ActionSA Joburg Caucus notes with concern the anti-poor adjusted budget as presented by the MMC of Finance, Cllr. Dada Morero. For the first time in the history of the City’s governance, our citizens are subjected to a budget that does not address their daily struggles; instead, this budget compounds their sufferings even further.
Johannesburg residents have become victims of a City that lacks comprehensive plans for revenue collection. MMC of Finance Dada Morero is failing in his core mandate to collect revenue in the COJ; this causes financial distress, which affects the City’s ability to provide services and meet its obligations.
ActionSA The Joburg Caucus has cautioned the City’s approach to revenue collections, whereby entities such as City Power target struggling businesses as opposed to government departments that continue with their business unabated despite owing millions of rands to City Power.
This is a typical example of a City that is run by political parties and lacks a common goal. Town Planning only opens for two hours a week, another core entity that helps the City bring in revenue. Despite residents and officials complaining about this, it’s still not a priority.
The government of Local Unity (GLU) has no appetite for addressing service delivery issues, and today’s adjusted budget is a testimony to what we have been advocating for since the GLU took over the administration.
Today, residents of Johannesburg bear witness to the MMC of Finance cutting the budget of some of the critical core entities in our city only to reward some.
ActionSA has presented pragmatic priorities to the City of Johannesburg that are aimed at improving the lives of the residents. Some of these priorities include:
– Insourcing of cleaners and security
– Informal trading policy
– Integration of Eskom into City Power
– Eradication of the bucket system and establishment of the municipal courts.
This budget makes no mention of these priorities, after the MMC of Finance undertook to incorporate some of them in his budget.
As ActionSA, we will not compromise on advocating for the above priorities, especially insourcing, because we believe that insourcing these workers will improve their dignity, rights, and working conditions, as well as reduce corruption and tenderpreneurs in the public sector.
The GLU drafted the adjustment budget without consulting opposition parties; this is a foreign practice in the City of Johannesburg. They only thought of their constituencies and not the entire 136 wards of Johannesburg.
The ActionSA government in Johannesburg will ensure:
– A customer-centric government that delivers service with pride: our residents are our customers and have the right to quality and reliable service delivery by a government that cares for all its residents and takes pride in service excellence.
– A caring and inclusive governance: We will adopt a pro-poor plan of action that ensures all residents have access to quality basic services and primary healthcare in municipalities that cater to all their residents.
– And urge the outgoing administration of the GLU to prioritise the residents of Johannesburg above their interests. As the government is waiting, we note the adjustment budget with reservations.
As a government in waiting, this is the last adjustment budget the GLU will work on. We support this adjustment budget with reservations. Simply because we do not want the residents to find themselves in the middle of political battles while they suffer the most.
ActionSA Joburg Caucus Bemoans Adjustment Budget
ActionSA Joburg Caucus notes with concern the anti-poor adjusted budget as presented by the MMC of Finance, Cllr. Dada Morero. For the first time in the history of the City’s governance, our citizens are subjected to a budget that does not address their daily struggles; instead, this budget compounds their sufferings even further.
Johannesburg residents have become victims of a City that lacks comprehensive plans for revenue collection. MMC of Finance Dada Morero is failing in his core mandate to collect revenue in the COJ; this causes financial distress, which affects the City’s ability to provide services and meet its obligations.
ActionSA The Joburg Caucus has cautioned the City’s approach to revenue collections, whereby entities such as City Power target struggling businesses as opposed to government departments that continue with their business unabated despite owing millions of rands to City Power.
This is a typical example of a City that is run by political parties and lacks a common goal. Town Planning only opens for two hours a week, another core entity that helps the City bring in revenue. Despite residents and officials complaining about this, it’s still not a priority.
The government of Local Unity (GLU) has no appetite for addressing service delivery issues, and today’s adjusted budget is a testimony to what we have been advocating for since the GLU took over the administration.
Today, residents of Johannesburg bear witness to the MMC of Finance cutting the budget of some of the critical core entities in our city only to reward some.
ActionSA has presented pragmatic priorities to the City of Johannesburg that are aimed at improving the lives of the residents. Some of these priorities include:
– Insourcing of cleaners and security
– Informal trading policy
– Integration of Eskom into City Power
– Eradication of the bucket system and establishment of the municipal courts.
This budget makes no mention of these priorities, after the MMC of Finance undertook to incorporate some of them in his budget.
As ActionSA, we will not compromise on advocating for the above priorities, especially insourcing, because we believe that insourcing these workers will improve their dignity, rights, and working conditions, as well as reduce corruption and tenderpreneurs in the public sector.
The GLU drafted the adjustment budget without consulting opposition parties; this is a foreign practice in the City of Johannesburg. They only thought of their constituencies and not the entire 136 wards of Johannesburg.
The ActionSA government in Johannesburg will ensure:
– A customer-centric government that delivers service with pride: our residents are our customers and have the right to quality and reliable service delivery by a government that cares for all its residents and takes pride in service excellence.
– A caring and inclusive governance: We will adopt a pro-poor plan of action that ensures all residents have access to quality basic services and primary healthcare in municipalities that cater to all their residents.
– And urge the outgoing administration of the GLU to prioritise the residents of Johannesburg above their interests. As the government is waiting, we note the adjustment budget with reservations.
As a government in waiting, this is the last adjustment budget the GLU will work on. We support this adjustment budget with reservations. Simply because we do not want the residents to find themselves in the middle of political battles while they suffer the most.