City of Joburg: Unsuccessful ANC political candidate's now city officials

At least 17 ANC members who did not become councillors during the 2011 local government elections are now holding positions as officials in the City of Johannesburg. This was revealed during a formal question session in a recent council sitting. Despite further questioning, I was not provided with the names of these officials or which departments they currently work in.

The ANC's policy of cadre deployment has infected every level of government from big state parastatals through to municipal and local government.  Loyalty to the party trumps merit to do the job and is always to the detriment of good governance and efficient service delivery.

At metro level, one of the most basic levels of government, the incompetence which derives from cadre deployment will directly impact the most vulnerable citizens of our city. In order to prevent power abuse and patronage, the City of Johannesburg needs to appoint qualified professionals as city officials. Until this point, transparency and improved service delivery will never become a reality.

South Africa has witnessed the damage which cadre deployment has done to local government and even the ANC itself has come as close as it will to admitting the failures of this policy. If the City of Johannesburg truly cares about its residents and providing them with quality services, they will do away with cadre deployment as well as publicly reveal the names of their officials and their appropriate qualifications, if any.

Statement issued by Cllr Toni Molefe, DA Deputy Chief Whip, City of Johannesburg, January 30 2013

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