No more politics. It’s ALL about better service delivery

9 October 2024

Honourable Speaker,

Chief Whip of Council,

Honourable Chief Kekana and his entourage,

Honourable Chief Mahlangu and his entourage,

Chair of Chairs,

Chairpersons of S79 Committtess,

Fellow councillors,

Leaders of political parties,

Members of the media,

Guests,

And the all-important Tshwane Residents to whom this matters most.

Today we embark on a new course of action for our Capital.

I would like to begin by thanking fellow councillors, their constituents and leadership for placing their faith, trust and commitment in me for this mammoth task of leading the City of Tshwane.

As I did nine months ago, I humbly accept this task wholeheartedly, fully appreciating that the journey ahead is a daunting one. But, working together, one that I believe will lead to a new era of prosperity and universal quality service delivery for our great Capital City.

The past couple of months have been difficult for the residents of Tshwane, as they faced uncertainty over the leadership of the city.

Today, I would like to spend the lion’s share of my time addressing you, the residents who elected us to serve them.

There is an African proverb that says, “when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”

The anxiety and political instability that has plagued this city is not lost on me. But, my vow today is to put the politics of the past behind us and bring stability to the city we call home.

Hear me clearly.

I am not an ActionSA mayor, or a mayor from any other party for that matter.

I am not a mayor for one community or demographic.

I am a mayor for all 4 million residents of Tshwane, and on that point I am non-negotiable.

To the residents of Soshanguve, Hammansrkaal, Mamelodi, Centurion, Bronkhorstpruit, Ga-Rankuwa, Lynwood, Kameeldrfit, Waterkloof, Irene, Sokhulumi and everyone residing in between, I am here to tell you that I am a mayor for all.

Since taking office as Deputy Mayor, I have dedicated much of my time to engaging with councillors, officials, and residents across all 7 regions of our city.

I fully appreciate the troubling reality of the growing divide between the affluent and the disadvantaged, which has become a defining characteristic of our city.

Many residents are facing significant challenges in accessing basic services and opportunities. My vow is to work tirelessly to bridge this gap and ensure that we create a more just and inclusive city where all residents, regardless of their economic status or geographic location, have access to quality services.

Throughout my engagements with residents in all communities, their pleas have been the same: Fix our roads, collect our refuse, keep the lights on, and provide us with clean water.

The provision of quality basic services to all residents of the city is not a matter of politics, but a matter of principle. As a government, we owe this basic dignity to everyone we serve.

The services received in our affluent areas will be the services received by our people in the previously disadvantaged areas. We will not make a choice between one or the other but work to improve services for ALL.

Residents of Tshwane, ensuring that we achieve this objective will be my focus over the next two years.

But, I cannot do so alone and appreciate that I will be leading a Multi-party coalition government that demands of us to work together to fix our Capital.

In the coming days, a fully functional, equipped and politically sensitive Mayoral Committee will be announced. One appointed with your needs in mind.

All members of our Multi-party Mayoral Committee will have the task to ensure that their portfolios provide the services required as mandated by this Council through you.

And as such I vow to my fellow Residents today to:

·        Make our City feel safer.

·        Energise our economic nodes to awaken our business and manufacturing might in the interest of robust economic opportunities and development.

·        Provide work opportunities through the EPWP.

·        Make our sewers, pipes and water provision a well of dignity to all residents, including those in Hammanskraal, who will soon receive potable water after years of ActionSA driving this issue of basic human dignity.

·        Invest in roads and transport infrastructure to ensure that you, our people, can get to work and look for work on a reliable transport network.

·        Provide our residents with dignified housing opportunities.

·        Answer our residents’ energy and electricity needs.

·        Advance the agricultural ambitions of our rural communities.

·        Provide a conducive space for our young residents to pursue sports and recreation.

·        Cultivate a healthier city.

·        Fight corruption without fear or favour as a top priority.

·        And ensure that our contact centres are responsive to residents’ needs and provide efficient and professional services to the public.

Fellow councillors, I humbly ask that we work together to help me lift this off the page and make it a reality for all of us who call Tshwane home.

I fully appreciate the dire straits and financial distress in which our city finds itself.

I say this not to continue the assignment of blame and political point-scoring, but in recognition of the hard work that lies ahead.

I embrace that challenge. I am here to commit to you, that while our city has suffered setbacks, together, we can claw back the ground we have lost and make progress.

And as such, I promise financial discipline, balanced with a sense of fairness and duty to our fellow residents.

I also want to extend my respect and recognition to the City Manager and rest of the Tshwane civil service. I want to encourage officials to work dutifully to fulfil their constitutional mandate to provide services that communities deserve. You have my unconditional support, and I ask for your support in return.

So, hear me clearly, esteemed Tshwane residents,

I am committed to leading a caring and responsive government, guided by the belief that our residents deserve better.

I am here to work; work with me.

Let’s restore our great Capital and set the standard for every other city in our great Republic.

I thank you,

Baie dankie,

Kea leboga,

Ngiyanbonga,

Enkosi

Issued by Nasiphi Moya, Tshwane mayor, 9 October 2024