DA Shadow MMCs awarded scores across all 10 portfolios, on a performance-based scale of a fail, a 30 per cent pass, a 70 per cent pass or a distinction.
DA Leader Fortune Mahano failed Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele outright, as “he had not managed his cabinet successfully, nor impressed in his individual capacity”.
“His government is fast becoming dysfunctional, kept afloat by officials in spite of him, not because of him,” said Mahano.
“Service delivery across the board was hugely problematic, borne out by protest action and alarmingly regular power and water outages across the Metro.
“Wasteful expenditure was as high as ever, with no evidence of any attempt on his part to tighten the belt on extravagant spending, including overseas and domestic travel, luxury accommodation, subsistence allowances and catering for politicians and senior personnel.
“He is out of touch with Ekurhuleni’s people, his speeches in council ranging in tone from mocking and racist to patronising and rhetorical, depending on whom he is addressing.
“He could not be pinned down to account for any issues put to him by councillors.”
The DA’s Shadow MMC, Eddie Taylor, passed both the MMC for Finance, Moses Makwakwa, and the chairman of the committee, Neil Diamond, although Diamond’s was a condoned pass.
The DA’s Refiloe Nt’sekhe failed MMC for Health and Social Development Makhusazana Maluleke, claiming that, while her performance on health had been average, she had failed the neediest communities by neglecting the social development side of her portfolio.
Nt’sekhe, however, passed oversight committee chairman, Nocawe Mafu, with 70 per cent.
Both the MMC and chairperson of Community Safety, Mthuthuzeli Siboza and Vivian Chauke, respectively, were awarded only a 30 per cent pass.
DA City Planning and Economic Development spokesperson Heather Hart passed both MMC Bennett Nikani and committee chair, Mahlomola Mabote, with 30 per cent, for their efforts.
According to Bill Rundle, the DA’s spokesman on Roads and Transport, residents just need to look around the metro to see that the MMC was failing dismally.
Rundle believed that MMC Thumbu Mahlangu had a sorely limited knowledge of what was actually happening in his domain.
By contrast, chairman Pinky Mkhonza had been in charge for only a few months, and yet had passed with flying colours.
“She did not allow party politics to affect her decisions and had, on many occasions, forced officials to comply with the rules that governed oversight,” said Rundle.
The chair of the environmental development portfolio, Sonja Kraai, was also given a distinction by DA Shadow MMC Tracey Butler.
Environmental Development MMC Clr Vuyelwa Mabena failed dismally, as the DA believes not enough is being done to protect the metro’s wetlands, the Solid Waste department is overcome with challenges and problems, and for failing to create employment by initiating a proper recycling programme.
Shadow MMC for Water and Energy, Bruna Haipel, passed MMC Aubrey Nxumal and chairman Victor Chiloane with 30 per cent.
