The Joburg CBD was painted blue by the DA as they marched to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on October 21. The DA demanded that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi uphold promises he allegedly made to the residents of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) while campaigning for the 2024 elections.

Speaking to Ster North, Chabalala stated that Lesufi promised to repair faulty transformers and replace those that were no longer functional or repairable. Chabalala said promises made by Lesufi came with an official deadline which came and went without any transformers being repaired or replaced.

In 2022, the DA submitted a petition to the National Council of Provinces. The petition was a call to action to ELM and Eskom to take action in ensuring the installation of transformers in various areas where residents have at times spent years without electricity.

Chabalala says, “The deadline of March 2024 was prescribed, and the Gauteng Provincial Government failed to meet it. Residents of Emfuleni, one of the most problematic municipalities in South Africa, already cannot count on their local executive, there is no reason for destroying the little trust they had in the Provincial Executive.”

The DA says it demands immediate action, saying the promises cannot be hard to fulfill.

“A credible government knows not to make promises they cannot keep, we do, however, expect the Gauteng executive to provide a response outlining the steps they are taking to service the residents of Emfuleni.”

The DA says it is considering all other options to force the executives hand in this regard.