​Drug lords and those selling expired foods in the City of Johannesburg should start heading for the hills.

This comes after the City swore in its newest Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Health and Social Development, Cllr Ashley Sauls I on Wednesday, 23 February 2022.

The Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, said she received the resignation letter of Cllr Franco de Lange of the Freedom Front Plus, who officially stepped down as the MMC for Health and Social Development to make way for Cllr Sauls I.

Mayor Phalatse said the reasons put forward by Cllr De Lange’s resignation, was to “stabilise the coalition” in the City.

“We are very proud of this selfless act by Cllr De Lange, who has chosen to make room, to accommodate the incoming Patriotic Alliance to officially form part of the Joburg Multi-party Government. We wish him well,” said Mayor Phalatse.

Cllr Sauls I said as the new MMC heading the Health and Social Development portfolio, there was no time to waste as the residents were still waiting to experience a caring City.

“We are hitting the ground running. There’s no vacation. There are too many challenges within our City especially with the most vulnerable. There is no way we can waste a minute of our time. The priority is to deal with poverty, drug addiction – we got to challenge that, to look at the health element where we have expired goods being sold to the most vulnerable people.

“It’s time to clean up and deal with that so that we can have a better environment, a cleaner society and society that experiences the City that cares,” said Cllr Sauls I.

He said he was ready to ensure that “a caring City”, which forms part of the seven Mayoral Priorities, becomes a living reality, especially for the marginalised communities.

“It is such a humbling experience to be part the Mayoral Committee and to be joining hands to ensure we are off to a golden start and even a better end for the lives of the residents of the City,” he said.

Cllr Sauls I said it was high time the politics of the City served the people.

“For too many years we have experienced the art of politics in the City, and not the heart of politics. This [new portfolio] gives me the opportunity to show that the City cares and to restore what I call the heart of politics, to speak about the very deep needs of the most vulnerable within our communities.

“For me, it’s about zooming in and using this portfolio to put people first, to put people above pockets, and principles above profits. Get ready, we are coming,” said Cllr Sauls I.

Written by Nkosana Lekotjolo

23/02/2022