Brink says he’s going nowhere after ANC spat
Political parties say the Tshwane mayor must halt the shift to a victimhood posture when key decisions are being made by him.
Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink says he is glued to his seat despite calls for him to vacate office.
This as various political parties are calling for an administrative team to once again lead Tshwane.
On February 14, Brink had a spat with ANC member Kgosi Maepa after he tweeted “mayor of Tshwane about to resign”.
“Credible sources tell us that Brink is about to resign. He attended a DA interview for selection of members of parliament for 2024 elections. Apparently DA is deeply worried about [the] imminent release of AG report.”
The mayor however quickly came to his own defence to rubbish the claims, saying: “I’m going nowhere.”
Dear Dr Mampara — I’m going nowhere. The last candidate you fielded in Tshwane was an unrehabilitated insolvent. We’re trying to save Tshwane from insolvency, and from networks of corruption serving your comrades. Maybe you should pay attention to your coalitions in Joburg & Ekh. https://t.co/GLYfGlrErD
— Cilliers Brink (@CilliersB) February 14, 2024
Addressing Maepa, Brink said the last candidate the ANC fielded in Tshwane was “an unrehabilitated insolvent”.
“We’re trying to save Tshwane from insolvency, and from networks of corruption serving your comrades. Maybe you should pay attention to your coalitions in Joburg and Ekurhuleni.”
The war of words came to the foreground as Tshwane finds itself in the firing line for forfeiting R629.6 million of its grant funding to National Treasury due to underperformance.
During a media briefing on February 14, Greater Tshwane ANC secretary George Matjila said the inability to spend the grants meant Tshwane failed to boost its economic growth and support business.
He said the grants could have been used to create employment and improve lives of the people of Tshwane.
“These are grants allocated for different infrastructure projects in the city that were budgeted to be spent in areas such as Atteridgeville, Erasmia, Laudium, Bronkhorstspruit, Mamelodi, Eersterust and Soshanguve.”
Matjila said as a result of the grant underspending and terrible financial standing, the ANC would approach the [Cogta] MEC to place Tshwane under administration.
He said Brink had to be removed because Tshwane was financially troubled.
Matjila cited the woes and panic the unaudited Tshwane financial statements caused on bond trading on the JSE, growing Eskom debt and other shambles as the reason for Brink to call it quits.
“The ANC Greater Tshwane calls for the resignation of Brink and his DA coalition partner executive members if ActionSA and FF Plus!
“The litany of failures, incapacity and incompetence are a clear indication that the executive mayor has no clue how to execute his responsibilities.
The city has been identified by the Auditor General to be on the brink of financial collapse. The warning of the JSE is further proof that the executive mayor has put the city on the brink of collapse!,” said Matjila.
He said the ANC would take the following steps:
– approach the MEC of Cogta to bring intervention due to financial collapse in the city.
– mobilise across the city and bring grievances to the attention of both national and provincial governments.
– ask Minister Senzo Mchunu to fast-track the implementation of Section 63 of the Water Act.
According to Patriotic Alliance (PA) councillor Debyre Williams-Moses, the Tshwane coalition government has dismally failed on the finances.
“Residents are pressured by revenue collection, yet no service delivery has taken place in certain areas such as Eersterust, Mamelodi and Soshanguve, to name a few.
The sad part is that billions in grants and subsidies were not spent, which could’ve assisted communities with housing, healthcare, libraries.”
Gauteng EFF chairperson Dumisani Baleni said they also called for Tshwane to be put under administration as a consequence of its failures, which impacted the human rights of residents.
“The Gauteng EFF further commits to be actively involved in holding the government of the DA in Tshwane accountable for its failures.”
He said residents in parts of Tshwane have suffered insurmountable hardship, especially in the townships and informal settlements.
“The people of Mamelodi, Mabopane, Hammanskraal continue to be subjected to corruption-filled systems of water tankers, all the while the resources were not being utilised adequately.
“Informal settlements which amount to 210 in total, have not seen a drop of intervention from the R2.3 billion meant to better the living conditions of our people who live in informal settlements.”
Political party, Xiluva Gauteng coordinator Norman Mohale said he was for the National Treasury’s intervention.
“This financial mismanagement has caused severe consequences in the delivery of essential services to residents and corrective measures must be implemented promptly to ensure accountability and transparency in the municipality’s financial management practices.
The persistent failure of service delivery in Tshwane, despite the allocation of substantial grants, highlights the severe mismanagement of public funds within the municipality, and the poor performance of this clueless administration adds to this alarming situation.”
Baleni said it was concerning that Brink was resorting to blaming residents and Tshwane employees for financial issues, instead of taking accountability.
“This shift to a victimhood posture is alarming, especially when key decisions made by the mayor impact the financial stability of the municipality.”
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