Bongani Baloyi, the mayoral candidate for the MK Party in Johannesburg, is confident that his party will become the city's biggest political force and take charge of its R97 billion budget after the November 4 elections. In a recent interview on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, Baloyi stated that the MK Party has established itself as a credible alternative to the current ruling party. He expressed optimism about the party's chances, citing its growing support across various demographics.
Baloyi, a former mayor of Midvaal, believes that his experience in local government has prepared him to tackle Johannesburg's complex challenges. His top priority would be to stabilize the city's finances while improving maintenance and infrastructure. To achieve this, he plans to restructure the city's municipal entities, which he argues create unnecessary bureaucracy. By bringing these entities back into city departments, Baloyi aims to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
The MK Party's mayoral candidate also outlined his plans for addressing the city's pressing issues, including electricity and water shortages. He proposed using township rooftops for solar-power generation and increasing water reuse. Furthermore, Baloyi emphasized the need for closer collaboration with the business sector, stronger manufacturing, and better utilization of city procurement to drive economic growth. He also highlighted the importance of focusing on township economic development.
Security and the state of the city center are another key priority for Baloyi. He advocates for the installation of more CCTV cameras, action against hijacked buildings, and enhanced cooperation with national law-enforcement agencies. To reclaim the inner city, Baloyi proposed establishing a multi-agency unit called Buyel' eKhaya, which would involve home affairs, police, and justice authorities. He also discussed the need for a comprehensive approach to address the challenges facing Alexandra.
Baloyi's political journey has taken him through several parties, including the DA, ActionSA, and his own party, Xiluva, which ultimately joined the MK Party. He described his shift towards the left as a natural evolution of his politics. Baloyi rejected suggestions that his move to the MK Party was opportunistic, stating that he is driven by passion and a desire to serve his community.
The MK Party's mayoral candidate expressed his admiration for the party's leader, Jacob Zuma, describing their relationship as cordial. He views the Johannesburg project as a long-term undertaking, potentially spanning a decade. Baloyi was critical of coalition politics in the city, citing their instability. He urged voters to "vote decisively" and expressed his desire to bring more engineers into the administration if elected mayor.
For now, Baloyi's focus is solely on convincing Johannesburg voters that the MK Party can govern the city effectively. He appealed to professional staff and whistleblowers within the municipality to work with his team. With his vision for the city's future, Baloyi aims to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Johannesburg's residents.
Key points
- Baloyi aims to stabilize Johannesburg's finances and improve infrastructure if elected mayor.
- The MK Party's mayoral candidate proposes using township rooftops for solar-power generation and increasing water reuse.
- Baloyi views the Johannesburg project as a long-term undertaking, potentially spanning a decade.
