By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress(ANC) National Executive Committee wants local governments service delivery programmes to be strengthened as it is the sphere of government closest to the people.
“The ANC commits itself to accelerated and comprehensive service delivery and, in this regard, we will ensure that no municipality returns funds to Treasury simply because they have not been used,” ANC general secretary Fikile Mbalula said.
Concerns have for a while now been raised about the unstable coalition arrangements in different metros and local municipalities, an issue which has also affected service delivery.
According to Mbalula, the NEC noted and welcomed the work led by national government to bring all political parties and civil society together into a national dialogue that should produce a national framework and consequently, a piece of legislation that will help to stabilize hung councils and coalition governments in municipalities.
On Sunday, Mbalula addressed a press briefing on the ANC’s national executive committee outcomes.
Mbalula also said while intermittent rolling blackouts may persist, the overall trajectory points towards resolving the issue entirely.
“The NEC was pleased to note that even though the challenges of load shedding persist, nonetheless there is a marked improvement on the Energy Availability Factor from the various Eskom plants.
“The NEC therefore applauded the continued work by all stakeholders involved, in this regard, led by the Minster of Electricity Kgosientso Ramokgopa and involving the critical support by the private sector and the tireless efforts by workers in this energy sector towards ensuring grid stability.”
He added that lower stages of load shedding should be the norm again soon.
“The NEC therefore reassures South Africans of its commitment towards ending load shedding which has had a serious negative impact on both the social wellbeing of our people as well as economic development.”
Asked about the deputy president, Paul Mashatile, , Mbalula said the “plot” against Mashatile will not succeed.
“All that we are seeing is claims and stories about the deputy president.
“We are looking at it, to the extent that it is a political campaign aimed at annihilating an individual. We are observing it with keen interest.
“Never again will we come to a stage when political leaders of the ANC are subjected to these shenanigans,” he added.
Mbalula, however, said ANC members should answer for what they are accused of.
“When people say that Mbalula owes somebody R3 million, I must answer. But I know the story, where it comes from. I can tell you where it comes from, but I will answer. I must answer. The ANC cannot answer for something that I do.
“The ANC does not know when I sit at night with crooks and ask for R3 million. The ANC does not know that. I must answer.”
He reiterated those found to be committing “wrongdoings” should answer to the party’s integrity commission.
“That is what society wants. Then on the basis of your answers you must be cleared [or not].
“If it is a political campaign, we will see it for what it is, because it will not succeed. Even journalists, we know that somebody gives you a dossier, you write. We can’t blame journalists,” he added.