While Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza is prancing around the G20 Social Summit, the people of the Metro live in squalor.
The Metro has spent R5 million of its own funds on venues such as the Birchwood Hotel and the OR Tambo Conference Centre without budgetary approval or it being provided for in the Metro’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
This is only a fraction of the public funds squandered on logistics, security and hospitality.
Meanwhile, Ekurhuleni residents live in a state of utter decay: electricity outages last days with no explanation, taps run dry for weeks on end and there are sewage spills across neighbourhoods. The Metro’s roads are crumbling, grass grows waist-high along pavements and refuse is not collected.
There is no sign of sustainable infrastructure maintenance. The recent few clean-ups were cosmetic and confined to routes where foreign delegates might pass. Service delivery has been replaced by spin doctoring.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) made three demands during the council meeting on 30 October: first, clarity on the source of the R5 million used for the G20 Summit; second, proof that the Treasury approved the expenditure, as required by the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA); and third, a guarantee that this expenditure will not undermine essential services or increase the Metro’s debt burden.
To date, the Freedom Front Plus has not received a single reply.
This speaks volumes about an administration that clearly values international prestige more than its own residents’ basic needs.
It is unacceptable that the Metro can secure funds for hosting glamorous events, yet fails to repair burst water pipes or keep the lights on.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep exposing such pretence and pressuring the Metro to ensure transparency, accountability and proper service delivery.
Freedom Front Plus Social Welfare: The party supports social welfare programs that benefit vulnerable communities.
Coldy
Zimbabwe: You have two cows. They both vote for Mugabe.