Zille’s final push for Joburg mayorship

Scores of DA supporters gathered at Nasrec in the south of Johannesburg for the party’s final campaign in the city for the local government elections.

DA veteran and Johannesburg mayoral hopeful Helen Zille addressed the party’s “now or never” rally, reminding voters of their pledge to rebuild the city’s foundations.

She outlined the DA’s five-point plan to rescue Johannesburg, saying it all starts with the city’s coffers.

“We must fix the finances, cut waste, fix the billing system and fund essential services. The money you pay for water must go towards water. The money you pay for electricity must fix electricity. We will replace pipes, fix substations and maintain roads.”

We must fix the finances, cut waste, fix the billing system and fund essential services... ”

The second pillar of the party’s bouquet of promises seeks to address the hiring of officials who are fit for purpose.

“We will put honest, capable people in charge, engineers who understand engineering and financial managers who understand finance. Officials who actually serve the public.

Zille vowed to clamp down on corruption and enforce consequence management for officials found to be involved in wrongdoing.

“We will declare war on corruption. Joburg needs its own Madlanga moment. We will initiate an independent investigation into the corruption that has crippled this city, with public hearings and published findings. We will act on the evidence from the auditor-general, whistle-blowers, the Zondo commission and others. We will rebuild the city’s anti-corruption capacity, shield it from political interference and protect whistle-blowers.

“Starting with the biggest and most suspicious, we will open up procurement to public scrutiny. Who got the contract? Why? What were they paid? And what did they deliver? No more secret deals. No favours for connected friends. No work, no pay.”

Starting with the biggest and most suspicious, we will open up procurement to public scrutiny...

The mayoral hopeful promised supporters that should she get majority support, she will make the municipality more centred on residents.

“We want to make the municipality work for you. We will make sure the phones are answered and your queries addressed. We will resolve disputes and track faults until they are fixed. We will cut unnecessary delays in approving building plans and business permits. We will make it easier to start a business, grow a business and create jobs.”

“We will support honest metro cops and remove corrupt ones. We will target cable theft, illegal dumping, hijacked buildings, the criminal syndicates destroying our infrastructure, and the scrap dealers who pay them. We will repair streetlights, deal with dangerous municipal properties and make public spaces safer.”