New Rand West City mayor lists his priorities

Newly appointed Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) Executive Mayor William Mathafeng Matsheke says he’s ready to hit the ground running.

Among the promises he made include service delivery improvements.

This was echoed in his inaugural speech that he delivered on October 10 when he was sworn into power at the municipal offices.

According to him, although the municipality is faced with enormous challenges, he is ready to roll up his sleeves together with the people in office and address issues of underdevelopment and economic marginalisation.

• Also read: Rand West City mayor resigns after less than two years

“We take note of the efforts by the municipality to commit their equitable shares to settle old debts and service the current account. We take note of the debts to Eskom and Rand Water, we are among the first municipalities in the country to be approved for municipal debt relief and we will maintain our commitment to the National Treasury. Our Municipality is faced with many challenges of sewer spillage in our townships, old sanitation infrastructure, potholes, unemployment, water-shedding and load-shedding.

“Stormwater drainage blockages have become a widespread phenomenon, notwithstanding the looming rainy season upon us. Loss of water through leaks is rampant due to poor maintenance. The rehabilitation of roads across the municipality remains negligible, giving rise to opportunistic mavericks such as ‘Piet’ fixing potholes, yet constitutionally this is supposed to be a prime function of local government.

“At best, our communities must contend with unstable electricity supply where cable theft happens regularly, vandalism of the municipalities’ electricity infrastructure being rife – mainly substations – as well as increasing fraudulent consumption of electricity in many instances by our communities,” said Matsheke.

These are but some of the issues that were unpacked by the newly appointed mayor, who also highlighted some of the issues that he has prioritised and will deal with, as a matter of urgency.

According to him, the following is a top priority:

• Quality municipal services to all residents
• A safe and secure Rand West City
• Local Economic Development thus seeking to achieve a pro-business and pro-jobs City
• Finance management: an efficient, well-run city
• Improved Corporate and Human Resource practices

These are also some of the points to take priority that were highlighted.

“We believe these priorities over the next 6 months as outlined earlier, are the only way to start building a better Rand West City and bring back genuine hope for all our residents. It is, therefore, our view that these priorities need committed members of the mayoral committee who are equal to the task, who will put the interest of the people before their own interests,” said Matsheke, who added that the members in question will from time to time be measured on their performance not on political affiliation.