Makhura attempts to defend the indefensible
25 October 2018
The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes the remarks made by Gauteng Premier, David Makhura outside the Germiston Council Chambers today, after the Motion of No Confidence against Ekurhuleni Mayor, Mzwandile Masina.
It is ironic that the Premier is lashing out at the DA-led administration while the failing ANC–led municipalities are struggling to deliver services to our people.
These statements were a desperate attempt by the Premier to distract the people of Gauteng from the implosion of the Merafong, Emfuleni and Rand West municipalities.
The Emfuleni Local Municipality which is now under administration due to corruption and maladministration is failing to deliver service to its residents.
Merafong Local Municipality and West District municipalities are unable to provide basic services as they have invested public funds illegally with VBS Mutual Bank, which was put under curatorship earlier this year. These ANC- led municipalities owe millions of rands to Eskom and Rand Water.
Premier Makhura lambasted the DA-led Metro in Gauteng saying that there is backward service delivery in the City of Tshwane which is incorrect.
The Premier conveniently forgets that he oversaw a corrupt ANC administration looting the city’s resources.
The City has made an operating surplus of R704 million, compared to the R2 billion deficit inherited from the failing ANC.
Tshwane is making progressive in terms of delivering services to its own people despite challenges we face in Tshwane it’s still a better city than it was under the failing ANC.
The DA-led administration inherited crippled and bankrupt metros from the failing ANC and transformed them into world class cities.
Tshwane residents are experiencing real service delivery and good governance.
In Tshwane we sold the mayoral mansion and used the money to build 40 RDP houses for our people who are in desperate need for housing.
We are giving our people the dignity they deserve and the security of tenure by handing over 4417 title deeds to our residents in Tshwane. While we have also connected water and electricity to those who have previously had no access to these basic services under the failing ANC.
In Ekurhuleni, the failing ANC-led administration has a habit of starting housing projects and leaving them incomplete indicating that they care little about the people that they are meant to serve.
R34 million was wasted on the Germiston Extension 46 housing project which was meant to provide emergency housing for the residents of Angelo informal settlement. However, the houses were built on unsafe mining land and against the reasonable and clearly expressed objections of the intended beneficiaries.
KwaMazibuko Hostel in Katlehong shows very little evidence of general maintenance, despite R 750 000 budgeted for 2016/2017 and 2017/2018
According to the Auditor-General’s report for the 2016-17 financial year, the vulnerable municipalities mentioned include Emfuleni, Mogale City, Merafong, Sedibeng and the West Rand District Municipality.
These failing ANC-led municipalities all recorded deficits for the financial year under review.
The DA-governed Midvaal municipality was the only one to obtain a clean audit. Midvaal has the lowest unemployment rate in the province
This clearly indicates that where the DA governs, we are accountable to all our citizens. Through our commitment to foster a people-centred government, the DA will bring this change to all residents of Gauteng.
Issued by Solly Msimanga, DA Gauteng Premier Candidate, 25 October 2018
