Politicians want nothing but power

MANDLA GADEBE writes:

Amazingly, the 2016 Local Government Elections have raised emotions in Ekurhuleni.

My opinion on exercising the right to vote is that not voting is also a democratic right. We can encourage each other to exercise it, but we don’t have to offend each other for waiving it.

Residents have common problems, whether we’re voters or not, and that is where we need to focus.

So, now that voting is over, the self-introspection question is: “What now?”

Well, voting isn’t the end, but the beginning of the process. In cities with active residents, councillors feel the heat to deliver immediately after being elected. Not because they deserve to be pressured for asking for the trouble of being elected, but because residents, in a quest for their city’s progress, have items their representative should take to the council assembly.

Our communities have innumerable problems, but the councillors take a relaxed and reactive approach to them. Some of the issues don’t even make it to the assembly’s agenda, because they are viewed as isolated or not so serious incidences. This happens because we are not active residents and our councillors reciprocate.

Pre-1996, one did not have to watch local government activities closely, because municipalities did not have that much power, tender practices were minimal and services were pretty basic.

Today, mayors have an executive status, some municipal managers earn higher than the President, budgets are huge and cities are economic hubs, carrying the country’s economy.

Can residents afford complacency? Rates and taxes are extremely high but are we getting what we pay for? Are the rates increases even sustainable? What about the growing percentage of municipal revenue paid as salaries, leaving a small amount for the benefit of residents?

What about increasing unfruitful expenditure? What about politicians adopting pro-poor budgets and marginalising the middle class? Shouldn’t all residents’ issues be prioritised if they are financial contributors?

Let me be frank with us at this point; most politicians are ruthless, truthless, fruitless and arrogant. Big on promises, slim on delivery and ready to nail you when you have rate payment problems.

If you disagree, explain how meaningfully you have been consulted about any municipal project implementation? Big and expensive projects have been declared as take-it-or-leave-it packages to residents. Ask the residents of Birchleigh, they will tell you. Assuredly, the next administration will do the same.

I am of the belief that voting gives residents a voice. Your voting voice is not limited to getting politicians elected, but exercisable in monitoring and holding them accountable afterwards, not the opposition party; residents.

Sadly, we are a bridge too far from that, still leaving everything to politicians to decide for us. Don’t be deceived; politicians want nothing but power (irrespective of their party) and they will never let it go at any cost.

We, therefore, need to engage them meaningfully on all fronts, give them no honeymoons, whether they are new government or not.

Democratically, not everyone will participate, and that’s OK, but the more, the better. Therefore, being complacent may not be that helpful in this era of governance.