The ANC in Gauteng has welcomed the removal of the DA Mayor, Dr Mpho Phalatse and the party’s Provincial Secretary in Gauteng Thembinkosi “TK” Ncinza said the removal of Phalatse has freed the City from poor governance.
“Since coming into office in November 2021, the DA-led multiparty government has done
nothing but reverse some of the most important work that it inherited from the ANC-led coalition
government that preceded it,” he said.
He said while the ANC prioritised black people the DA didn’t show any care towards them.
“While the latter had adopted pro-poor policies that sought to improve the lives of the poor in the City, with townships and informal settlements being specifically targeted for developmental initiatives, the DA-led multiparty government had maintained the stance of hurling the poor at the margins.
‘This was evidenced in the Service Delivery Coordination reports that were tabled by the multiparty government itself, which demonstrate the deterioration of service delivery in townships and informal settlements across the metro.”
Nciza said the failures of the Metro are the results of approving a budget which didn’t respond to the needs of the City.
“The financial constraints that the City of Johannesburg is presently facing are a direct product of the collapse of governance under the DA-led multiparty government which approved the 2022/23 IDP/Budget that fails dismally to respond to the priority needs of communities in Johannesburg.
‘’The said budget was finalised without any evaluation and considerable incorporation of the views of the public, a demonstration of complete disregard for constitutionality in which public participation is central.
‘’Over the past few weeks, the DA-led multiparty government has introduced austerity measures in the City of Johannesburg, under the guise of stabilising the municipality’s finances. In reality, the finances of the municipality are in shambles following months of mismanagement.”
He said the DA-led multiparty government inherited a municipality that was financially viable and one that had important projects in the pipeline to generate billions of rands in revenue.
‘’With no rhyme or reason, many of these projects have been halted, delaying the economic recovery plans for the municipality.”
However ActionSA that governed with Phalatse in her multiparty government thanked her for her service to the people of Johannesburg.
ActionSA Gauteng Chairperson Bongani Baloyi said she helped to bring change to the more than five million people of the city who voted to keep the ANC out in the 2021 elections, blaming the DA for not supporting her.
“The Democratic Alliance (DA) and their Federal Executive is squarely responsible for Phalatse’s removal, having blocked a multi-party coalition deal formulated last week and agreed upon by negotiators of all parties – including the DA’s negotiators,” Baloyi said.
He however said Phalatse performed well under difficult circumstances, having to try and keep a multi-party government operating despite being repeatedly undermined by the DA’s Federal Executive.
“In this regard, Phalatse faced the same difficulties Herman Mashaba faced three years ago when he tried to keep a coalition government in the City of Johannesburg stable but was undermined by the DA. It is history repeating itself.”
He said Phalatse’s government saw an end to years of plundering by the ANC, and laid the foundation for rule of law, social justice and ethical leadership – core values of ActionSA.
Patriotic Alliance President Gayton McKenzie alleged that Phalatse was betrayed by her party when she challenged leader John Steenhuisen for the top position.
“Cape Town makes decisions for the DA. They want Mpho Phalatse out. There’s no way ActionSA would have given up their seats to save the coalition and for Phalatse to keep Joburg — and the DA refuses that decision even though they won’t lose anything.
“They don’t want black people to rise in the DA. They want to teach Phalatse a lesson, and we are all collateral damage,” McKenzie said.
Al-Jamah’s Thapelo Amad is expected to battle Action SA leader Funzi Ngobeni and Phalatse for the Mayor’s position.
