During Thursday’s council meeting, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) did not support the proposal to create a deputy mayor position for Johannesburg.
This proposal has nothing to do with the city’s actual challenges, but everything with the ANC’s internal power struggles.
Johannesburg faces serious service delivery problems, decaying infrastructure and a growing financial crisis. Creating a new political position in these circumstances simply places further strain on already limited finances.
The proposed deputy mayor position will cost the city an additional R1,25 million per year – there is simply no money for it and if there were, it should rather be spent on basic service delivery.
Creating the deputy mayor position is nothing more than a political mechanism to bury the hatchet within the ANC, particularly following the transition from Dada Morero to Loyiso Masuku as ANC Regional Chairperson for Johannesburg.
While it may bring internal stability for the ANC, it should not be at the expense of good governance and residents’ best interests.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep opposing decisions that prioritise political interests above Johannesburg’s long-term sustainability and functionality.
In the upcoming local government elections, residents should punish, and not reward, the ANC for misusing their hard-earned tax money.
The Freedom Front Plus remains committed to responsible governance and protecting residents against needless political games.
