The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane has dismissed the African National Congress (ANC)’s plan to table a motion of no confidence against Mayor Cilliers Brink. The party says it’s a move driven by business interests rather than concerns about service delivery.

The ANC says the City’s deterioration under Brink’s leadership warrants his removal. But the DA says this is a threat by ANC leaders, allegedly linked to a waste contract.

The City of Tshwane’s Finance MMC Jacqui Uys says the metro has made significant progress in improving its finances over the past year.

She highlights two key infrastructure projects: the upgrade of the Rooiwal Waste-water Treatment Plant and the package plant project, undertaken with a national government, to provide clean water to Hammanskraal residents.

Uys emphasises that addressing the city’s challenges is a top priority for the Multi-Party Coalition.

“The City has got new top management and we are cultivating a new culture that is driven by performance and it is slowly taking hold. A lot of work has been done to ensure that our supply chain processes are being cleared up and that we offer fair processes and value for money for our residents. Later this month we will be introducing a vendor portal that is eliminating and reducing human intervention. Earlier last month we cancelled a tender for water trucks before it had been awarded, to prevent corruption.”

ANC regional chairperson Eugene Modise says that over a hundred projects have been halted since the DA took control of the City. He expresses concern that roads are being dug up, but the excavation work was not being completed or addressed, leaving them in a state of disrepair.

“As we speak there is a water problem in Mamelodi. For five years in Ikageng, there has been no water and the DA has been making videos every day saying that they will fix the water, but there is nothing that they are doing. We as the African National Congress have gone to the national government and requested them to assist us with the water in Hammanskraal. They have invested R4 billion as we speak. The water in Hammanskraal will be fixed, our people will be getting clean running water.”

Meanwhile, truck owners who work for the City of Tshwane, have expressed concerns that the municipality has raised issues about the condition of their trucks. As a result, they feel compelled to invest in new vehicles.

“We have a problem with the City that we are not being paid on time, they don’t pay their main contractors on time, and then they expect new trucks. The City pays people three months after, which means in 12 months they only pay four times a year. When you go to the bank and look for the finance for the truck, they tell you to bring six months of bank statements. They are even proud to cut the contractors and say they must not go into the townships they must go to the suburbs.”

“Let us remind the City that they are the ones that came up with the program of community-based contractors. Where they themselves appointed people to go and train us in the townships to do waste, maybe Cilliers Brink doesn’t know that. So where are we going to start again, who is going to come and start us again and buy us trucks?”

Tshwane ANC Regional Secretary George Matjila says they are calling on Mayor Brink to step down. Matjila adds that they are calling on Mayor Brink to step down.

Matjila says the DA-led administration is categorised by service delivery failures, prompting the ANC to call for the Mayor’s resignation.

“They are not doing anything in our communities, it has everything to do with service delivery, we don’t even have a project that they are doing in the townships. Maybe if they speak of service delivery they speak about the townships or the affluent areas. In the townships simple things are not happening like the collection of waste or patching potholes, it’s not happening.”

Uys says any political party supporting this motion will aid the ANC in corruption and help undo the progress made in Tshwane.

Source: https://www.sabcnews.com/