Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse says it is not the time for grand ideas but to respond to issues on the ground because the situation is dire.
She delivered her maiden state of the city address at the Connie Constance Bapela council chamber on Thursday and said afterwards that she was not surprised by the criticism of her speech from members of the opposition.
This marked the first time in Johannesburg that the speech was delivered by a female mayor.
Her speech focused on service delivery, announcing plans for a R2.8bn investment to deal with a water infrastructure backlog over the next three years.
Phalatse also announced the city would host an energy indaba in May to assist with the energy crisis, vowing the multiparty coalition would stabilise the electricity supply in the city.
She labelled it “a move which will see us introducing an energy mix, partnering with independent power producers and small-scale energy generators, reducing our reliance on Eskom, and ending these rolling blackouts”.
Phalatse said as the economic hub of the country, Johannesburg should not be having load-shedding.
Responding to criticism that her speech lacked grand ideas, Phalatse said the multiparty coalition was responding to issues on the ground.
“The situation on the ground is dire. We needed to focus on getting the basics right first. We were not going to come out with grand ideas when people don’t have water, don’t have electricity, there’s no leadership in the city and the city is not safe.
“There are potholes on our roads and those are the things we vowed to focus on and that’s exactly what we’ve done. We understand that’s what is going to get the city working for business, foreign investors and other investors to help us grow the economy and create jobs,” she said.
Phalatse said they were talking to National Treasury about the unfunded mandates the city had taken on.
“We understand what our role as government is and we’re beginning to question the unfunded mandates we’ve taken on that are compromising our ability to fund our key mandates like the supply of basic services.
“We’re starting to have those conversations with National Treasury. We need to go back to what is the mandate of local government and how are we performing where that is concerned,” she said.
ANC caucus leader Mpho Moerane said the speech was disappointing.
“Instead of outlining projects for the next five years, she took credit for projects the ANC started in 2019. She can't say what she's done since taking office in November.
“The city is collapsing, service delivery is collapsing, the roads are bad and traffic lights aren't working,” he said.
AIC councillor Margaret Arnolds said there was no substance to the mayor's speech besides coming back with promises former DA mayor and now ActionSA president Herman Mashaba made in 2018.
EFF regional leader Sepetla Raseruthe said: “The city is in tatters. She was supposed to give us the status of city. She didn't even take an hour, which tells you there wasn't much to say.”
IFP councillor Mlungisi Mabaso congratulated Phalatse on her maiden state of the city address.
He said Phalatse was able to cover all issues, acknowledged the challenges but provided a way forward.
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