DA: 2021 is the year for a Caring Government to restore service delivery in Kempton Park

by Cllr Simon Lapping — DA Ward 17 Coucillor in Ekurhuleni

and Cllr Jaco Terblanche — DA Ward 16 Coucillor in Ekurhuleni

and Cllr Pieter Henning — DA Ward 25 Coucillor in Ekurhuleni

and Ald Andre du Plessis — DA Ward 23 Coucillor in Ekurhuleni

and Cllr Amanda Davison — DA Ward 15 Coucillor in Ekurhuleni

and Cllr Tracey Lourenco — DA Ward 104 Coucillor in Ekurhuleni

and Cllr Desmond Mckenzie — DA Ward 91 Coucillor in Ekurhuleni

and Cllr Ilaria di Siena — DA PR Coucillor in Ekurhuleni

Date: 29 April 2021

Release: Immediate

Type: Media Statement

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the ANC-led City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) continues to work tirelessly to ensure services are delivered to all residents and communities across Kempton Park.

Kempton Park is the gateway to South Africa’s primary International Airport and the importance of the city centre and surrounding areas cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, we are now seeing the effects of 20 years of poor governance and maladministration by this ANC and its coalition partners*.

Sadly, all the city centres across the ANC coalition-led City have endured the same fate as Kempton Park and are in an utter state of collapse.

DA ward councillors and PR councillors continue to work and serve their residents, by escalating service delivery matters and pressuring the City to deliver on its mandate. In fact, our efforts and unremitting pressure of demanding better service delivery lead to the ANC-appointed Executive Mayor, Cllr Mzwandile Masina, issuing official communication barring City officials from providing councillors with updates on service delivery matters, including power outages etc. Councillors are now required to approach the relevant ANC-appointed Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for the necessary updates.

We find this political interference totally unacceptable and continue to fight to have this matter resolved. It’s unfortunate, as it’s the residents and communities who suffer. However, we have escalated this matter to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) for resolution.

Quite likely, the true reason behind this bizarre decision was to hide the fact that the ANC-led coalition lacks a workable plan to deliver reliable services, and this effort aims to silence DA councillors, who continue to hold this failing administration to account.

In reality, Mayor Masina’s failure in Kempton Park is clear to see. In February 2017, the Mayor embarked on his Siyaqhuba rapid service delivery programme in Kempton Park highlighting the need to deal with the basics and more importantly reclaiming our cities. The Siyaqhuba programme was meant to ensure that service delivery is provided to communities.

Four years on and Mayor Masina’s failure smacks in the face of the community of Kempton Park who continues to endure service delivery failures, human trafficking, drugs and illegal occupation of buildings (just some of the illicit activities occurring in Kempton Park).

These empty promises emanate from the total lack of political will by the ANC and its coalition partners.

Despite the ANC trying to silence DA councillors, we continue to work to serve the communities and hold regular community meetings to update communities in the various areas.

In addition, the waste and refuse system has failed across the City, with residents having to endure extended periods of non-collections, while most landfill sites have been closed due to poor management. This has resulted increased littering and illegal dumping. As the DA, we have brought a motion against the MMC for Environmental Resources and Waste Management, Ald Mabaso, calling for Mayor Masina to remove her from her position to prevent this crucial portfolio from collapsing further.

With the Local Government Elections announced for 27 October 2021, the DA has already identified core issues needing urgent action and have workable solutions in place to ensure Kempton Park is restored to the important hub it once was.

Some of our improvements would be to increase security measures in hotspot areas with the installation of security cameras and patrol units.

Proactive anti-littering initiatives and regular waste removal in the city, as well as frequent visits by health officials to unhygienic food outlets and problem areas.

Strict by-law enforcement to ensure compliance.

Focusing on getting the basics right and rapid service delivery will mean we can begin to build and restore towns and attract investors to key areas, once again.

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

Cllr Simon Lapping

DA Ward Councillor in Ekurhuleni