In reply to the complaint from DE Ferreira “What did we vote for”, I would like to make a few comments.
If you had been ill, almost to the point of total paralysis for a couple of decades, would you expect to recover in a few days? Definitely not! The body needs to retrain the muscles and build up strength. Our city is exactly the same.
Our new Mayor and his team have a daunting task, as they have to:
a) create a proper supply chain of good quality merchandise and contractors, without the former jobs for pals and inefficiencies which crippled the city
b) conduct a skills audit and legally get rid of the “chair warmers”, i.e. those who were employed because of family and/or political connections, and do nothing for their salary except clock in and out at the appropriate times
c) after the skills audit, remedy the obvious deficiencies.
Bear in mind that whilst this is happening, the ANC members of the City Council, who form a significant body, although not a majority, are doing everything they can to hinder these processes so that they can prove the DA incompetent and take back the city.
There have been changes. A friend told my husband she had a very strange experience. When asked what it was, she said that a JMPD vehicle stopped a car that had jumped a red traffic light. When last did you see that happen? The present city management has their disaster management teams on standby when we have weather like we had last week. The behaviour of the councillors is monitored. These are all steps in the right direction to correct a couple of decades of neglect. They are going as fast as finances and the resistance of the ANC will allow, so give them a chance.
Log the issues that need attention with the call centre on 0860joburg. People complain about things not working, but the council needs to be aware they are broken, and most people assume it’s somebody else’s duty to tell them.
If we work together to build our city, it can be a wonderful place. Give the new team a chance, but report any corruption or other funny business, and things will come right.
