The continued in-fighting between the Faku/Wayile factions within the metro has succeeded in effectively paralysing our city administration (We will get Wayile – Faku, The Herald, 20 August 2012). The dogged refusal by senior structures within the ruling party to adequately address the rift between the two which is indicative of the jockeying going on ahead of Manguang is even greater cause for concern.
The incessant meddling into city affairs by those at Florence Matomela (Standard) House must rapidly come to an end. It is time for the ruling party to assume the moral high ground and to firmly intervene in the best interests of the residents of the metro.
Can they not see the negative impact that this bickering has had on the integrity and image of our city as a well run, stable investment destination. Looking at the unemployment rate within our metro, it remains glaringly obvious that job creation lies at the core of what needs to be done in providing the much promised better life for all.
It simply defies comprehension that a city with over 1.2 million residents and a multi-billion rand budget has been forced to run by essentially a collection of part-timers and with no accounting officer for nearly three years.
Couple to this the news in The Herald this morning that labour productivity is now at a 40 year low and described in the report as “abysmal”, with private sector productivity found to be 450% ahead of that in the public sector and one begins to see to what extent institutional rot permeates the system. Add to this the ongoing poor maintenance and a lack of funding, our infrastructure borders on collapse with as many as five major disruptions in water and electricity supply in as little as two weeks.
As long as this city is forced to continue operating without a permanent, competent Municipal Manager, supported by a motivated and committed senior management team infused with a strong focus on service delivery then I fear that the service delivery protests will continue to burn through our communities and that worse may yet be to come.
The Democratic Alliance recognises the need for sound stable administration and well maintained world class infrastructure as the cornerstones of any plans to grow our local economy, to provide services to all and help eradicate poverty. This can never happen whilst the petty squabbling continues and the rift remains unresolved between the ANC regional executive committee and the Mayoral clique. Urgent intervention is required.
Dean Biddulph
DA Whip
Councillor Ward 2
