Johannesburg’s infrastructure is in an apparent crisis, and the African National Congress (ANC) said it is not surprised because it communicated the fact years ago.
The party announced that it would again launch its application to vote on a motion of no confidence in the Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba and Speaker of Council Vasco Da Gama for the City’s apparent financial ruin and the lack of oversight and accountability for such a crisis.
The ANC’s spokesperson, Jolidee Matongo said ‘the legacy of 300 years of colonial rule and 48 years of apartheid’s under-investment in black areas will take longer than Mashaba can comprehend to eradicate’. He said the party, during its term of office, actively tried to combat the infrastructure backlog through assessments and investments annually.
The pronouncements made by Mashaba are, in fact, not discoveries, he said.
“It is our research that informed our strategies and the Consolidated Infrastructure Plan. To announce it as if he discovered the challenge is not only disingenuous but is further proof of his alarmist character. In fact, at the induction of the new administration, the Consolidated Infrastructure Plan was presented to Mashaba and the DA.”
Matongo said a ten-year Consolidated Infrastructure Plan was developed to deal with the backlog, the rolling out of new infrastructure and the maintenance of current infrastructure.
He said the City spends more on capital expenditure than any other municipality and it spearheaded many projects like the M1 double-decker highway. He said roads were tarred and housing settlements built, among other projects.
Matongo went on to say that the DA’s administration under Mashaba has instead seen Cty Power running in overdraft, no new large-scale infrastructure projects being implemented and certain projects cancelled.
“Under Mashaba and the DA, Johannesburg will experience serious infrastructure failures over the next four years.
“Mashaba and the DA will not have money to maintain existing infrastructure let alone roll out new infrastructure because of the imminent financial crisis that Johannesburg is experiencing.”
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