SECUNDA – Opposition parties are predicting that the deterioration of service delivery in the Govan Mbeki Municipality will continue as long as Ms Thandi Ngxonono, executive mayor, is in office.
The Sakhisizwe Progressive Movement and the Democratic Alliance shared similar sentiments and stated that Eskom and Rand Water debts remain a problem.
They said the current administration does not seem to have a plan.
The debts are now well over R1-billion combined, and the parties said the mayoral committee has kept them in dark about the matter.
Ms Ciska Jordaan, DA caucus leader, said the debt was over R1-billion in January when they last received a report.
“The council has kept us in the dark since the motion of no confidence has been tabled in January, and the council adjourned the meeting due to the disruption caused by the ANC.
“Eskom and Rand Water has not been discussed since then, and we haven’t had a meeting despite three requests to the speaker in terms of Section 29 of the Structures Act.
“The ANC continues to manage the municipality to the mercy of whichever internal problem they are having on any given day, while the debt escalates and blunders the compliant resident into insecurity and fear of when the lights will go out.
“The DA will continue to call for the removal of the executive mayor, who is the root cause of mismanagement and escalation of debts in GMM.”
Mr Sibusiso Hlolweni, Sapromo president, said the issue of Rand Water and Eskom will never be resolved by the current leadership.
“I said it before and I am saying it again, Ms Ngxonono does not have a plan whatsoever.
“The systems are there but the quality of services rendered by the municipality is very low and against every form of the legislation.
The Echo sent the following questions to the GMM’s chief of staff, Mr Benzi Soko:
– What is the municipality doing regarding the Eskom and Rand Water debt?
– Should residents expect electricity and water cuts due to these debts?
– How much is currectly owed to Eskom?
– What is the municipality doing to ensure that this debt is settled?
Mr Soko replied: “It is an open secret that the municipality has financial obligations to Eskom and Rand Water which are being paid on a monthly basis.
“The municipality is in constant engagements with the two entities which are aimed at managing the process with prudence and efficiency.”
