SEDIBENG. – The Emfuleni Local Municipality Mayor Hassan Mako delivered his first State of the Municipality Address (SoMA) at the Vereeniging Civic Hall on Friday.

The SoMA was delivered under the theme: “Reclaiming the River Flow, Navigating the Vaal’s Deepest Structural Wounds with Community Resilience and Decisive Leadership, Steering Our Municipality from the Brink of Breakdown to the Shore of Restoration.”

Speaking during the event and promising change, Mako said, “Emfuleni is not a tragedy waiting to happen. Emfuleni is a phoenix waiting to rise.”

Meanwhile, the Afrika Mayibuye Movement’s national organiser, Patrick Sindane, said that the SoMA was yet another polished speech attempting to paint a picture that does not reflect the daily suffering of the people of Emfuleni.

Sindane said that the real state of Emfuleni is not found in speeches but in the overflowing sewage running through the streets, the collapsing roads that destroy vehicles, the constant water interruptions, the growing electricity failures, illegal dumping, broken streetlights, and communities that have been abandoned for years.

“Residents are tired of hearing promises. They want service delivery. For years, billions of rand have flowed through Emfuleni, yet communities continue to ask one simple question: Where did the money go? Corruption, wasteful expenditure, political patronage, and poor financial management have robbed our people of the dignified lives they deserve.”

Sindane said that the ELM has become known for:

•            Collapsing water and sanitation infrastructure

•            Dangerous potholes and neglected roads

•            Failing electricity infrastructure

•            Poor refuse removal

•            Delayed housing delivery

•            High unemployment while politically connected individuals benefit from municipal tenders

•            A culture of zero accountability for those who fail the people.

The era of corruption, incompetence and empty promises must come to an end.

“The people of Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Boipatong, Evaton, Bophelong, Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging deserve better than excuses disguised as progress. The Afrika Mayibuye Movement stands ready to rescue Emfuleni from years of decline. The era of corruption, incompetence and empty promises must come to an end. Not even the recently sworn-in mayor is a solution; he is actually part of the collective failure. He was just recycled to give an impression that something is done. But we must give it to him, he is a good actor; unfortunately, the movie is about to end.”