#ICYMI: Mayor Mashaba visits Sandringham to iron out service delivery issues
SANDRINGHAM – ANC administration in Johannesburg has destroyed the idea of a professional civil service.
More than 3 500 cases of fraud, corruption and maladministration are under investigation in the City of Johannesburg, amounting to a staggering R18 billion.
This is according to Mayor Herman Mashaba, addressing a public meeting held at Jabula Recreation Centre in Sandringham on 22 August. Mashaba said the culture of looting and corruption in the City has been mind-blowing adding that it is just a tragedy.
He said during his time in office, it has become clear to him that the previous ANC administration in Johannesburg had destroyed the idea of a professional civil service.
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As someone who has been a resident and a businessman in this city for over 25 years, this leaves me furious, he said.
“To think what R18 billion, directed at our most pressing needs would have achieved for our residents; it makes me furious!” said the mayor.
“I can at least start finding some peace in the idea that more than 700 people have been arrested to date and 38 matters are currently being investigated before our courts. It was perhaps this particular inheritance, which was the most challenging of all, limiting our ability to address the service delivery backlogs, which confronted us.”
Mashaba said they are now appointing genuine civil servants of the highest calibre, bringing in the skills and experience that is needed to fix the city.
He said he shares this with the residents because the job of turning this city around requires a mutual appreciation of exactly what has to be overcome.
“Change has started in the City of Johannesburg – our city is starting to turn around.
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“I stand before you today to tell you of the kind of change that has taken root in our city,” said the mayor as he also addressed residents of the challenges, including infrastructure backlog, potholes, the road network, traffic lights and water and electricity issues, saying much is being done to address all of these.
Residents had an opportunity to put questions forward to the mayor and even made suggestions on how to ensure adequate service delivery in the city.
Details: www.joburg.org.za
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