Phiwokuhle Mothemela
The Democratic Alliance has welcomed the appointment of Nelson Mandela Bay acting city manager, Mandla George, saying it's a step in the right direction in providing stability in the metro.
DA shadow MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Retief Odendaal, joined the leader of the official opposition in the legislature, Vicky Knoetze, and the shadow MEC for Finance, Malcolm Figg, at a media briefing on Wednesday to outline plans to "save" the Metro.
Odendaal took aim at the Executive Mayor, Gary van Niekerk, saying the coalition government under his helm, has crippled the metro and is driving it toward bankruptcy.
"We will be writing to the national and provincial departments of Cogta, as well as Treasury, regarding critical issues of governance failures," said Odendaal.
He also highlighted several areas that need immediate attention which include the fast-tracking the filling of 57 vacancies, the removal of Mandela Bay Development Agency CEO Anele Qaba, and fixing the Electricity and Energy department which is said to be running at an R1.4 billion loss.
"The residents of Nelson Mandela Bay are feeling the devastating impact of the political instability, policy uncertainty and lack of leadership under Mayor Van Niekerk. When businesses lose confidence and disinvest, people lose jobs, and in a province with the highest unemployment rate in the country, we can't afford to lose any," he said.
He said despite already forfeiting R430 million in grant funding this financial year due to the municipality's inability to spend its budgets, the Metro appears to have taken no decisive action to rectify the delays and spend the grant funding still available.
"To date, the Metro has only managed to spend 69% of its capital budget and risk forfeiting even more funding."
Meanwhile, Van Niekerk hit back at the DA, saying its claim that it can provide stability to the Municipality was not only misleading, but whitewashes their complicity in dubious decisions that the government of local unity had to clean up.
He said Odendaal, when mayor, never submitted a report to Council as required, following the arrest of the City Manager, Noxolo Nqwazi.
"His indifference to following procedure, resulted in an individual, standing accused of crimes of dishonesty, making executive decisions regarding matters where she is an accused person. She also worked unhindered as the
Accounting Officer, with a cloud hanging over her head.
"This resulted in a decision to oppose the findings of a Special Investigative Unit report by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, that tainted the good name of the institution," he said.
Van Niekerk also highlighted at least 12 achievements of the government of local unity, including the suspension of the City Manager and the recent appointment of George.
"We managed to efficiently manage one of the most severe flash floods in recent history and will be resettling displaced communities in suitable accommodation. Land has been identified and the electrification of bungalows in Walmer Township is continuing," says van Niekerk.
He adds that the GNU has restored political stability and said regular discussions occur regularly to ensure they keep abreast at building a metro everyone can be proud of.
"This list is not exhaustive but covers salient points of the tremendous strides made since we took office last year."
