This past month, myself and the Members of the Mayoral Committee have spent our time deploying across the city. The priority has been to ensure that we are fully briefed on all matters that are taking place.
This has required oversight at city projects and sites, assessing the operations at strategic assets, engaging with critical stakeholders and ensuring that we respond to the needs of our residents.
I have moved quickly to ensure that the right structures are in place to support the political leadership in enhancing basic service delivery in the city. The Service Delivery War Room
has been meeting weekly, allowing MMCs and the Section 79 oversight chairpersons the
opportunity to scrutinize the weekly operations of each department.
The Revenue, Expenditure and Performance Committee (Repco) has been re-initiated to
begin interrogating city spending, budget allocations and financial recovery. This committee will play a key role in developing the path for financial sustainability in the city.
On the ground I have had the opportunity to join MMCs in inspections and oversight at key projects.
In Hammanskraal Extension 10 I joined Human Settlements MMC Mpho
Mehlape-Zimu to get an update on the process of formalization that is taking
place in the area which had previously been plagued by land invasions.
The city has made a commitment to ensure that 2767 stands are
provided with basic services and is in the process of installing water and
sewer reticulation infrastructure. This is a crucial project which will
benefit the lives of hundreds of residents.
MMC Mehlape-Zimu is keeping a close eye on all housing developments across the city.
She has spent much of her time engaging with the community at Salvokop to get their buyin on a joint infrastructure project that is taking place between the city and the national government. It is a vital project and forms a key pillar of the broader inner-city revitalization program.
She has also been quick to intervene to ensure that the 40 houses funded by the proceeds of the mayoral mansion are built to right specification and standard so that the beneficiaries can take occupation.
MMC Dana Wannenburg responsible for Environment and Agriculture Management, has been aggressively working to ensure that his department clears illegal dumping sites across the city. They have done work in Refilwe Ext 2 and 3, Winterveldt Ward 19, Eersterust, Plastic View and areas across the city. To date over 70 areas in the city have been cleared MMC Wannenburg, has also conducted inspections at the Bronkhorstspruit landfill site, the Cullinan garden refuse site, the Waltloo garden refuse site, the Menlopark garden refuse site, and the Mountain view garden refuse site.
MMC Karen Meyer for Community Safety, has been providing support in the fight against illegal dumping by giving instruction to the Tshwane Metro Police Department to have a focused approach in arresting the perpetrators. The Chief of Police has issued a directive that all uniformed TMPD officers in every region will proactively enforce the city’s by-laws and apprehend suspects when they see them. This is being tracked on a weekly basis.
MMC Thabisile Vilakazi, who is the responsible for Community and Social Development
Services has prioritised providing much-needed support to early childhood development (ECD) centres in Tshwane after their extended closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She is currently working towards redirecting her department’s budget towards
safety and security in ECD centres. Along with prioritizing much needed repairs
and maintenance of ECD centres to ensure they are capacitated.
MMC Phillip Nel for Utility Services and Regional Operations and Coordination, is working around the clock with the frontline service delivery departments in assessing their responsiveness to water leaks and electricity failures
He will also be closely monitoring the refurbishment taking place at the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Plant, as this is a core budget priority for this administration. The City remains committed to decisively addressing the plight of communities that rely on the Rooiwal plant, with the expected completion date for the refurbishment as of 20 July 2022.
MMC Mare-Lise Fourie for Finance and her team have immersed themselves in clearing the 4216 rates clearance memo backlog that was left behind by the ANC administrators.
She has also been given briefings to major investors and stakeholders who are concerned about the city’s finances and the R4.4 billion deficit incurred while the ANC administrators governed the city. Stabilising the city’s finances is a crucial pillar of my ten point plan and it is vital in order to provide institutional stability.
MMC Dikeledi Selowa, responsible for Roads and Transport has been conducting executive oversight at the Wonderboom Airport, along with engaging extensively with top management and stakeholders at the airport. She has also been joining her teams around the city as they fill potholes, paint road markings and address traffic light failures.
MMC Bruce Lee, at Economic Development and Spatial Planning has already started work on addressing the issues related to the opening of Mandisa Shiceka Clinic in Hammanskraal, working to address the land ownerships issues which are preventing the finalization of this project. MMC Lee has also met with Ford Motor Company, regarding the Special Economic Zone in Silverton, he will be working to expedite this process so that these economic opportunities are unlocked as soon as possible.
MMC Sylvester Phokoje for Human Capital and Shared Services, has been integrating
himself into the city’s fleet operations, legal processes and ICT technologies. As the
chairperson of the Municipal Appeals Tribunal he will play a crucial role in engaging with communities on developments in the city.
MMC Sakkie Du Plooy for Health is providing a watchful eye over the city’s
response and management of the Covid-19 pandemic. His department is
compiling statistics for the city on a weekly basis so that we can continuously
evaluate our situations and risks