ANC and Coalition Partners hiding failures behind COVID-19

by Cllr Fana Nkosi — DA Shadow MMC for Finance in Ekurhuleni

Date: 4 May 2021

Release: Immediate

Type: Media Statement

While there is no denying that the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on all, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni finds it appalling that the ANC and its coalition partners* use the pandemic to avoid accountability and responsibility related to their non-performance.

The ANC’s excuse for not meeting National Treasury’s uniform financial ratios for the Financial Year 2019/2020, is not acceptable! Taking into account that South Africa only went into lockdown in the last quarter of the 2019/2020 financial year (March to June). The ratios, as reported, are an indication of poor Financial Management, Budget practices and service delivery by the City.

The numbers don’t lie and the failing ANC and its coalition partners cannot escape them. For example, there has never been any political will to achieve the 8% on Property, Plant and Equipment for repairs and maintenance as mandated, since 2016. Instead, the City consistently spends around 6% on maintenance. It is for this reason that the Metro’s infrastructure is in a state of failure and disrepair due to the underspending.

In addition, the City exceeded the expenditure norm by 1% when comes to Contracted Services costs. As the DA, we question that if the ANC says COVID-19 derailed the City from achieving its objectives and service delivery targets couldn’t be met because of the COVID-19 restrictions, then who were these Contracted Services provided to?

Following the recent proceedings at the State Capture inquiry, we question these Contracted Services costs and will investigate the matter. EOH’s relationship with the ANC-led City of Johannesburg comes to mind, where alleged questionable donations ended up in the ANC Election war room.

We believe that the ANC and its coalition partners cannot hide their failures behind COVID-19 and we stand with the frustrated residents, who are not getting the services that they pay for! The caring DA will not stop fighting and holding the ANC and its coalition partners to account.

*Coalition Partners: African Independent Congress (AIC), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa (IRASA)

Cllr Fana Nkosi

DA Shadow MMC for Finance in Ekurhuleni