It seems that the intervention by the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, in the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) is doing more harm than good.
The intervention was meant to save the Municipality from financial bankruptcy. However, every attempt to help has landed Emfuleni in even greater trouble.
The FF Plus warned the Municipality years ago against maladministration, and that it lacks the political will to manage it successfully.
The Gauteng government placed Emfuleni under partial administration four years ago, but there has been no improvement since.
Lesufi’s instruction to start cutting the power supply of all state institutions with outstanding municipal bills, like schools, state hospitals and clinics, on Monday is not a viable solution.
The Gauteng government is responsible for these institutions’ municipal bills and Lesufi should rather put pressure on the various departments to ensure that they pay their monthly utility bills.
Cutting the power supply to state hospitals and clinics will have a detrimental impact on their service delivery to residents.
Out of Emfuleni’s 45 wards, there are only seven that settle 80% of their monthly utility bills.
Residents, enterprises and state institutions owe Emfuleni about R120 million.
The FF Plus pointed out to Lesufi that the Gauteng government built 90 000 RDP homes in Emfuleni, but failed to register them in the owners’ names.
The Municipality is currently providing services to these residents who are not paying for it.
The loss of revenue is enormous, but the Municipality has no plan to collect utility fees or to finalise ownership.
Lesufi can come up with the best plans for Emfuleni, but as long as the political will is lacking, there is no light at the end of the tunnel for residents.
Emfuleni deserves better than the ANC.
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