The DA notes the report in the City Press today that the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) is ‘cash-strapped’ and ‘heading for a bailout’ and rejects the allegations as false and a misrepresentation of the city’s finances. The new DA-led administration has worked tirelessly to stabilise finances and this intervention is already yielding positive results.
Thanks to the City’s revenue collection drive, Operation Buya Mthetho, the month of May was one of the highest revenue collection months in the City’s history. This can be directly attributed to a team of highly skilled professionals in the city, who are putting the interests of residents first as part of a fruitful turnaround plan.
Our ongoing fight to reverse the damage done to the city’s finances by previous ANC administrations has has been well-documented. Since taking over the CoJ after our 2016 Local Government Election victory, the DA-led administration has committed itself to ensuring efficient service delivery for all citizens of Johannesburg, especially the poor.
The previous ANC administration’s corruption has robbed the poor of not only quality service delivery, but much-needed jobs as well. The DA’s determination to address the consequences of this corruption is evidenced by our pursuit of 3500 graft cases in the city.
The City Press report appears to be critical of the money the CoJ spent on forensic investigations into corruption in the city administration. This is, however, exactly what is required to ensure that corruption never rears its head again in the CoJ as it is the reason for the country’s skyrocketing unemployment rate – which currently stands at 9.5 million.
Despite the money lost to ANC corruption, the city still has a balance of R3.279 billion and this will be carefully managed as we continue to provide quality services.
Furthermore, we will attract much needed investment to improve the city in order to create more jobs for residents and maintain Johannesburg’s reputation as one of Africa’s economic powerhouses.
The City of Johannesburg will continue to prioritise its citizens through efficient service delivery and a pro-poor agenda that will lift its people out of poverty.