IRASA reflects on ex-Mayor Campbell’s ousting

With the ousting of Tania Campbell as Ekurhuleni mayor, the Independent Ratepayers Association of South Africa confirmed that it voted to remove her.

A motion of no confidence was tabled by the ANC on October 27. The motion passed 100 votes for versus 93 votes against.

According to Izak Berg of IRASA, they voted on the removal of Campbell on reasons of lack of service delivery, which included waste removal, the fixing of potholes, streetlights and regular meter readings.

“The waste department spent R20m on overtime, yet the towns look like dumping sites. Her administration charged businesses for litter picking, which has not happened since she took office. Residents have yet to have regular waste collection since July,” said Berg.

He said the energy department overspent R125m on maintenance and yet communities still suffer from prolonged outages that are not related to load-shedding.

“She claims the actual income from the sale of electricity is R1.124b less than budgeted for, yet consumers are paying much more for electricity. Even with load-shedding, the accounts of consumers remain high. The calculations do not add up.

“She collected R1.148b less than budgeted for and spent R1.770b less than budgeted for and yet there is no cash available in the metro. Where has the cash gone Campbell?” he asked.

Berg said she and her administration failed to collect the outstanding debt from the top 1 000 outstanding consumers, but are very quick to disconnect normal households.

The highest debtor according to Berg owes the metro more than R2b, which her administration failed to collect.

“I told the DA during budget time that they cannot work on a collection rate of 83% as the metro cannot afford it, but her party advisors who have no background or experience in running the finances of a metro the size of Ekurhuleni advised her otherwise,” he said.

Crunching numbers

According to Berg, she reduced the Capital Budget by R3b and yet she only has 15 days cash on hand (compared to 25 days).

“Rand Water requested consumers to save water and now she blames it as the reason for selling R98.8m less on water which her administration did not budget for. Her administration claim that creditors are paid within 30 days which is a blatant lie,” he said.

He said contractors from Daveyton and Duduza reportedly complained to the Oversight Committee over the Mayor and Legislature standing committee that they have not been paid since June.

“She failed to see it important to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Consumer Council of SA which would have resulted in millions invested into Ekurhuleni and the creation of jobs. She did not sign it because of her arrogance and why must she care, she has a job,” Berg explained.

Berg told the Alberton Record that Campbell has not attended one OCMOL meeting in the 11 months when she was Mayor.

He said this shows a total lack of disrespect and non-accountability to the standing committee she reported to.

“She undertook two overseas trips and has yet to submit any reports on her overseas travel to be tabled at OCMOL and the council. She even took a trip overseas to Argentina when she knew there was a motion to oust her as mayor. She lied to residents by claiming that her and her administration achieved a clean audit which was achieved by the previous administration,” he explained.

According to Berg, she created instability in the metro by hiring and firing her MMCs on many occasions, some of the members included those of the DA.

“She further failed to appoint an MMC for Infrastructure Services, which has been vacant for four months following the removal of the previous incumbent for outstanding municipal account arrears of more than R300 000. This is after IRASA highlighted it in a council meeting and was silenced by the DA speaker and the DA chief whip,” he said.

He said the firing of the two PA MMCs in a ‘tit for tat move’ for the removal of the Joburg Mayor, cost her seat as mayor and not a single vote of IRASA.

“Bottom line if she had not fired the PA MMCs who have four councillors, she would have won by 97 to 96 votes. If she had bothered to meet with the new COPE councillor instead of ignoring his request for a meeting for two months, it may have even been 97 to 95 in her favour,” he stated.

IRASA said it welcomes and supports the lifestyle audit for all councillors.

“Therefore, stop blaming IRASA for your removal from office due to your incompetence and arrogance which was reiterated by many parties in the debate. You cannot change the narrative of what was said in the debate before your ousting as mayor. Campbell, you are not competent to run a metro the size of Ekurhuleni. You were removed before the metro collapsed completely,” Berg stated.

Responding to comments

Speaking on behalf of the former mayor, Warren Gwilt said the comments made by Berg are libellous and false.
Gwilt assured the administration of the city continues to run the day-to-day affairs in line with the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), and that service will not stop.

“A council sitting that will deal with the election of a new mayor will be called within seven days from the tabling of this motion, so the last day would be November 2. Regarding two trips by the mayor, it should be noted the city did not pay for them,” Gwilt said.

https://albertonrecord.co.za/335801/da-will-not-stop-fighting-ousted-mayor/