Emfuleni Local Municipality: 30 years of a state in dilapidation and decay; A tale of leadership crisis

SEDIBENG.- Emfuleni Local Municipality, situated in the heart of Gauteng, has been grappling with a state of dilapidation and decay for the past 30 years. The municipality, which encompasses the towns of Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging, has been plagued by a tale of leadership crisis that has resulted in a wide range of social, economic, and infrastructural challenges.

Emfuleni is an area rich in political history, with Vereeniging in particular being a place where the second Boer War of 1899 to 1902 between the British and the Boers came to a halt. As a result, the Vereeniging Treaty, as it is commonly known, was signed in the area.

The building of the South African economy by Dr. Vanderbijlpark and his colleagues started in the area where they built one of the largest steel industries in the country. In 1960, the anti-pass demonstrations in Emfuleni were led by Robert Sobukwe in Sharpeville. The 1992 Boipatong Massacre put pressure that led to the announcement of the date of the 1994 elections.

The significance and importance of Emfuleni cannot be overstated. It is a municipality at the center of politics in this country. One could also argue, looking at history, that if there has to be some political change in South Africa, Emfuleni will also play a certain important role.

But currently, one of the most pressing issues facing Emfuleni is the deterioration of its infrastructure. The municipality’s roads, water and sanitation systems, and electricity supply have been in a state of disrepair for many years. This has not only inconvenienced residents but has also hindered economic development and investment in the area. The lack of maintenance and investment in infrastructure has led to a decline in the overall quality of life for the municipality’s residents.

Furthermore, the municipality has been embroiled in financial mismanagement and corruption. Reports of misappropriation of public funds and irregular expenditure have been rampant, leading to a depletion of the municipality’s financial resources and an inability to deliver basic services to its residents. This has perpetuated a vicious cycle of poverty and underdevelopment in the area.

In addition to the economic and infrastructural challenges, Emfuleni has also been plagued by social issues, including high levels of unemployment, crime, and inadequate opportunities for meaningful employment has led to widespread poverty and social unrest, further exacerbating the municipality’s problems.

The leadership crisis in Emfuleni has been a major contributing factor to the municipality’s woes. The frequent leadership changes, coupled with allegations of corruption and mismanagement, have eroded public trust and confidence in the local government. The lack of consistent and effective leadership has made it difficult to implement sustainable solutions to the municipality’s myriad problems.

The political leadership of the ANC, which has been the only political party in power in the past 30 years, at the helm, has on many occasions, fallen short of steering the ship in the right direction. Additionally, there have been calls for greater transparency and accountability in the management of the municipality’s finances and resources. Those calls have fallen on deaf ears as the municipality, in the period under review, has moved from unqualified to an uplifted audit opinion.

To truly address the deep-seated issues facing Emfuleni, a holistic approach is needed. This includes not only addressing the immediate infrastructural and economic challenges but also tackling the underlying causes of the municipality’s problems, such as corruption, poor governance, and lack of effective leadership. A concerted effort from all stakeholders has yielded little or no results.

There lies a greater need for serious change, a change in voting patterns by the community. This, in the immediate, is the only solution to address the hyacinth growing in the Vaal River; a leadership change. Furthermore, there is a need for long-term planning and sustainable development initiatives to ensure that the municipality’s problems are not simply patched up, but rather addressed at their roots.

This will require a commitment to good governance, transparency, and the efficient use of resources, as well as a focus on inclusive and equitable development that benefits all residents of the municipality. In conclusion, the state of Emfuleni Local Municipality reflects a complex web of challenges that have accumulated over decades of neglect, mismanagement, and poor governance. Addressing these challenges will require a multi-faceted approach that addresses the municipality’s infrastructural, economic, social, and governance issues.

With concerted efforts from all stakeholders, there is hope that Emfuleni can overcome its long-standing state of decay and emerge as a thriving and prosperous community for its residents. It’s a matter of 5 months!

• Isaac Khithika is the EFF Sedibeng Regional Chairperson.