Mayor takes to streets to lead by example

LYDENBURG – The executive mayor of Thaba Chweu Municipality, Cllr Michael Ncongwane, donned an orange jumpsuit on Friday and joined Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees when they took to cleaning pavements and repairing potholes in Voortrekker Street.

Ncongwane even grabbed a broom himself, sweeping the main street leading to Mashishing alongside the workers. He was approached by various residents and business owners who thanked him for his effort and good example.

One resident, Ms Petro Viljoen, told Ncongwane she was grateful for what he had organised and thanked him for the initiative of cleaning the roads.

The mayor told Steelburger/Lydenburg News, “Lydenburg/Mashishing is our town, so are all the townships around us and they must be kept clean. It is also a tourist attraction. It is the gateway to the seven wonders of Mpumalanga such as the Potholes, God’s Window, the Three Rondawels and all those other wonders. We have to keep it clean. Today we are sweeping the streets clean and we will also fill up some of the potholes gradually, to do justice to this town as a municipality.”

Ncongwane confirmed that the potholes are being filled with a tar mixture. “We have bought about 1 400 bags of readymade tar mix for ths purpose. We have started repairs in Voortrekker Street next to Ethios and will gradually fix the other remaining holes in town.”

Mr Tulani Ngwane, supervisor of the EPWP programme said it was aimed at accelerating service delivery in the town. “We are cleaning the streets and removing all the rubbish so the town can present well. It is also part of job creation.”

Workers tidied up the whole street leading towards Mashishing and fixed several bad potholes near the Heads. Mr Frik Rousseau said he appreciated the effort of the executive mayor. “Because it was orchestrated by him, it shows good leadership and a positive outlook for TCM. The cleaning of the town is essential to the image of Lydneburg/Mashishing. The FF+ youth are willing to help TCM should they need any assistance in the future for the cleaning of the town. Together we can do more.”

Deputy chairman of the DA Mpumalanga, Ms Sonja Boshoff, said they were amazed to hear that the mayor found it in himself to leave the security of his office and don an orange overall to sweep a section of Voortrekker Street and fix potholes.

“Is this an election ploy or is this something that the business sector and the residents of Lydenburg can look forward to on a daily basis, seeing the mayor fixing potholes throughout the whole of TCM. At this stage business is losing thousands of randand tourism is suffering because nobody can travel through Lydenburg because the access roads are just not conducive to vehicular travel.

The DA has for many years requested administration and the political wing of TCM to ensure proper maintenance, that the infrastructure is upgraded. But because of their lack of interest in the wellbeing of the town, we found ourselves in the situation we are currently in.

Under a DA government you would never find a mayor, officials or councillors sweeping streets with the run up to an election, because it would not be necessary. Any pothole would be fixed within 24 hours with the employment of competent people and not cadre deployments wthout any competence levels.”

DA Cllr Farhad Essack said everyone know that the EPWP program was never budgeted for and at the end of the day we know that it is an ANC instrument and a great election campaign.

“It is a shame for the people of TCM that the municipality still insists in deploying this EPWP programme as a further burden for taxpayers by a corrupt institution that is spearheaded by individuals within TCM who are there only for self-gain. It is a proven fact and we know exactly who these individuals are, but nonetheless the ANC believes in employing and deploying people.

If you drive around TCM you will see these EPWP workers sitting or sleeping under the trees. Streets aren’t cleaned and grass is not cut. Let’s be honest, at the end of the day, what do you see around TCM that you or I can say is the result of employing EPWP people?”