauteng TV, a project started by former premier Nomvula Mokonyane which has already cost R6 million.
  • I said last year that it was an obvious waste of money and should be canned immediately before it cost us any more money.
  • Investigation by the Oversight Committee has proved my point, and your office is now trying to justify why any part of this project should continue.
  • This sort of thing is rife throughout the provincial government, with billions of rand wasted because of incompetence and corruption.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

Speech by

Justus de Goede

DA Gauteng Spokesperson for the Office of the Premier

“Premier’s hard task to restore tarnished government image”

Speech Highlights:

  • Satisfaction with the Provincial government has steadily eroded to the extent that only 40% of residents are satisfied with the Provincial administration, while satisfaction at a municipal level ranged between a mere 24 % and 42%.
  • Premier Makhura will point out that his own strategy for the fifth term of the Legislature has only been running for a year and that the next GCRO survey will show improvement in the government’s performance – but trust between the administration and the governed has been badly, if not irreparably damaged, and urgently needs close attention.
  • As the gap widens between government and residents, the Premier cannot afford to make idle promises – these must be actioned or they will be nothing more than ideas of fancy.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

Media enquiries:

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

 

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson: Office of the Premier

082 333 4222

 

Justus de Goede MPL
DA Gauteng Spokesperson: Office of the Premier

060 558 8305

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