Central residents hopeful new mayor, MMCs will deliver

Pretoria Central residents have expressed optimism in the appointment of Dr Nasiphi Moya and her new mayoral committee earlier this month.

A multiparty coalition of the ANC, EFF and ActionSA led by Moya, currently presides over Tshwane council affairs.

Moya was elected mayor on October 9, following the ousting of former mayor, Cilliers Brink.

“I will be a mayor for all groups. My promise stands to see to it that we fix the roads, keep the lights on and give our residents clean water,” said Moya during her first speech as mayor.

The mayoral committee was sworn in on October 14.

The new members of the Mayoral Committee are as follows:

– Community and Social Development Services: Palesa Modise (ANC)

– Economic Development and Spatial Planning: Sarah Mabotsa (GOOD)

– Environment and Agriculture Management: Obakeng Ramabodu (EFF)

– Finance: Eugene Modise (ANC)

– Health: Tshegofatso Mashabela (EFF)

– Corporate and Shared Services: Kholofelo Morodi (ActionSA)

– Housing and Human Settlements: Aaron Maluleka (ANC)

– Roads and Transport: Tlangi Mogale (ANC)

– Utility Services: Frans Boshielo (ANC)

– Community Safety: Hannes Coetzee (ActionSA)

Rekord reached out to Pretoria Central residents and stakeholders for their reaction to the changes in council as well as their perspective on what the new regime should focus on.

Arcadia City Improvement District (CID) manager Catherine Keyworth said she believes that whoever holds the seat bears the responsibility to service the residents.

“Whoever is in the driver’s seat has a huge responsibility towards the city and its residents. Irrespective of political collations and currents the ordinary people want to see results. Water restrictions are in place, and municipal rates and tax hikes are hitting us in the pocket. The new leadership needs to hit the ground running. We need results, competency and accountability,” Keyworth said.

Ward 81 councillor Mpho Lewele said reactions in his ward were mixed however residents remain hopeful that the new coalition will keep their streets clean.

“They are hopeful that the city will prioritise keeping the city clean and free from crime starting with homelessness by finding alternative accommodation. Especially for mothers with kids from our streets who turned out to be beggars at different intersections such as Mandela Drive and Kotze Street. Kids are used as beggars by their parents who are also depriving them an opportunity to go to school just like any other kid in the city,” Lewele said.

Lewele also hopes that the new coalition will prioritise working with organised business communities within Sunnyside to improve the inner city.

Service delivery, drug use and vagrancy are among other issues the Ward 81 councillor grapples with.

Ward 58 councilor Conride Ngoveni rejoiced over the removal of the former administration, saying that the Capital City was going nowhere under the DA-led coalition.

“I am much relieved that the DA-led coalition is out. Their arrogance tells you that they choose or prefer certain racial lines to deliver services and ignore where they do not govern. Here in Ward 58 with its big budget and being the CBD of Pretoria, the DA-led coalition failed to bring new investments that create jobs unlike during former mayor Dr Ramokgopa,” Ngoveni said

Ngoveni said the CBD is replete with decaying buildings, illegal occupants and high levels of crime. He also suggested that the recent power outages in Central were a result of the former administration not upgrading the infrastructure.

“With the new Mayor and MMCs, it’s time to have fresh ideas and have an administration that services all residents. Employees of the city are also breathing fresh air and ready to work. The focus is the collection of revenue and services to the people. No DA will cut the 20% budget of Ward 58 and divert it to their own wards. So far the Mayor and MMCs have done a lot in my ward like ending all outages and promising to fix the Tshwane market and revitalise the CBD by ensuring there’s investment that will grow the local economy,” Ngoveni said.

Watch here:

https://x.com/i/status/1845831132987736392

Serve us and lead by example: Acting Chief Magistrate Mahlangu. pic.twitter.com/esgnposM0g

— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) October 14, 2024

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram