Ekurhuleni Housing Company’s roof collapsing under poor finances
by Cllr Precious Jacobs — DA Member of Finance Oversight in Ekurhuleni
Date: 30 September 2023
Release: Immediate
Type: Media statement
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni has slammed the failing EFF-led coalition for failing to turn around the City’s Ekurhuleni Housing Company (EHC).
Under the DA-led administration, we had put measures in place to turn around the ailing entity. It is unfortunate to find that none of these proactive measures have been used, instead, the EFF-ANC coalition has appointed politically aligned board members who are allegedly placed in these positions to do the bidding of the political parties they serve.
This said, despite a full complement of the board the entity still struggles to reinvent itself and make improvements in terms of performance. It is embarrassing that some KPIs sit at 0% achieved.
The greatest failure of the ANC government to address the plight of the vulnerable over the years as the poor struggle to survive relentlessly upward spiralling living costs resulting in them not being able to afford rates and taxes which has further impacted revenue collection. With rising interest rates, record-high food and fuel prices, permanent loadshedding, and unemployment standing at 32,9%.
While the entity has implemented various revenue enhancement initiatives that include access control, additional security, debt relief incentives, open days, debt collectors, eviction procedures and implementation of prepaid water meters, these efforts have not enhanced revenue collections due to poor management and implementation.
As the DA, we call for the so-called “people’s coalition” to take the needs of the people seriously and not merely pay lip service. The Entity needs bold leadership to turn it around, unfortunately under the failing EFF-led coalition, this is unlikely.
The DA calls on the coalition to implement the visions and plans that were crafted under the DA-led government so that the EHC can once again perform effectively.
Cllr Precious Jacobs
DA Member of the Finance oversight in Ekurhuleni
076 712 5405
