The Transformation Alliance (TTA) president Abel Tau has revealed his aspirations to become premier of the Gauteng Province after the 29 May 2024 national and provincial elections.
Tau made his intentions in this regard at a media conference in Tshwane this morning.
He will be running under the banner of Forum for Services Delivery.
It is not clear at this stage whether his original party TTA will be allowed to collapse or whether it will still be able to operate as a separate entity after the elections.
Forum For Services Delivery is an amalgamation of three parties, namely The Transformation Alliance, Community Solidarity Association and F4SD.
At the media conference, Tau started off by thanking Dr Mbahare Kekana for his visionary leadership of uniting TTA, CSA and F4SD as they have many similar aims and objectives.
“While every municipality in Gauteng is failing, the Gauteng government can’t hold any of these municipalities to account,” said Tau.
“The Gauteng government doesn’t care about health issues, look at how mental patients were treated at Tembisa Hospital, at Esidimeni and now recently at Steve Biko Academic Hospital where one patient died,” enthused Tau.
Tau pointed out that people in Gauteng were dying like flies unnecessarily and that this could be prevented if there was a government that cared.
Tau lamented the fact that many parents are compelled to take their kids to far away schools due to shortage of accommodation at nearby schools because of a government that doesn’t care.
“Our grannies in the townships have lost their agency as spaza shops are now owned by foreign nationals,” he said.
Tau also alluded to water crisis in Tshwane areas like Hammanskraal and Mamelodi.
He also raised the issue of housing crisis in Alexander and also bemoaned the fact that criminals mow down people on a daily basis in Gauteng and nothing happens to them.
“Women are under siege, children have no places to hide in Gauteng as even schools are no longer safe places,” complained Tau.
“I want to urge you that as we go to the polls, I am here as your Premier in waiting and let us ensure that we deliver an opportunity for a better Gauteng,” said Tau to much applause.
Tau was at some point in his political career a member of the DA, ActionSA and also acting mayor of the City of Tshwane.