Gauteng Premier, David Makhura addressed Tshwane residents on Wednesday at the Mabopane Sports Indoor Centre about challenges the region has endured. This was after the City of Tshwane was placed under administration by the execution council one week ago.
Accompanied by local councillors from Mabopane, Winterveld, Garankuwa and Hammanskraal, Premier Makhura said the Gauteng provincial government has raised issues with the City of Tshwane municipality over the past three years and those issues ware not resolved.
“The Executive Council decided to place the municipality under administration because good governance had collapsed. There was disregard for the municipal finance management act. Procurement processes, unauthorized and irregular appointments of senior managers,” said Makhura.
He further said service delivery was a core issue for most places in Tshwane. “Supply of clean drinking water was severely compromised and refuse collection was at its worst,” said Makhura.
This according to Makhura led to the Gauteng ProvincialGovernment’s intervention. “The Gauteng Provincial government will appoint an administrator supported by a team of officials to urgently restore good governance and service delivery to residents,” said Makhura
The majority of residents have welcomed the placing of the Municipality under administration. Lizzy Khosa, from Winterveldt said she has was optimistic the new Tshwane administration will assist with restoring delivery of basic services.
“I believe the government intervention is going to help because we’ve never had electricity and water is very scars, but there’s no trucks which brings water. At ward 24 its worse, we do not even have transport and as a result our children’s are suffering,” said Khosa.
Garankuwa resident, William Mnisi, said they no longer want their councilor because he is of no use to the community.
“The councilor in question does not attend community meetings. When we report issues affecting our community we do not get the sense that he takes seriously. We now appeal to the premier to jump in” said Mnisi.
In conclusion, the premier said government will not fold its arms when things go wrong.
“The Gauteng Provincial cannot stand by while governance collapses and service delivery is compromised. The decision to place the municipality under administration is in the best interest of the people of Tshwane,” said Makhura.
