Media release compiled by Phillip Nothnagel, Emfuleni Ward Councillor: Ward 5
On 30 August 2019 the Democratic Alliance (DA) called on the Gauteng Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) MEC, Lebogang Maile, to urgently place the failing ANC-led Emfuleni Municipality under full administration, in terms of Section 139 (1) (c) of the Constitution, as service delivery has collapsed totally. In terms of this article the relevant provincial executive may intervene by dissolving the Emfuleni Municipal Council and appoint an administrator until a newly elected Municipal Council has been declared elected, if exceptional circumstances warrant such a step.

The DA has decided to hold a series of public meetings in all of ELM’s 45 wards, to inform the residents why we think such a drastic step is needed. Residents will be informed of times and venues for these meetings.
An urgent motion to put ELM under full administration will also be tabled a Special Council Meeting.
In the meantime, we would like to provide all readers with a brief background on the ELM disaster.
On 28 October 2015 the Gauteng Premier held a meeting with several concerned citizens in Vanderbijlpark as part of the Gauteng Ntirhisano (Samewerkings Program) Road Show. Residents were excited and looked forward to all the positive changes that were to take place, based on the commitments/promises made by him.
Premier Makhura said “the community’s concerns have magnified the problems in the area as the municipality cannot provide even the most basic of services. This is unacceptable, and we will make sure your concerns are addressed urgently, we will shake up this municipality to ensure we deliver”.
On 21/08/2017 the then DA Member of Parliament Hendrik Schmidt, wrote a letter to the Premier to remind him of the commitments made by him and to draw his attention to the fact that almost all service delivery issues reported more than four years ago, have not been adequately addressed.
Specific areas mentioned by him included: –
• Pollution and waste of our precious water resources including sewer pollution and water leaks
• Nonfunctioning streetlights
• Lack of road maintenance including road markings and traffic signs.
• Lack of quality and financial control over outsourced maintenance services
• Overgrown trees and parks not being cared for
• Refuse removal not being done on schedule
• Lax officials
• Wrong billing in respect of water and light accounts. Property taxes not reinvested into areas where the taxes are paid (taxpayers see no return on the taxes paid by them).

Due to constant pressure from the DA the Premier was forced to place Emfuleni Municipality (ELM) under partial administration in terms of Article 139 (b) of the Constitution. The Premier also seconded Mr. Oupa Nkonane as acting Municipal Manager to ELM. According to local newspaper reports it needs to be noted that the acting MM and a number of ex senior officials have apparently been implicated in entering into a number of irregular contracts. As part of the intervention a Financial Recovery Plan was drawn up and submitted to Council for adoption and implementation. Once again, the community thought that ELM’s problems will be solved. Residents were sadly disappointed. Based on recent press reports and statements by business leaders and the DA, it is quite clear that the Acting Municipal Manager and the ANC led Council have failed dismally in managing and eventually saving Emfuleni from eminent collapse. It is quite clear that morale among ELM employees seems to be at an all time low. The prevailing work culture seems to indicate: –
• a lack of leadership
• a total lack of accountability/responsibility
• a lack of consequence management
• a lack of ownership
• blame shifting
• a lack of the will to work. Several employees seem to concentrate on “being at work” rather than actually “working”. It needs to be noted that there are still several dedicated officials left, who are doing their best to save ELM.