In Conversation with Tshwane ActionSA Caucus Spokesperson Thabang Sebotsane

In Conversation with Tshwane ActionSA Caucus Spokesperson Thabang Sebotsane.

1. Where were you born and which schools and tertiary institutions did you attend?

ANSWER: I was born in Ga- Ramotse and raised in various parts of Hammanskraal including Leboneng and Majaneng.

I did my schooling at Itireleng Primary, then Madiseng Middle School and Ratshepo High School before enrolling at Potchefstroom University.

2. When did you join ActionSA and why?

ANSWER: I was invited by ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba to establish the People’s Dialogue in 2020, which gave rise to ActionSA.

I am actually one of the founder members of the party.

3.Were you at some point a member of the ANC or the DA? Please elaborate.

ANSWER: I have never taken membership of any political party other than ActionSA.

4. Were you active in student politics during your days at tertiary level?

ANSWER: I have never belonged to any student structures.

5. Who or what in particular inspired you to get involved in party politics?

ANSWER: I became especially interested in the work of fixing our country upon realising the desperate situation our country was facing and ActionSA came at the right time because to me there was no longer any political party that resonated with my ideas.

6. What’s your take regarding the tender system? Don’t you think it should be abolished?

ANSWER: The state cannot exist 100% without the tender system. The tender system has always been there.

However, what must be done is to insource core and non-specialised functions like refuse collection.

This will save the City of Tshwane money and improve the management of teams and resources.

7. Is the coalition arrangement between DA and ActionSA working out well in the City of Tshwane Metro Council or does it have its own challenges?

ANSWER: The coalition agreement is not just with the DA.

We also have FF+, ACDP, IFP and DOP in the coalition.

And as with any partnership, we do not always agree on everything.

But we have a remedy in our written agreement as well as set, agreed policies.

The aim hereof is to hold one another accountable in pursuance of the mandate we received from the residents of our City.

8. There is an opinion that holds that ActionSA strove for the creation of the position of deputy mayor in the City of Tshwane even though that position is costly? Please explain.

ANSWER: This matter was exhausted at length by both the Executive Mayor and the Deputy Executive Mayor, including the negligible adjustment her position created.

The position of the Deputy Mayor is more a role of an MMC with additional responsibilities and not a new position that costs the city enormously.

9. Failure by the City of Tshwane Municipality to provide water to residents is a human rights violation.

Now is there a plan to finally restore water to the residents of Ikageng in Mamelodi East who have been without water for many years now?

ANSWER: Water provision is an inescapable constitutional imperative which the City aims to fulfil in all formalised areas through bulk services or water tankers.

10. Your message to organisations which call for a flat rate or non-payment of services rendered by the City of Tshwane?

ANSWER: If we are going to restore the dignity of our city in terms of service delivery we need money.

We must therefore rethink this strategy of non-payment for services.

If the City provides a service, then that service must be paid for.

11.Why must the residents of Tshwane vote for ActionSA in the upcoming general elections in May?

ANSWER: First of all, ActionSA is the only viable alternative in this country.

We have a manifesto which contains tangible solutions to this country.

We are the only party with proven ethical standards in our leadership.

Unlike other parties, we pay allegiance to the country and not the party.