Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Mr Julius Malema, said the work of councillors is not to wear suits and ties but to deliver services.
He said this at his campaign drive for the coming local government election at Lebohang township next to the community clinic on Wednesday, October 13.
Mr Malema said politicians go door to door at people’s homes when they want votes, but when they are supposed to bring opportunities and services to communities, they tell them to go to the offices.
“Councillors must wake up every day and do their work like any other worker. They must go door to door to check up on the challenges which the community face, including visiting the elderly.
“I am shocked to see councillors wearing suits and ties because their work includes checking sewer spills. What is a tie doing in sewage?”
He said that if residents complain about sewage spills, a councillor must be the first to arrive in that area before municipal employees.
“Councillors should protest if they don’t get assistance when reporting a service delivery related matter.
“A councillor is a community activist, not a VIP, they need to be in love with their communities,” said Mr Malema.
He said councillors must stop the tendency of wanting to be treated special when they tend to the community.
He asked why councillors want to be announced when they are within their communities.
Mr Malema warned all EFF candidates that they must know what kind of work they want to put themselves through.
“Mpumalanga is a capital city of potholes, you will not travel even five kilometres without finding a pothole.
“The EFF wants to stop Mpumalanga from turning into a construction site because it is in a state of collapse.”
Mr Malema said they also want to bring an end to a culture where a woman is expected to provide sex in exchange for employment, because “someone is using his position to do evil things”.
He said the EFF will have to turn Govan Mbeki Municipality upside-down and start it up from scratch.
“There is nothing left, they stole everything – even teaspoons.”
Mr Malema said that after winning this election, the EFF will compile a skills audit.
He said it is time to change the leaders of the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
