The newly established co-governance of the City of Johannesburg will keep councillors, as servants of the people, on their toes.
This according to an elated Shadrack Mkhonto, the DA’s proportional representative councillor for Alexandra, after the DA’s leadership victory in the elections which was aided by an agreement with the EFF and other smaller political parties.
Mkhonto said this would be centred on service delivery, as all parties involved would keep each other in check. “Corruption was [allowed] to thrive in the last 10 to 15 years because the checks and balances and the authority were one and the same thing. The outgoing leading party [ANC] was unlikely to police, censure and prosecute itself,” Mkhonto said.
He added that despite their different ideologies, the coalition parties would, over time, strengthen their individual and collective capacity on governance and oversight, which he hoped would transcend to the provincial and national spheres of government. “The citizens deserve parties in government that will monitor each other to ensure the development of a culture of effective service delivery when they know they won’t be secure if they slacken.”
Mkhonto also urged citizens to ensure councillor positions were earned, tenders were awarded transparently and bylaws implemented impartially.
“The Independent Electoral Commission should conduct democracy and voter education to enlighten the citizens of their roles in governance. This will help to expose and force lazy councillors to resign, as their parties won’t want to be seen not delivering.”
Mkhonto said Mayor Herman Mashaba’s priorities would include:
- Auditing City Council’s human resources to determine fitness and fairness in employment.
- Restructure PikiTup to benefit more entrepreneurs who will, in turn, create more employment.
- Depoliticise the Jozi@Work programme.
- Ensure the Nelson Mandela Museum on 7th Avenue is completed, after a seven-year delay.
- Investigate the delay in allocating the completed Bothlabela Phase 2 flats, the illegal occupation of extensions 9 and 10 houses, and the questionable operations of the Alexandra Renewal Project, now part of the Joburg Development Agency.
- Replace the bucket toilet system with environmentally healthy options.
- Replace shacks with new housing developments.
- Ensure the Metro police implement traffic, housing, health and environment bylaws without fear or favour.
- Tackle drug dealers and develope drug rehabilitation facilities linked with skills development.
- Support and make small businesses thrive.
- Create a conducive climate for employment creation.
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