Ekurhuleni Mayor Dr Xhakaza delivered a speech marking his 100 days in office during the regular city council meeting held at Germiston Council Chambers on 29 August.
He reflected on what the city has achieved since his election as mayor in April to the position of the third mayor of the city in the current five-year period.
“As we join the Government of National Unity, we reaffirm our commitment to the values of inclusiveness, justice and collective progress.
“The journey we have taken, while filled with some challenges, has been characterized by significant steps towards restoring service delivery and restoring public confidence in our city,” Xhakaza said.
The Mayor said one of their key initiatives was the establishment of a “Mayoral Service Delivery War Room” – a multi-disciplinary platform designed to speed up service delivery response times and promote greater accountability.
“We came in the last quarter and the overall system has improved significantly.”
According to Xhakaz, some of the achievements included:
• The City launched the Mayoral Imbizo program to engage directly with communities and address ongoing service delivery challenges on the ground.
• The city currently supports 1,000 start-up farmers, released 20 farms and further supports 33 cooperatives, 40 workers and 25 community gardens.
• A total of 2,000 EPEP brigades were provided with exit support and advice on setting up a new business.
• A total of 202 households were electrified in Thembisa.
• Five tanks were completed.
• 7.55 km of water and sewage pipes were modernized and replaced.
• The Parks and Cemeteries Division has acquired R10 million worth of much needed grass cutting and orchard equipment.
• They have successfully completed the installation of public lighting along several key roads in the city.
• Out of 14,000 submitted road inquiries, 10,000 were resolved.
• War room helped accelerate CapEx spending by 99%.
• Expenditure on grants: in the 2023 financial year there was R154 million in unspent grants and as at 30 June this year there are R43 million in unspent grants.
• Cash on hand improved from a balance of R592m to R615m.
• The city achieved 90% revenue collection.
• Significant progress in the second phase towards the establishment of the Ekurhuleni University of Science and Technology.
Most political parties in the council, including opposition parties including the DA, and even the ANC’s coalition partner, the EFF, were unconvinced.
Reacting to the mayor’s speech, DA committee chair Clr Brandon Pretorius said: “Listening to the mayor, it is clear that the achievements listed so far while this government has been in office paint but only a vague picture of the real experiences of residents and do not speak to reality.”
“Ald Xhakazo, respectfully, you and those next to you—red reds—are selling red and green lies to the populace. When I drove to the council this morning I witnessed a very different Ekurhuleni than you just described.
“While one must always have a plan, a plan is nothing more than words on paper if the plan is not implemented. We must implement.
“They say a new broom sweeps, Mr. Mayor, but it seems to us that some of you are just sweeping things under the rug.
“Another of these six pillars talks about the economy and job creation. Still, when I hear the reemergence of the Aerotropolis project, I sigh in despair.
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“After millions of rand spent on this white elephant, we only have a negative bank balance to show and no return on investment.
“How can the city even think about creating jobs when they are strangling and killing small businesses by not paying service providers on time.
“Just last month, the EFF MMC for the environment applauded the delivery of the garbage trucks as a defining moment that turned the tide of literal rot engulfing our city. However, our streets, rivers and communities are overflowing with filth.
“There has been a lot of fuss about infrastructure, as it should. How nice it would be to have inner cities that weren’t left to build hijackers.
“Last month, Mayor, you praised the Minister of Electricity for Eskom being able to keep the lights on for 100 days, but it is a shame that your MMC did not take a ticket out of the minister’s book.
“In the first 100 days (and counting), there was not a single day when every corner of this village had electricity on at the same time.
“Imagine if we could secure our infrastructure against theft and vandalism, or even just maintain it to keep the lights on.”
ActionSA Ekurhuleni committee chairman Siyanda Makhubo said while they recognized the mayor’s milestone, his speech was intended to paint a pretty picture of the city and overlook the real challenges.
“In the last 100 days, Mayor, the following has happened under you. With a set target of 85% set by COGCTA for service delivery and 75% set for yourself by your executive, the reports show that you have only achieved 7.9% of completed service inquiries.
“Garbage has not been collected as expected, specifically for residents of Thembisa, Daveyton, Etwatwa, Brakpan, Benoni and Katlehong, mainly as a result of non-payment of service providers,” Makhubo said.
The point of debt relief and rehabilitation incentives brought by the ANC received overwhelming support from councilors of various political parties during the meeting, leading to its approval.
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