Following the State of the City Address (SOCA) by Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, political parties debated the address on Friday, 22 April 2022, at the Constance Bapela Council Chamber.
There were 19 political parties who were listed as speakers for the debate and of these some of the most prominent points that came about included the electricity struggles, water shortages, lack of business opportunities and the daunting task of restoring the City’s shine.
On behalf of the GOOD party, Cllr Lloyd Phillips said: “The SOCA address left us all wanting more. We felt that it embodied a long list of nice things to have but not the action plans us as residents need. Pushed under the carpet by the address is our water and electricity issues, we need clarity.”
He said they welcomed initiatives that are action driven like Operation Buya Mthetho, which enhances the City’s revenue collection programme. However, “the Executive Mayor needs to detail her plans as she gets back the City’s money”.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) representative Cllr S Raseruthe said the state of the City’s roads and waste management systems were below par. “As the EFF we expect to be included more. We also expect that residents of informal settlements are seen and included when delivering speeches on services. Let us not exclude our people in informal settlements because we are not all living in suburbs.”
“It is also important when making plans in the future to make sure that the JMPD that are being deployed are visible in our informal settlements as well where criminal activity is at an all-time high. Service all of us not just a select few. We will support you Mayor Phalatse if you support us,” added Cllr Raseruthe.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Health and Social Development and Patriotic Alliance representative, Cllr Ashley Sauls I commended Mayor Phalatse for her attempts to turn the fate of the City around especially given the state in which the new Multi-Party Government had received it.
Former executive mayor and African National Congress (ANC) representative Cllr Mpho Moerane said: “The ANC is still the best party in the City of Johannesburg. We are not in existence for power we are here to transform Johannesburg based on the policies and procedures of our constitution.”
“Looking specifically at the mayoral priorities. How will you get the basics right? A caring City that fired so many staff members? A safer City how when the crime rate is so high? We also wonder about the inclusivity. We have our questions and concerns but we are happy that the City is still running and continuing although not as I think it should,” added Cllr Moerane.
He said everything that the City has accomplished and achieved has been done by the previous political leadership. In her response, Mayor Phalatse thanked all the speakers for taking the time to read through the SOCA and for the constructive feedback.
Mayor Phalatse said she did not include all the stats and figures in her address due to time constraints. She said JMPD officers have been deployed to assist and secure many facilities and enterprises that were not working..
The City has also partnered with security agencies and South African Police Service to fight theft and vandalism. This is just high level summary of what we are looking at, Cllr Phalatse said.
“The fact that we have issues with service delivery including grass cutting and criminal activity, these are all issues that we are dealing with daily and will not be eradicated overnight. I would also like to remind the councillors present here today that we inherited projects and plans from predecessors that we are working through and trying to implements. But come first of July, we the new leadership of the City will start running with our plans and programmes. That is the law and that is what was decided,” she said.
“Starting and coming in and trying everything new is destabilizing the government of this country and our City. The resistant attitude of not wanting to continue or work from things that are existing is the cause of most of our problems. The Johannesburg Multi-Party Government is not here to make wholesale changes to the City. We are here to fix and build the City.”
“If it is good for our residents we will use it and do it. Where there are programmes that involved lawlessness and doesn’t work, then we will do away with it,” she reiterated.
In closing, Mayor Phalatse said: “Change does not happen and take effect overnight. We are reviewing and implementing in ways for the best outcomes for the City.”
Written by Sascha-lee Joseph
22/04/2022