Sol Plaatje must turn streetlights on for festive season
Democratic Alliance press statement by
Andrew Louw
DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate
New Mayor has work cut out for him
25 October 2018
Release: immediate
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape welcomes the election of Pule Thabane as Mayor of Kimberley.
Thabane is one of the eleven ANC councillors who stood up against the tyrannical rule of former Mayor Mangaliso Matika and who voted with the DA to oust him. He is the choice of the people and we have faith in him to govern this city in the best interests of all residents and not according to failing ANC factionalism and narrow minded party politics. We will nonetheless continue to hold him accountable for what he does and does not do.
Thabane has a lot of work cut out for him and must waste no time in effectively and transparently dealing with electricity tariffs, budgetary shortfalls and the ongoing sewerage crisis in Kimberley.
The DA also calls on him to urgently stop the payment of R1 million towards the Joyous Celebration Festival. This comes after Executive Director of Strategy, Economic Development and Planning Services, Ms Nomonde Tyabashe-Kesiamang, today took a snap decision to allocate R1 million towards the festival. She did this on her own, without the input of the Committee on Local Economic Development. This amount is more than double the amount that was allocated last year.
Given that the municipality is in financial distress, and there is already a municipal shortfall of more than R240 million, there is no room for such frivolous spending. Maintenance and service delivery must take preference.
If Thabane puts the needs of Kimberley and all its people first, we will give him our unwavering support. Unfortunately, however, we doubt that the ANC will give him the support that he needs to turn this city around.
Like the rest of Kimberley, all we want is to see our once beautiful city rise again from the ashes so that business and jobs can flourish and our people can prosper. However, only change under a DA-led government will bring the change that the people of Kimberley so desperately need.
Media Enquiries:
Andrew Louw
DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate
082 383 6914
Shelley De Witt
Researcher
082 847 1387
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