By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The newly elected City of Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza delivered his first State of the City Address (SOCA) on Tuesday – focused on key areas including job creation, transportation improvements, construction of roads and water systems, as well safety.
Xhakaza promised that the metro would next month unveil the first 1 400 cohort of beneficiaries of the initiative, which will employ people under the expanded public work (EPWP), public work and community work (CWP) programmes.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have labelled the programme announced by Xhakaza of the ANC as nothing more than thuggery and a populist stunt meant to boost the ruling party’s campaign ahead of 29 May general elections.
The MMC for finance, Nkululeko Dunga of the EFF, said Xhakaza made the announcement as an election ploy.
“Our people are not stupid, they are very well aware that this is just a temporary engagement for political expediency purposes,” he said.
When it comes to transport planning, we shall be accelerating the rollout of the Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN) and Harambee.
“This will see the construction of additional dedicated bus lanes, street lights, curbside stops, and walkways. We will also be acquiring 24 additional buses to expand the Harambee footprint throughout the metro, and the refurbishment of the public transport system,” he said.
Bragging about receiving a Blue Drop award from the Department of Water and Sanitation, the mayor said they would continue to provide the best water to drink in the country.
But he said this could not happen without reliable infrastructure.
“We are steaming ahead with the massive infrastructure rollout programme which will not only ensure that we have a reliable water network, but will also ensure water security through the construction of new reservoirs and towers is a key component of the Aqua Leap programme.
“The massive infrastructure rollout will also stabilize the flow of water in high-lying areas like Tsakani, Duduza, Primrose, and others, which have been the worst hit by water issues in the recent past,” he said.
This is despite some parts of Ekurhuleni still having water problems and proper sanitation facilities
On the issue of safety across the city, he said they needed the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) to work with other security agencies more than ever and to show no mercy to criminals.
“What we are experiencing daily in our streets and communities has to stop. Our people must help us to reclaim our streets from drug lords and traffickers, pick-pocketers, and other peddlers peddlers of crime,” he said.
In his address Xhakaza also highlighted the city’s financial woes, which appear to have deepened in recent months, with the auditor general finding that in 2022-23 Ekurhuleni had regressed.
“We remain concerned about the state of our finances, mainly because we seem not to be collecting enough revenue. Our finances are also not aligned to our priorities,” he said. “It is our resolve that those issues be resolved by the end of the current financial year so that we are on track for yet another clean audit.”