Gauteng in Action

18 September 2024

From the Desk of

The Provincial Chairperson

Dear Actioneers,

It is with great pride that I stood before ActionSA members, supporters and volunteers at #GautengImbizo at Saulsville Arena in Tshwane last Saturday, 14 September 2024, to reaffirm our position which we have always spoken of.

If we are going to fix South Africa, we need to start with our municipalities; we need to ensure our municipalities are able to provide efficient and effective service delivery for all.

The political developments in Tshwane are a significant reminder that ActionSA is a sober and rational political party with its own constitution and mandate. We will never cower to stand up for what is right at any given chance.

I would like to thank each one of you for your role in ensuring the party adopt the political direction that we have taken. As we embark on this journey of renewed negotiation in City of Tshwane, we will need to remain focussed, united, determined, decisive and sober until our victory in 2026.

We were honoured to host our President Herman Mashaba, National Spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni and Provincial Chairperson Patricia Kopane at our event, as we celebrated #4YearsOfAction.

We were also encouraged to register new members on our new membership system. If you have not yet registered on the new system, please do so here.

#GautengImbizo was the first of many provincial gatherings to come. We look forward to meeting as Gauteng Provincial Council at the end of January with all Branch Chairpersons and Constituency Chairpersons in Gauteng. Our work has just begun.

We also look forward to joining hands with like-minded organisations at the Mass Demonstration in City of Tshwane on Monday, 23 September, to raise awareness and demand action on the issue of illegal immigration. Do join us in regalia then!

Looking forward to seeing you in person then.

Kind regards,

Funzi Ngobeni MPL

Gauteng Provincial Chairperson

Update from the Regions

RAND WEST

ActionSA Rand West Regional Chairperson Lewatle Diale met with the Executive Mayor and ActionSA MPL Emma More on 16 September, to discuss critical issues affecting RandWest.

ActionSA raised concerns about Montrose Mega Project’s expansion to Sporo (Ward 2) and occupant ownership, as well as Project 4. ActionSA is requesting the municipality to take responsibility for bulk infrastructure, enabling service provision to occupants.

Double billing issues at Dan Tloome Mega Project were raised, as well as illegal immigrant allocation. The Mayor suggested ActionSA alert law enforcement, with municipal support.

Illegal immigration issues at Western Mega Project were raised, as well as the need for inclusivity of marginalised communities.

Environmental concerns at Afrivillage Mega Project due to inadequate sewer and plumbing infrastructure were discussed, and the Mayor committed to collaborate with Mogale City to address the ongoing sewer and pipe problems.

ActionSA’s “Locals First” policy was acknowledged and supported. Future scheduled meetings will be conveneyed to tackle the outstanding issues.

his meeting demonstrated ActionSA’s commitment to ensuring accountability and effective governance in RandWest. We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with the Executive Mayor to drive meaningful change in our community.

MOGALE CITY

ActionSA Mogale City conducted an oversight visit of the RDP project in Kagiso Extension 13 on Monday, 16 September 2024, to investigate allegations of allocated funds to build RDP houses, but with no building materials made available.

ActionSA Mogale City will be working closely with ActionSA MPL Emma More to have this issue resolved.

In addition, an public meeting is planned in Kagiso Extension 12 and 13 on Saturday, 21 September at 10:00AM to address community concerns about robbers targeting children and residents near Pakistani shops. The local police forum has been invited to address safety concerns and together with the community, develop strategies to prevent criminal activity in the area.

EMFULENI

ActionSA Emfuleni is proud to have a team of committed ambassadors to drive ActionSA’s new membership registration campaign in all 45 wards during the next few weeks.

Team members will also be identifying service delivery challenges, in preparation of a regional strategic plan towards 2026. We are making history. #Buyekhaya Emfuleni

Update from the Caucuses

PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE

Gauteng Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) oversees and ensures accountability in the use of public funds in Gauteng Province. This is the first time in 30 years of democracy that SCOPA is being chaired by a member of an opposition party.

To manage this new dynamic, SCOPA Chairperson John Moodey MPL is focussing on fostering a healthy working relationship with his support staff, as well as building a strong team of committee members. His objective is to build a strong team, focussed upon promoting transparency and accountability, in ensuring that public funds are effectively and efficiently used.

John Moodey MPL will be conducting physical oversight visits to incomplete projects that had been standing for many years, so as to identify the cause of blockage so that they can be fast-tracked.

ActionSA welcomes news of National Council of Provinces (NCOP) embarking on a program of visiting unfinished projects in Gauteng together with MECs, and reporting back on all in the province this week of 16 to 21 September 2024.

JOHANNESBURG

On 13 September 2024, in her capacity as the City of Johannesburg Section79 OC Finance Chairperson, Cllr. Mpumi Edward chaired her first meeting. Her priorities include:

– Conducting effective oversight, by ensuring that all financial activities are closely monitored and managed with the highest level of scrutiny;
– Maximizing the City’s financial resources by working diligently to ensure that every penny is spent wisely, and avoiding fruitless and wasteful expenditure, particularly on Capex projects;
– Holding the Executive accountable by making sure that all executive actions are in line with the City’s goals and standards, ensuring transparency and responsibility;
– Improving revenue collection and service delivery by enhancing the operational efficiency of the City’s revenue system, so as to boost service delivery and resolve issues related to incorrect billing and service cut-offs.
– Reports and recommendations to Council, to ensure that as many resolutions as possible are effectively implemented by the relevant departments.

Meanwhile ActionSA Joburg Caucus conducted three critical oversights in Soweto:

– In Dube, employees sighted decaying infrastructure as the source of their water challenges and urged ActionSA councillors to act swiftly to mitigate the challenge.
– Dobsonville Fire Station officials requested the Caucus to priorities acquisition of tools of trade, which include fire engines, a water tanker and fire hydrants.
– Lofentse Informal Settlement residents have asked ActionSA to help them need resolve their housing crisis, and address the high crime rate and level of unemployment.

TSHWANE

ActionSA Tshwane Caucus is excited about developments in Council, despite the amount of aggressive campaigning by DA to tarnish our reputation and name. Our Deputy Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, MMC Hannes Coetzee and Section 79 Chairpersons Kholofelo Morodi, Flora Monama, Thabang Sebotsane and Brendon Govender remain focussed on the work of fixing Tshwane.

Following reports of illegal dumping at sports fields in Atteridgeville, DEM Nasiphi Moya ensured that teams started the huge task of cleaning last week. Service delivery in Mabopane was also highlighted, with the fixing of streetlights, potholes and pruning of trees in Block N.

MMC Hannes Coetzee took part in the launch of Gauteng Province’s IGR “Operation Shanella” (Fix Your Business) for a joint operation with SAPS in Tembisa, where the issue of illegal businesses, licensing of spaza shops and issue of illegal foreigners was addressed.

ActionSA is committed to fixing service delivery in all communities of City of Tshwane, and ensuring the rule of law without fear or favour.

EKURHULENI

ActionSA Ekurhuleni Caucus released a statement welcoming Mayor Xhakaza’s joint operation in Tembisa, urging him to utilise the ActionSA ‘Buyo Mthetho’ model that our MMC of Community Safety in both Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni used.

We reminded the Mayor that local law enforcement cannot fold its arms in the face of rampant lawlessness plaguing our inner cities and townships. Retaking hijacked buildings and making our townships a safe place for South Africans to trade must remain a priority.

On the theme of local law enforcement, we supported an item in council to investigate serious allegations against the chief of the EMPD in Ekurhuleni, Mr Mapiyeye.

The rot at the top of the EMPD needs to be rooted out. Mr Mapiyeye and Mr Makhwanazi are both facing serious allegations and they hold senior roles within the EMPD.

These investigations need to be carried out swiftly, as the EMPD cannot be a force against lawlessness whilst its senior members are compromised.