The REAL State of the Metro is not a good story to tell

The ANC of Jacob Zuma has once again staged an extravagant smoke and mirrors exercise, costing hundreds of thousands of rands, which amounts to nothing more than an attempt by the ruling party to find “good stories” to tell just weeks before the election.

This was conducted just a week after an equally elaborate “Council Open Day” was held at City Hall, and is once again in contravention of a National Treasury notice to eliminate non-priority expenditure.

Neither of these events actually served to engage stakeholders and communities, but these were rather an excuse to grandstand and feast at the expense of the citizens of Buffalo City.

In her speech, Mayor Zukiswa Ncitha highlighted several achievements, and totally glossed over the major issues affecting the city.

The real story of the State of the Metro is a bad story to tell - it is one of maladministration, corruption and wasteful expenditure:

·         A qualified audit opinion from the Auditor General.

·         R781 million in irregular expenditure.

·         R102, 9 million in water losses and R85, 3 million in electricity losses.

·         Underspending the capital budget by R384, 6 million.

·         Above-inflation tariff increases.

·         Infrastructure backlogs totalling billions of rands, particularly in roads, water and electricity.

·         A dysfunctional Supply Chain Management Unit.

·         A generally dirty city due to a Community Services Department crippled by poor leadership.

·         Slow pace of housing delivery and electrification of informal dwellings.

·         Pit latrines are considered acceptable sanitation, and there are plans to roll out thousands more.

·         Failure to deal with forensic investigations that uncover fraud and maladministration.

·         Failure to deal decisively with the Nelson Mandela Memorial taxi scandal, including a mayor who hinders law enforcement from conducting investigations into corruption.

·         A municipal manager and mayor who are unable to work together.

·         An ineffective public-participation process that amounts to nothing more than window dressing.

The ANC leadership in Buffalo City has its head in the sand while our city is falling apart around us.

It is clear that the ANC of Tambo, Mandela and Mbeki no longer exists in Buffalo City. Jacob Zuma’s ANC is not in politics to transform South Africa into a better place for all. It is in politics to enrich itself, its friends and its family. We see it every day in our communities – especially here in Buffalo City where we have so many multi-million rand scandals.

The DA in Buffalo City will never stand by quietly while this looting happens. Where the DA governs, people’s lives are getting better and better. More money goes to ordinary people because we are serious about stopping corruption and spending more money on delivering services.

The time for change is now. On the 7th of May voters must send the Jacob Zuma led ANC a loud message that enough is enough.

Together for Change, Together for Jobs.

Mazibuko: Zuma’s failure to condemn anti-gay law an insult to the Constitution

The DA is outraged by the failure of President Zuma to condemn the draconian anti-gay legislation passed in Uganda earlier this year. 

 

In a reply to my parliamentary question - which I posed to President Zuma to gain clarity on his position on this matter which has received worldwide condemnation - the President said that “South Africa respects the sovereign rights of other countries to adopt their own legislation”.

 

This is an insult to our constitution and to President Mandela’s human rights inspired foreign policy. President Zuma, and the entire leadership of the ANC, should hang their heads in shame.

 

The international community did not adopt a ‘hands off’ approach to Apartheid South Africa. We should likewise not stand quietly by as our president adopts this shameful approach when other countries violate the human rights of their people.

 

To do so is to send a message to the rest of the world that we are hypocrites. 

 

Uganda's anti-gay legislation has horrific consequences for gay Ugandan citizens. The law provides for:

• Life imprisonment for having gay sexual intercourse;
• Life imprisonment for so-called "aggravated homosexuality”;
• Life imprisonment for living in a same-sex marriage;
• Seven years for "attempting to commit homosexuality";
• Between five and seven years in jail or a $40,700 (£24,500) fine or both for the "promotion" of homosexuality;
• The cancellation of registration of businesses or non-governmental organisations found guilty of the "promotion of homosexuality". These Directors could face seven years in jail.

President Zuma's latest blunder is yet another example of how the ANC of today is merely a shadow of its former self. It is clear that this government, unlike that of President Nelson Mandela’s, no longer shares Madiba’s vision that human rights should be “the light that guides our foreign affairs”. 

 

One would think a country with a painful history of discrimination like ours, would be the first to condemn such horrid crimes against humanity. 

 

But President Zuma and his ANC remain detached from what is important both in South Africa and on the African continent.  

 

The DA will remain dedicated to implementing a foreign policy that is informed by a commitment to human rights.

 

That is why a vote for the DA on May 7will be a vote for the promotion of basic human rights at home and abroad. 

 

Lindiwe Mazibuko MP

Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance