DA attacks mayor’s address

“We will say this, Clr Masina - communities grow frustrated with empty promises and lies, while your governing party continues to fail them,” said Clr Ghaleb Cachalia, the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in Ekurhuleni.

The DA’s Ghaleb Cachalia.

“The time to act is now.”

This was in response to Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina’s State of the City Address (SOCA).

According to the DA, the SOCA was an opportunity for the mayor to showcase the achievements of his administration.

“The Germiston CBD, the very seat of the municipal government, is littered with potholes, broken pipes, sewerage bursts, illegal dumping and a thriving drug trade,” Cachalia said.

Cachalia continues to say the mayor promised to deliver hope to Ekurhuleni although service delivery seems to be taking longer than expected.

“The severe housing backlog is yet to addressed, year in and year out,” he added.

“The Leeuwpoort Housing Development aims to address some of the pressing housing issues, but does not even begin to cater to the various communities stuck on ever increasing housing lists, lists that are still not open and accessible to public scrutiny.”

Cachalia emphasised that this year should be more about action as opposed to promises being made to the people of Ekurhuleni.

“What we need to do is concentrate on developing our comparative and competitive advantage,” he said.

“Our people are tired of the narrative that ‘we have a good story to tell’.

“These are fairytales and myths made up by the governing party.”