Opposition ward councillors shouted “liar” as Tshwane mayor Randall Williams made his annual State-of-the-Capital address on Thursday in a speech they slammed as “insubstantial”.
“There were no substantial plans to address persisting service delivery issues,” said ANC Tshwane caucus leader Frans Mokgokela Boshielo later. Referring to Williams’ comments about improving water quality in Hammanskraal, Boshielo said “they have been saying the same thing for years”. “They are, however, not providing substantial solutions to the Rooiwal wastewater treatment works [issue].”
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said in a report that the Hammanskraal water was “undrinkable”.
Boshielo said the metro could not resolve the problem and needed intervention by the national department of water and sanitation. The R325-million invested by the municipality to upgrade the overburdened plant was a “drop in the ocean” he said since “over R2-billion was needed to rectify that kind of a problem”, he said.
“We are very disappointed, we expected a lot from the mayor,” Boshielo said.
He also said that Williams “spent three paragraphs on job creation but said nothing”.
Boshielo said the municipality failed to provide plans to support small businesses to improve economic development. “There is another issue with transport because the current contract for bus services has expired.
“They wanted to coerce us councillors to renew the contract for the next three, which was illegal. I was hoping the mayor would tell us how he is going to fast-track the procurement of that much-needed service for our communities.” He said the metro was faced with a financial crisis because “it cannot pay suppliers”.
While the metro recouped over R700-million in its aggressive revenue collection campaign, Boshielo said this “meant very little” for the municipality’s economic stability. In his address, Williams promised the municipality would focus on upgrading electricity substations and water infrastructure while ensuring stable finances.
EFF Tshwane regional leader Obakeng Ramabodu also slammed the speech: “The mayor is busy with nothing. The DA administration has been in Tshwane for almost six years – and they haven’t done anything.”
Ramabodu said the metro should not brag about the 11 725 jobs created through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). “That is not any form of employment. It is a poverty alleviation project from the national government. It’s not Williams’ project.”
He said more needed to be done to ensure job creation because “there are factories in Tshwane and Laudium that are not being used”.
“Why don’t they get investment and open those factories and create sustainable jobs instead of six-month projects?”
On the Rooiwal wastewater treatment works, Ramabodu said the EFF was unhappy about the municipality’s “slow pace” in attaining R2.6- billion for phase two of the project from the national government. He also slammed a “shortage” of nurses at Tshwane clinics.
Ramabodu was, however, satisfied with the Wapadrand substation upgrade.
“There were no plans for the Pretoria West substation and Rooiwal while residents struggled with power issues. “There is a lot that is not happening, but we are given an impression that something is happening by the DA. “Stadiums are being vandalised and there are unfinished projects,” he said.
“They cannot even finish the Caledonian stadium – a mere stadium. Williams spoke of over 100 TMPD recruitments added to the department, but it’s the same [old] police that do not have uniforms, cars and firearms.”
Tshwane State of the Capital Address delayed as ANC and EFF seek clarity on why speaker Dr Murunwa Makwarela presides over the meeting while under investigation. Makwarela was in the spotlight over allegations that he enjoyed council benefits to which he was not entitled. #SOCA pic.twitter.com/cxHpz1Tx5N
— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) April 21, 2022
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