The African National Congress (ANC) has appealed to Johannesburg residents to trust its leadership as it seeks to address the city's deep-rooted problems. The appeal was made at the inaugural Johannesburg Mayoral Lecture at the Soweto Theatre on Sunday. The lecture brought together civic leadership, independent panellists, and Mayor Dada Morero to reflect on the state of the city and its administration. Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dickson Masemola, was also in attendance.
Masemola urged residents not to lose confidence in the city or its leadership, citing the negative impact of political instability and immature coalition governance on Joburg's decline. He attributed the city's problems to the inability of coalition governments to manage complexities. Masemola noted that residents had hoped a coalition government would alleviate their frustrations but were left disappointed. The ANC and other parties have been criticised for their role in the city's decline.
ANC Gauteng MPL Matshidiso Mfikoe claimed that when she left City Power, the entity had R1.5 billion in its account, but the money was no longer there by 2017. She accused the former administration of removing experienced engineers and senior managers, weakening the city's capacity. However, former Mayor Herman Mashaba, now ActionSA's mayoral candidate, rejected the claim, saying Morero should take responsibility for the city's current financial position.
Mashaba questioned how the current crisis could be attributed to his administration when he left office in 2019. He pointed to the city's 2018/19 financial position, saying it had R5.3 billion in cash reserves when he left office. The city itself reported R5.3 billion in cash reserves and 91.3% of its capital budget spent in 2019. Mashaba criticised Morero and challenged the ANC's account over the city's wage agreement with unions and financial management.
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo said Joburg's problems were structural and linked to the capacity of individuals within the municipality. He noted that councillors often point fingers at one person, rather than taking collective responsibility for the city's problems. Mahlobo's sentiments were echoed by Masemola, who said rebuilding trust would require more than political promises.
Masemola emphasised the need for trust in the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, Premier, and Mayor Morero. He called for collective leadership to address the city's challenges. Koena Mashale was also a panellist at the Mayoral Lecture, which aimed to promote dialogue and solutions for the city's problems.
The city's challenges are multifaceted, and the ANC's appeal for trust is one of several efforts to address them. Residents and stakeholders will be watching closely to see if the party's plan can turn around the city's fortunes. The lecture has sparked a renewed focus on the city's governance and service delivery.
Key points
- ANC leaders call on Johannesburg residents to trust their plan to rebuild the city.
- City's problems attributed to political instability and immature coalition governance.
- Rebuilding trust will require more than political promises.
