Tshwane councillors ruined chance of being re-elected, says expert
"Some councillors were invisible to residents and made it clear they were in this for the money and nothing else - this as they refused to assist residents."
The Tshwane metro being placed under temporary administration has not only damaged the municipality’s reputation, but also possibly ruined councillors’ prospects of being re-elected, a political analyst has said.
Local councillors have been out of work for almost eight months, while the next municipal elections are in five months’ time.
“Voters are not stupid,” said political analyst Professor Tinyiko Maluleke.
“They have observed the behaviour of councillors during this time. Of course, they were out of the council frame with administrators in place but people will remember whether the councillors continued to care or not. This will determine how they will vote.
“Some councillors were invisible to residents and made it clear they were in this for the money and nothing else – this as they refused to assist residents.
“Also, their chances of being re-elected have been greatly reduced by their absence from the public scene for so long.”
Maluleke said the councillors would need to work very hard to convince people to vote for them again.
Political analyst Professor Dirk Kotze agreed that councillors would have their work cut out in restoring residents’ faith in them.
“Plus, they would need to work together if they want to deliver efficient services to the people of Tshwane,” he said.
Co-operation between the three biggest parties – the EFF, DA and the ANC, whose disputes led to the council being dissolved – was essential.
“All three the biggest parties, or at least two of them, need to work together.”
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Kotze said that the council must resolve residents’ issues that were unresolved over the past few months.
These issues included inaccurate meter readings that proved that they were not being read.
He believed the dissolving the council reflected poorly on all the parties involved as most residents wonder why it was impossible for them to work together.
It also suggested that the elected people could not perform their duties satisfactorily.
“As they return to government, the councillors need to prove to residents that they can deliver.”
In his mayoral election speech, newly-elected Tshwane mayor Randall Williams called on all the political parties represented in the council to unite.
“There will certainly be times when we disagree but I believe that we are all united in our belief that we want to live in a prosperous capital city,” he said.
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