The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in the Ekurhuleni Metro Council supports, in principle, reforms that improve service delivery and increase accountability, but will oppose any process that creates more bureaucracy without tangibly benefiting communities.
The party endorses the Metro Trading Services Reform programme (MTS) launched by the National Treasury. This programme provides metros with R54 billion over six years with the aim of helping them to get electricity supply, waste removal, and drinking and wastewater services back on track by managing them more like viable business enterprises.
The Freedom Front Plus warns, however, that this reform should not become an open mandate for additional expenditure, unfunded structures or weak oversight mechanisms.
During the Council’s consideration of the requirements to qualify for this grant, the party expressed concern about the affordability of the proposed reforms, the labour implications, the scope of the NT’s guidelines, as well as the reporting and accountability mechanisms.
The Freedom Front Plus is of the opinion that far-reaching managerial and operational changes should not be adopted before it has been thoroughly examined and discussed by the relevant oversight committees.
Ekurhuleni residents deserve effective service delivery, responsible financial management and a municipality that prioritises service delivery over administrative red tape.
On 4 November, residents have the opportunity to vote for the Freedom Front Plus, and elect an accountable metro council.
