ActionSA Rejects City of Johannesburg’s AFD R2,5 Billion Loan Proposal
Nobuhle Mthembu
ActionSA CoJ Caucus Leader
ActionSA has once again rejected the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) R2.5 billion loan, which we believe constitutes a costly and frankly negligible debt burden to residents for the next 15 years.
While the MMC for Finance, Dada Morero, has only now furnished Council with some of the critical details of the loan, we strongly believe that this information should have been shared in April when he first brought this matter to the council. Therefore, we also are not prepared to agree to anything where the information appears incomplete.
ActionSA is adamant that the Council cannot take a loan that will burden Johannesburg residents for the next 15 years. We believe that the City must emphasise collecting revenue from the numerous government and provincial departments that owe the City millions of rands, an amount roughly equal to the proposed loan. These departments are well known to the City.
Furthermore, while discussing the City’s continuous efforts to act against the best interests of residents, it is worth noting that the Speaker of Council, Cllr. Margaret Arnold, rejected ActionSA’s request for an urgent debate on the R200 electricity service charges, citing that the matter was not urgent. This is despite the fact that ongoing public pressure suggests otherwise.
ActionSA rejects these unjust service charges and will use all available means to oppose this unjust move by the governing chaos coalition.
We have noted the commitment made by the MMC for Finance, Dada Morero, to review the R200 fixed monthly service charges and believe that this is a step in the right direction towards addressing our concerns. Johannesburg residents have spoken and we urge MMC Morero and the executive to do the right thing and rescind their decision.
ActionSA will continue to be the only constructive opposition party within the City of Johannesburg that always places the interests of residents ahead of any selfish interests.
ActionSA Rejects City of Johannesburg’s AFD R2,5 Billion Loan Proposal
ActionSA has once again rejected the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) R2.5 billion loan, which we believe constitutes a costly and frankly negligible debt burden to residents for the next 15 years.
While the MMC for Finance, Dada Morero, has only now furnished Council with some of the critical details of the loan, we strongly believe that this information should have been shared in April when he first brought this matter to the council. Therefore, we also are not prepared to agree to anything where the information appears incomplete.
ActionSA is adamant that the Council cannot take a loan that will burden Johannesburg residents for the next 15 years. We believe that the City must emphasise collecting revenue from the numerous government and provincial departments that owe the City millions of rands, an amount roughly equal to the proposed loan. These departments are well known to the City.
Furthermore, while discussing the City’s continuous efforts to act against the best interests of residents, it is worth noting that the Speaker of Council, Cllr. Margaret Arnold, rejected ActionSA’s request for an urgent debate on the R200 electricity service charges, citing that the matter was not urgent. This is despite the fact that ongoing public pressure suggests otherwise.
ActionSA rejects these unjust service charges and will use all available means to oppose this unjust move by the governing chaos coalition.
We have noted the commitment made by the MMC for Finance, Dada Morero, to review the R200 fixed monthly service charges and believe that this is a step in the right direction towards addressing our concerns. Johannesburg residents have spoken and we urge MMC Morero and the executive to do the right thing and rescind their decision.
ActionSA will continue to be the only constructive opposition party within the City of Johannesburg that always places the interests of residents ahead of any selfish interests.