ANC approved budget doesn’t put Ekurhuleni Residents first — DA

by Ald Tania Campbell — DA Leader in Ekurhuleni

Date: 27 May 2021

Release: Immediate

Type: Media Statement

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni has lambasted the ANC-Executive Mayor, Cllr Mzwandile Masina, and his coalition partners for approving a budget that doesn’t put the residents and business in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) first.

Our residents need value for money services; not a refuse waste removal system that is collapsing, forcing communities to live in squalor because their bins aren’t collected regularly.

It’s no wonder that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has undertaken an investigation into the waste collection tender for the Tuk-Tuks. This initiative was supposed to support and assist communities, instead, it’s another controversial cloud that plagues this ANC-led coalition administration.

The promise of delivering houses to communities remains unfulfilled. With informal settlements growing across the city, the ANC approved budget has not gone far enough to ensure that there are funds available to transform these areas.

Furthermore, as we enter the winter season, shack fires are a reality. Yet, there isn’t adequate budget to allocate resources to rebuild or provide these communities with the bare essentials, should a disaster occur. Disaster Emergency Services (DEMS) are currently unable to assist, due to insufficient funds, long before the new financial year. Worryingly, the newly approved budget sees roughly a 10% increase in funds to this critical department.

As the DA, we believe this isn’t nearly enough and we question, does the ANC-Mayor care about the plight of the needy?

Echoing this statement, clinics across the ANC-led City are understaffed. The newly allocated budget sees a small top up of about R400 million. This, as we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s ridiculous, to say the least. Residents in our communities do not stop having other serious illnesses and the small increase isn’t enough to manage these, plus the added pandemic.

While the ANC-appointed mayor and his executive hide behind the notion of a ‘pro-poor budget’, simply looking at the budget allocated to crucial services paints a very different picture.

Mayor Masina and his coalition partners have left the City and its communities with failing infrastructure, rampant power outages and crumbling roads. The millions spent on Legacy Projects have joined the long list of failures as they fall into a state of collapse.

In the DA Alternative Budget, we identified an action plan that is serious about addressing the plight of the people. We highlighted how we would deliver services to the poorest of the poor. We respect the people of Ekurhuleni and would put their needs first, with our Back to Basics budget.

We would focus on service delivery, rather than looting and Vanity Projects. With the local government elections set for 27 October 2021, we are serious about putting people first. It is time for change. It is time to stop grandstanding and deliver basic services to all residents and businesses of Ekurhuleni.

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

Ald Tania Campbell

DA Leader in Ekurhuleni