The changes in the Johannesburg city council leave an uncertainty that should be of concern to residents.
Speaker Vasco da Gama was removed through a motion of no confidence last week. The motion, brought by the PAC, passed with 136 votes versus 132 votes against it.
Da Gama was voted out after being accused of appointing a secretary in council and not disclosing the details of the appointment.
Once again yesterday, minority parties held a press briefing and threatened to table another motion of no confidence against mayor Mpho Phalatse. She is accused of working with Da Gama in concealing reports of fraud and corruption in the city, and of not serving residents’ needs.
The changes are worrying and do not augur well for stability and service delivery in the city. We call on counsellors to remember the reason why they were voted into office: to serve the people of Johannesburg. It is about time for them to shift focus and put rate payers’ interests above their own.
As they are busy chopping and changing leadership, where is service delivery on the agenda? What have they done for the residents since taking office?
Just over two months ago, we saw hundreds of Soweto residents marching to Phalatse’s office, complaining about the lack of service delivery in the township.
She promised to find solutions and report back to the disgruntled community this month. We cannot help but wonder how far she is from finding solutions to the people’s grievances as the leadership is busy ousting each other. We eagerly await her follow-up meeting as promised.
This is the same city that has had four acting city managers since the November local government elections, something the auditor-general disapproves of, while it also contributes to instability.
Somebody needs to account and take responsibility for the city’s expenditure, but that cannot happen as long as different people keep acting in the position for only a few months. Ensuring the process of appointing a new manager is quick should be focus of counsellors – the advert went out last month.
However, all we have seen so far are power struggles that do not serve the people of Johannesburg. Get your act together, residents need stability in the city.
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