DA WELCOMES MAYOR’S U-TURN ON COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND SALARY DISPUTES
By Kwena Moloto
DA Caucus Spokesperson
The DA welcomes remark by Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya that the city intends to continue with agreements that enable NGOs and community outfits to help with the cutting of municipal grass, fencing of parks, and custodianship of public spaces.
These agreements were concluded under the leadership of Mayor Cilliers Brink, and intended to encourage communities to help the city fulfil its developmental role.
Recently the EFF, a senior partner in the coalition, indicated that these agreements would be terminated. The EFF’s leader in Tshwane, Obakeng Ramabodu, is particularly opposed to any kind of cooperation with Afriforum.
Mayor Moya, in turn, had previously indicated that these agreements would be reviewed. It now seems that the government has had a change of heart, which is welcome.
The DA has always maintained that government must not slap away the helping hand of communities. Well-structured and managed community partnerships, such as those concluded under the leadership of mayor Brink, give people a sense of co-responsibility, and frees up much needed resources for the benefit of poorer communities.
It is also significant that the mayor indicated that the City would continue its Labour Court case not to pay historical salary increases to employees for the 2021 and 2023 financial years.
The government of which Dr Moya was the deputy mayor took the position that the salary increases were unaffordable, and it seems that the ANC and EFF have come to the same conclusion.
There is no benefit to workers if salary increases are paid one month, and the city is then rendered unable to make payroll the next month.
As for the rest of the remarks delivered by Mayor Moya, nothing new was announced beyond referring to the improved financial position of the City.
As we had indicated before, the Brink administration had made significant progress in improving metering, billing, and credit control with the Tshwane ya Tima campaign.
A favourable settlement was also reached with SARS on the write-off of VAT interests and penalties from the ANC-era PEU smart meter contract.
The fruit of these efforts will enable the city to reach a R4 billion revenue target, set by Mayor Brink, and to steadily reduce its Eskom debt.
What Mayor Moya did not say was whether the City would undertake large-scale insourcing, a policy of ActionSA and the EFF. Such a decision could have significant financial implications for the city.
There was also no clear indication of whether the new coalition would continue with key initiatives spearheaded by Mayor Brink, including a private concession on Wonderboom Airport and the city’s out-of-use power stations as well as involving private sector partners to manage water and sanitation operations.
There was also no update on the progress of the Hammanskraal water project, in particular the delay in the delivery of the first phase of the Klipdrift package plant.
We reiterate our call for Mayor Moya to take leadership on the issue of Hammanskraal water and follow through with the plan devised by her predecessor. This is essential to rebuilding the trust between communities and government.