Note to Editors: These remarks were delivered by ActionSA National Chairperson, Michael Beaumont at the 8th leg of the ‘Mashaba Legacy Tour’
Dumelang, Molweni, Sanibonani, Goeie More, Good Morning;
Thank you for joining me in Martindale today to discuss Johannesburg and its future.
It is hard to comprehend that this city was turning the corner just a few years ago as you drive over the broken roads, past the piling rubbish, crumbling infrastructure, and sewage spills. But, not that long ago, Joburg was improving when Herman Mashaba was in charge. Mashaba’s record speaks for itself – he was the first and last mayor to reverse city’s collapse and leave a legacy. Mayors from the ANC, DA, and micro-parties since have fallen dismally short of matching Mashaba’s record.
ActionSA is continuing this Mashaba Legacy Tour to remind residents that they once had an ethical and effective leader at the helm, and that they can have the leadership they deserve once more. There is no need to choose between failed alternatives, or out of touch pensioners imported from the other side of the country. Herman Mashaba fixed Johannesburg, and ActionSA can finish the job he started.
Today, I want to discuss how Herman Mashaba restored the rule of law in Johannesburg.
In 2016, Johannesburg was internationally known for its levels of crime. Drugs were traded openly on block corners, buildings were captured by slum lords, the city had one of the highest murder rates in the world, and politicians looted as if it were competition. Mayor Mashaba asked a sensible question: if residents didn’t feel safe in their own city, how could we expect potential investors to see opportunity here?
Herman Mashaba was going to restore Johannesburg’s reputation, and this meant sweeping criminals off of the streets and out of government offices without fear or favour.
One of his first actions in office was to take funds wasted on international travel and self-aggrandising advertising and to redirect them towards recruiting an additional 1500 JMPD officers. This promise was made in early 2017, and by November all 1500 officers had been inducted and trained – increasing the force of the JMPD by 50%. To finally fight the drug traffickers on their own turf, the city launched its first ever K9 Narcotics Unit, which seized countless illegal weapons, hijacked vehicles, and drugs.
To win the fight against corruption, Mashaba launched a dedicated anti-corruption unit. This unit arrested over 6000 people and investigated over R35 billion in transactions, achieving a staggering 900 arrests.
Lastly, to crack down on errant Johannesburg residents who failed to pay the city for services, the administration launched Operation Buya Mthetho (“Take Back The Law”). This multi-disciplinary by-law enforcement programme waged a war on lawlessness and resulted in over R1.3 billion in lost revenue being recovered.
What soon became apparent, however, was that capturing criminals would mean nothing if the courts didn’t do the job of keeping them locked up. Under Mashaba’s watch, municipal courts were re-established, and it was ensured that the city trained officers to properly record citations. In less than a year, this resulted in a 500% jump in prosecutions.
All these interventions gave investors the confidence to return to Johannesburg. And so, they did – in the inner city alone, R32 billion in investments were unlocked, with thousands of jobs created.
Name one mayor before or since whose crime fighting credentials have extended beyond flashy social media posts or empty shows of force?
Herman Mashaba’s record extends far beyond just insourcing. He also delivered for Johannesburg residents in so many other ways:
- The highest levels of resident satisfaction (74%) in the history of the city.
- Redirecting R2 billion from luxuries and wastage to service delivery infrastructure.
- Reducing power outages from 6.1 to 5.8 per annum (during peak load shedding).
- Reducing water leaks and bursts from 45 000 to 37 000 per annum.
- Achieving R17 billion in facilitated investment in 2018/19.
- Resurfacing 900km of bad roads (24% of all bad roads in the City).
- Building the largest electricity sub-station of its kind in the southern hemisphere within schedule and under budget.
- Extending the operating hours of 26 clinics, saving more than 500 lives with after-hour care.
- Starting 5 city-operated substance abuse facilities, the first in the city’s history.
- Procuring 7 mobile clinics to provide primary healthcare to informal settlements.
- Delivered 7000 RDP homes and 7500 title deeds and 3500 serviced stands.
This list of achievements is all the more impressive considering Mashaba led a 7-way minority coalition because Mashaba knew that a stable and effective coalition should give expression to the policy platforms of all parties.
ActionSA will be highlighting these and many more achievements that form part of Mashaba’s legacy because residents of Johannesburg need a reminder of what real leadership did for their city. They need to be reminded that credible and capable leaders are not an extinct species, and that they have an opportunity to install leaders who will serve them and not themselves.
Herman Mashaba got Joburg working and ActionSA can do it again.
Thank you.
Mashaba Legacy Tour: Herman Mashaba Restored The Rule Of Law In Johannesburg
Note to Editors: These remarks were delivered by ActionSA National Chairperson, Michael Beaumont at the 8th leg of the ‘Mashaba Legacy Tour’
Dumelang, Molweni, Sanibonani, Goeie More, Good Morning;
Thank you for joining me in Martindale today to discuss Johannesburg and its future.
It is hard to comprehend that this city was turning the corner just a few years ago as you drive over the broken roads, past the piling rubbish, crumbling infrastructure, and sewage spills. But, not that long ago, Joburg was improving when Herman Mashaba was in charge. Mashaba’s record speaks for itself – he was the first and last mayor to reverse city’s collapse and leave a legacy. Mayors from the ANC, DA, and micro-parties since have fallen dismally short of matching Mashaba’s record.
ActionSA is continuing this Mashaba Legacy Tour to remind residents that they once had an ethical and effective leader at the helm, and that they can have the leadership they deserve once more. There is no need to choose between failed alternatives, or out of touch pensioners imported from the other side of the country. Herman Mashaba fixed Johannesburg, and ActionSA can finish the job he started.
Today, I want to discuss how Herman Mashaba restored the rule of law in Johannesburg.
In 2016, Johannesburg was internationally known for its levels of crime. Drugs were traded openly on block corners, buildings were captured by slum lords, the city had one of the highest murder rates in the world, and politicians looted as if it were competition. Mayor Mashaba asked a sensible question: if residents didn’t feel safe in their own city, how could we expect potential investors to see opportunity here?
Herman Mashaba was going to restore Johannesburg’s reputation, and this meant sweeping criminals off of the streets and out of government offices without fear or favour.
One of his first actions in office was to take funds wasted on international travel and self-aggrandising advertising and to redirect them towards recruiting an additional 1500 JMPD officers. This promise was made in early 2017, and by November all 1500 officers had been inducted and trained – increasing the force of the JMPD by 50%. To finally fight the drug traffickers on their own turf, the city launched its first ever K9 Narcotics Unit, which seized countless illegal weapons, hijacked vehicles, and drugs.
To win the fight against corruption, Mashaba launched a dedicated anti-corruption unit. This unit arrested over 6000 people and investigated over R35 billion in transactions, achieving a staggering 900 arrests.
Lastly, to crack down on errant Johannesburg residents who failed to pay the city for services, the administration launched Operation Buya Mthetho (“Take Back The Law”). This multi-disciplinary by-law enforcement programme waged a war on lawlessness and resulted in over R1.3 billion in lost revenue being recovered.
What soon became apparent, however, was that capturing criminals would mean nothing if the courts didn’t do the job of keeping them locked up. Under Mashaba’s watch, municipal courts were re-established, and it was ensured that the city trained officers to properly record citations. In less than a year, this resulted in a 500% jump in prosecutions.
All these interventions gave investors the confidence to return to Johannesburg. And so, they did – in the inner city alone, R32 billion in investments were unlocked, with thousands of jobs created.
Name one mayor before or since whose crime fighting credentials have extended beyond flashy social media posts or empty shows of force?
Herman Mashaba’s record extends far beyond just insourcing. He also delivered for Johannesburg residents in so many other ways:
This list of achievements is all the more impressive considering Mashaba led a 7-way minority coalition because Mashaba knew that a stable and effective coalition should give expression to the policy platforms of all parties.
ActionSA will be highlighting these and many more achievements that form part of Mashaba’s legacy because residents of Johannesburg need a reminder of what real leadership did for their city. They need to be reminded that credible and capable leaders are not an extinct species, and that they have an opportunity to install leaders who will serve them and not themselves.
Herman Mashaba got Joburg working and ActionSA can do it again.
Thank you.