New ELM Administrator welcomed
The Emfuleni Local Municipality’s (ELM) has a new Lead Administrator and his “start work immediately” approach has been warmly welcomed by premier Vaal business organisations (The Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce, NAFCOC Sedibeng and the Sedibeng Business Chamber).
Gilberto Martins was appointment on 21 December by the Gauteng Provincial Government.
“My first focus will be to ensure core service providers are paid and that services are in fact rendered – that will create an enabling environment for ELM and stakeholders to start tackling the strategic infrastructure and service delivery issues on sanitation, water and electricity,” Martins told Vaalweekblad this week. All three business organisations said they saw Martins as a catalyst for change at ELM and for service delivery.
Martins also praised the contribution of organised business to service delivery, saying the following in his invitation letter to meet stakeholders:
“Business leadership – without the contribution, commitment and ongoing support of your members, I know that the lives of Emfuleni citizens would be in dire straits, and for that on behalf of all the beneficiaries I thank you.
“The fundamental and only objective of political leadership, management structures, all officials, the Administrator’s Team, and all the supporting Provincial and National Departments is to ensure that Emfuleni Municipality delivers on its mandate to it’s citizens.
“As we seek to achieve this, we are aware that during the past period, numerous challenges have arisen which have hindered the municipality to deliver effective service delivery, and at times payment agreements entered into with service providers have not been honoured. This is not due to ignorance, or simply a “do not care attitude” but arises from the financial challenges we are facing and the overwhelming service delivery challenges that exist. To look backwards and blame what has come before does not serve a purpose, and therefore my objective is to engage with all the good work done to date and deal with the challenges that confront us, seeking to reach solutions as a collective.
“The highest priority is being responsive to the citizens needs and equally effective management of the respective service providers, including paying for such service that have been procured and completed,” concluded Martins.
