The long-awaited council meeting that was supposed to take place in November last year finally resumed on January 25, the same day as the City of Ekurhuleni’s January meeting.
The November council meeting was critical because of the important compliance items including the institutional review of the city that needed to be approved including a report from the auditor-general.
Speaker of council Nthabiseng Tshivhenga said they have not yet received the outstanding 2023 auditor-general’s report. This leaves the CoE in the dark about its financial performance.
The institutional review was also not welcomed by the house.The item had been withdrawn because parties needed to discuss the document in more detail.
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The institutional review, when approved, will see the trim down of departments from the current 27 to 14.
Mayor Siyuyile Ngodwana said that even though the document has been withdrawn it needs to be approved as soon as possible.
“We cannot delay the document too long because there are vacancies that need to be filled. So we looking at having it back on the table at the next council meeting in February,” said Ngondwane.
Action SA welcomed the tabling of the review as it allows the council to look at the structure of the institution and if it’s serving the community.
However, the same party rejected the report and submitted its own recommendations to MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.
EFF also welcomed the decision by the council to reject the item.
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EFF said the item was premature to table because it had not had enough political engagement.
Ngodwana also gave his speech on the projects the city has been busy with and its progress.
His speech was not well received as councillors shared there is a dire need for service delivery improvement in the City.
Action SA Ekurhuleni caucus leader Siyanda Makhubo said they city is failing on its promises. He said over the first quarter things have gone from bad to worse.
“With a set target of 85% set by COGCTA for service delivery and the 75% that your executive has set for itself, reports show that they only achieved 7.9% of service delivery queries finalised,” said Makhubo.
He said the leadership failed to instil confidence over allegations of financial mismanagement.
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“We have nothing positive to share from water issues, electricity issues, grass cutting and waste collection nothing is functioning properly in the city,” said Makhubo.
The Independent Citizen Party’s Dr Joe Mojapelo shared the same sentiment.
“Rigor and action should be the order of the day. We are the eyes and ears on the ground, continually inundated with service delivery complaints.
“Things are not okay and these repeated discussions without tangible interventions, only perpetuate frustration among both councillors and the community,” said Mojapelo.
The mayor acknowledged concerns and questions raised by the floor.
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