Craig Kotze

Lead Administrator Gilberto Martins, who started on 21 December 2020, was adamant ELM could not go into this alone but needed direct support from the business sector and community. Martins, who has already met with both Eskom and Rand Water’s top management, has already actioned his strategy by paying as many outstanding invoices to service providers as his budget would allow earlier in January and continuing. Last week he began an intensive engagement process with especially the business sector on his plans and approach, impressing business and community leaders with his intent and grasp of the Emfuleni situation.

The Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) appealed to the many dedicated and honest ELM employees to give full cooperation to Martins and future joint projects with businesses. Martins does not manage all of ELM, but controls finances, supply chain management and procurement and said he intended achieving results before the municipal elections expected anytime from June 2021.

In his online presentations last week, Martins outlined three key principles underpinning his recovery strategy:

– Basic service delivery and intensive reputation management to develop trust – Enhancing service delivery by leveraging intensive stakeholder and business engagement

– Sustainable Management of short-term ELM finances and cash flow

GTCoC CEO Klippies Kritzinger said Martins had created hope and urged that the intended Mayoral Business Forum for joint ELM/business projects be launched immediately to assist Martins directly.  “We need basic service delivery to work and be extended to keep existing companies from leaving the Vaal and to create jobs through new investment and serving our existing business base,” said Kritzinger.