DA calls on new Tshwane deputy mayor to settle outstanding debts

Tshwane

Tshwane — Following the appointment of the African National Congress (ANC) Eugene Modise as Deputy Mayor of Tshwane,  the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on him to settle the municipal debt of R690 000.

In a statement, the DA’s Jacqui Uys said it was the least the Finance MMC could do considering Tshwane’s constrained finances. She had met with Councillor Modise to do a handover report of the Group’s Finance Department to enable him to fulfil his work as MMC.

“The key to improving service delivery and the rollout of infrastructure in the City of Tshwane is to improve the city’s financial position. This requires the continuation of the work as outlined in the Mayoral Charter on Financial Rescue as well as the Budget Funding Plan,” she said.

The strategy is to rebuild key aspects of the revenue value chain to improve collections and address the more structural problems which include outdated property valuation roll, electricity tariffs and trading services that do not yield a surplus.

“As the City’s cashflow improves, which it has under the strategy, so will the credibility of our representations to Eskom. This will place the City in a favourable position to negotiate a debt payment plan which includes the write-off of interest,” she added,

Uys also said the most difficult part has been the disconnection of illegal water and electricity connections. More effort needs to be expended by the city where there is credible prospect of success. However, without an overall culture of paying for consumption beyond Tshwane’s free basic services.

“Modise has been set up for success by the efforts put in place by the previous DA-led coalition and although the unaudited financial statements of the City for 2023/24 show significant financial improvement, and depending on the management of the audit process, the City is likely to attain an unqualified audit, the City’s financial recovery still needs very careful and diligent work,” she said.

“Without a culture of payment, the City will be financially unsustainable in the medium term and it is essential that members of the Mayoral Committee not owe arrear debt to the City, or at least if they do, that they make payment arrangements. Leaders must set the example,” she added.

Modise was elected as Deputy Mayor after he was nominated by the EFF’s Tshegofatso Mashabela and seconded by Frans Boshielo, TimesLIVE reported.

Modise covered several issues he wished to address during his tenure which included reclaiming lost grounds, building more clinics and improving airports.

In his augural speech in council, Modise said his acceptance of the position was an affirmation he had an appreciation of the responsibility that came with the role.

“I arrogantly refuse to wear the lenses of racism when serving Jacaranda City residents. I vehemently refuse to carry a pinch of negativity when carrying out my duties and discharging my responsibility,” he said.

He called on council members and the executive to love one another and to serve the people of Tshwane. He said he would endorse and appreciate the work of Brink’s executive, and added the city must make the working environment safe for employees as they were critical and crucial assets.

Modise vowed that there would never be a cent of grant funding returned to the National Treasury during his term.

He said capital projects must be closely monitored. He said the newly elected administration would expedite the approval certificates of two state-of-art clinics in Soshanguve and Hammanskraal which were built more than two years ago.

“We have done a disservice to the poor people of Hammanskraal and Soshanguve who are travelling kilometres and even using double transport to access health services. We will diligently migrate these assets from being white elephants,” he added.

Modise also said high performance and dedication would be rewarded and incentivised, while mediocrity and corruption would be “amputated.”

Modise said the city must revive its local airport to ensure residents are able to travel to Cape Town without having to take flights from OR Tambo International Airport.

“The hallmark of my leadership will be intolerance to destroying crucial assets like the Pretoria showgrounds, which is a white elephant. The Tshwane market cannot be left unattended. Joburg is making R1bn a month. This city is making R3 billion a year. It can’t be correct. We cannot be a capital city which cannot manage its refuse,” he added.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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