ANC and Coalition Partners steamroll Council for Cadre Deployment Panel

By Cllr Golden Maduana — DA Deputy Shadow MMC for Corporate and Shared Services in Ekurhuleni

Date: 2 September 2021

Release: Immediate

Type: Media Statement

During a heated council debate, the ANC-appointed Speaker of Council, Ald Patricia Kumalo, sided with her ANC and coalition partners, when they chose to elect ANC councillors to be part of the selection panel for the interview process of senior managers.

The DA vehemently fought against the proposal stating that as the official opposition, we should be part of the selection panel to ensure democratic and due processes are followed, ensuring the best candidate will be selected, rather than the politically connected.

We argued that the currently proposed selection panel represents nothing but the guardian angels of ANC cadre deployment policy, that is why the state of service delivery within the metro would never improve under ANC government-led coalition. In fact, we argued that the council should vote on the proposed selection panel that does not comprise only of ANC Councillors and their coalition partners, who have allegedly signed contracts with the ANC. While initially agreeing with our proposal, the ANC-elected Speaker quickly did an abrupt turn, after Mayor Masina interjected stating that it is “childish” to vote, and once again sided with her party ensuring the selection panel represents ANC aligned councillors.

This blatant self-serving interest is the reason why service delivery is at an all-time low, as top positions in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) are filled by the politically connected. This is why, as the DA, we vote against these selection panels. We believe in the principle of good governance which includes taking informed and transparent decisions, which are subject to effective scrutiny and managing risks.

It is time to end cadre deployment and ensure posts are filled with candidates who are fit for purpose. Then we can focus on restoring service delivery and build a thriving Metro which delivers quality services to all. As the DA, we strive for clean governance and with the upcoming Local Government Elections, it is time for change and time to get Ekurhuleni working. In the upcoming local government elections, a vote for the DA will be a vote for the only party with a track record of getting things done to create jobs.

#Time4Change

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

Cllr Golden Maduana

DA Shadow MMC for Corporate and Shared Services in Ekurhuleni