WATCH: Top professionals appointed to City’s company boards
Auditor-General’s report indicates that the City had incurred irregular expenditure of nearly R3-b during the 2020/21 financial year and none of the entities received a clean audit.
Opening the 21st AGM of the City’s business units on February 15, Mayor Mpho Phalatse reminded the entities that they were primarily created as service delivery agencies, with the guarantee of conducting their business free from political interference and at a reasonable cost to the administration and the residents.
She said she is confident that this will be the case going forward under the multi-party government.
She was addressing the chairpersons of boards and accounting officers of Johannesburg City Power, Johannesburg Social Housing Company, Johannesburg Theatre, Johannesburg Property Company, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, Johannesburg Development Agency, Johannesburg Water, Johannesburg Roads Agency, Metropolitan Bus Service, Johannesburg Tourism Company, Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market and Pikitup.
“We have full confidence in the board members, who have been thoroughly interviewed and subsequently appointed based on their expertise and knowledge, not their political affiliation.
“I am excited that today we are gathered here to announce the names of the capable women and men who will play an important role in accelerating service delivery in Johannesburg.
“In the interest of placing service delivery and operational efficiency at the centre of their work, the boards are now smaller. As the shareholder, I look forward to reviewing the progress of the municipal entities from time to time,” said Phalatse.
Service delivery is key
She emphasised the importance of the municipal entities’ role in delivering services to the City’s residents and applying fundamental business principles for the City to achieve one of its priorities, which includes building a well-run City.
She said these agencies need to and must work.
Phalatse vowed to crack the whip on the metro’s entities to ensure they deliver on their mandates to provide services to the City’s residents. This came after the Auditor-General’s report, which indicated that the City had incurred irregular expenditure of nearly R3-billion during the 2020/21 financial year and none of the entities received a clean audit.
MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services and Leader of Executive Business Leah Knott applauded the work by the city officials and departments that were involved in coordinating the process of appointing the new board members.
“We were very impressed with the calibre of professionals that we received. We spoke to over 200 professionals who suit the needs of the boards and that’s how we find ourselves here today.
“Special gratitude goes to the capable men and women who have put their names forward to assist the mayor and the multi-party government in delivering the golden start that we promised to our residents and turn the City around,” said Knott.
