Ekurhuleni ANC calls out EFF
ANC says executive members must not tamper with administration and rather stick to providing political leadership.
The MMC for Finance, EPMO and ICT, Clr Nkululeko Dunga, received backlash from the ANC in Ekurhuleni for the meeting he held with service providers.
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Dunga, the EFF Ekurhuleni regional chairperson, met with service providers in Germiston last week to discuss non-payment for services rendered.
On the same day, the ANC caucus in Ekurhuleni held a media briefing near the Germiston venue to air issues about collaborative governance in the CoE, the waste department, the role of the mayor, the integrated development planning budget and related policies.
The party’s acting regional chairperson, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, said the executive should not venture into administrative matters.
“As a party within the collaborative governance in Ekurhuleni, the ANC is worried about how some of the issues are raised in public with the potential to undermine the standing of the municipality,” said Dlabathi.
This came after Dunga previously told media that the city’s records showed 103 waste removal trucks, but only 32 could be accounted for.
He added that the CoE had failed to pay invoices valued at over R200m.
The MMC’s statement was amplified by a tweet from EFF leader Julius Malema, who said, “Since the EFF occupied the office of the MMC for waste management, we can only confirm the existence of 32 trucks, meaning these thieves before us have stolen 71 trucks from the city.”
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In response to the GCN’s questions about the stolen waste trucks and non-payment of services providers, Dlabathi said the party was “puzzled” by the statements about the waste department.
“In particular, the false narrative that some trucks might have been stolen.”
Dlabathi said on May 5 the administration confirmed that 28 trucks were operational and two new trucks were commissioned for fitment
“Another 28 trucks are undergoing repairs, 10 of which should be back as per the report received from administration.
In February, the council approved an item to write off 53 trucks. The list of those trucks is in the report with their registration.
“All parties supported the item, and the administration confirmed that there was no record of any stolen compactor,” said Dlabathi.
“The Auditor-General CFO said the trucks were not stolen. They can be physically verified. The relevant oversight committee must continue to exercise oversight along with the MMC responsible for the fleet.”
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On the non-payment of service providers, Dlabathi said it could not be equated to corruption without understanding the circumstances of non-payment.
“It is important for any MMC responsible for finance to appreciate that the city is partly sourcing funds through external loans and bonds and that prospective investors do follow developments around the city.”
Dlabathi reminded parties holding executive responsibilities in the Mayoral Committee to use the available internal means to seek accountability, information and clarity and propose interventions.
“Political oversight on departments must be exercised with care, objectively, and we must not be irresponsible.
“All parties in the collaborative governance arrangement carry the responsibility of preserving the institution’s integrity while addressing service delivery deficiencies,” said Dlabathi.
He called on the mayor to take charge of the executive work, including the conduct of MMCs.
“He must steer the municipal programme he detailed during the State of the City Address.
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“This includes the sustainable provision of basic services, building a financially sustainable and resilient city, local economic development initiatives that respond to the efforts of increasing business opportunities, creating jobs and fighting poverty, land release for human settlement and farming, upscaling community safety, good governance and private-public sector collaboration.”
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