VANDERBIJLPARK – The DA handed over a memorandum to the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) this morning. This follows a march that started at the license offices in Vanderbijlpark and ended at the main gate of ELM’s offices.

Solly Msimanga, the DA’s Gauteng leader, handed over the memorandum of grievances in the absence of mayor Sipho Radebe to Hassan Mako, a member of the mayor’s committee for finance.

In his speech, Msimanga asked, among other things, that cadre deployment and nepotism within the municipality should be stopped and that politicians should not have access to employment and the awarding of tenders. It was also insisted that the mayor and senior management should undergo a lifestyle audit. Msimanga warned that the issues will be addressed at provincial level and appealed to ELM to address the grievances in the memorandum.

“Time is running out for you,” he said.

After signing the memorandum, Mako told the marchers that ELM would respond within 14 days.

Strong criticism was also expressed about the R650m service delivery grant that was returned to the national government without being used to improve residents’ lives.

The poor condition of roads, inadequate garbage disposal, and the provision of electricity and water are some of the grievances that have been highlighted.