Tshwane to focus on services as MMC team announced

Tshwane mayor Randall Williams said he has selected a mayoral committee that was “capable and possessed great qualities to see services through”. Williams said as far as gender equality, transformation and race were concerned, an agreement was signed by all parties that whoever was appointed as mayoral committee (MMC) members, “must be fit for purpose”.

He said the multi-parties agreed not to pay a black and white race or gender “percentage game”. “We looked at the abilities of people; we need people who can deliver, despite race as that is not our game,” said Williams.

He said as DA had the majority and appointed five members, while Action SA had three. Six political parties constitute Tshwane’s coalition government. Williams said the MMCs would work alongside him to tackle future service delivery and advance residents’ interests. “The only way we can succeed is if we put aside our political differences and make our residents the top priority.

Governing our city is going to require a strong team that can work together.” Williams said his new administration would prioritise stabilising Tshwane’s finances and focus on improved response times, better management of electricity outages, water leaks and ensuring that potholes were speedily repaired. Williams said the maintenance of open public spaces, and repairing sewerage lines would also be critical. “Both our electricity and water infrastructure in Tshwane are ageing rapidly.

This results in frequent power outages and high levels of water losses.” He said the recent events at Mooikloof would be a situation of the past.

“I will be ensuring that the city is focused on maintaining and refurbishing critical infrastructure.” He said the metro managed to get the fire-damaged Mooikloof substation up and running in nine days – a job that would normally take six months.

Williams said approximately 6 300km/sq of infrastructure in the metro was poorly maintained for decades. “Further, every time we have loadshedding, it places severe stress on our infrastructure.” He said in future, the metro would look at having vulnerable substations such as Mooikloof and Wapadrand excluded from loadshedding to save infrastructure from further damage.

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To achieve such core service deliverables and many others, a robust plan based on the following key interventions would be implemented:

– Prioritisation of the electrical grid and water infrastructure.

– Stringent financial management and oversight.

– Promote employment and economic growth in the city.

– Enhance city safety and emergency services.

– Maintain a clean and protected natural environment.

– Develop road infrastructure and advance mobility

– Support the vulnerable and provide social relief

– Modernisation and digitisation of City processes

– Promotion of good governance, accountability, and transparency

– Implementation of a robust Covid-19 management strategy.

He said the team of MMCs that would work on implementing the 10-point plan for quality service delivery were as follows:

– Finance and leader of executive business: Peter Sutton (DA)

– Human settlements: Abel Tau (Action SA)

– Community safety: Grandi Theunissen (VF Plus)

– Roads and transport: Dikeledi Selowa (DA)

– Economic development and spatial planning: Andre le Roux (Action SA)

– Health: Rina Marx (VF Plus)

– Social development and community services: Peggy de Bruin (Action SA)

– Corporate and shared services: Kingsley Wakelin (DA)

– Utility services: Phillip Nel (DA, who is currently travelling)

MMC for environment and agriculture would be finalised in due course. In the meantime, Selowa would act in the portfolio.

“This position will be finalised in January after we have concluded our council meetings in the New Year.”

“I’m pleased to have a team of individuals who are ready to serve the people of Tshwane,” Williams said.

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