The Rep 22 October 2021

THE REPRESENTATIVE 22 October 2021 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 11
Reaching point of no return, says Zille
EFF, DA say infrastructure maintenance a priority
ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
With local government elections just
around the corner, the DA and EFF
expressed their views on how the
two parties would improve service delivery.
DA federal chairperson Helen Zille said
there were places in SA in which the
infrastructure had reached the point of no
return.
Among those in Enoch Mgijima Local
Municipality (EMLM), she said, were roads,
the piping system and an electricity grid which
had not been looked after for years.
Zille was speaking at Luxe Molen Boutique
Hotel during her recent visit to Komani.
She warned that there was a point in
infrastructure decline and collapse that could
not be turned around.
“What the government is supposed to do
from day one is plan for new infrastructure
while maintaining the existing one.
“But if you steal maintenance money and
now and again construct a sports facility like
the R15m Lesseyton one which costs more
than it should, you will get to a point where
the infrastructure has collapsed and nothing
new works.
‘’Even if you spend the next 30 years
husbanding resources it will not be enough to
redevelop and rebuild all the places which
were inherited from the past.”
She said officials did not believe in
maintenance but in destroying things by
enabling connected cadres to benefit.
“The DA has placed a candidate in every
ward in the country because everyone
deserves a real choice of progress,
competence and representatives who get
things done.”
She urged DA party members to remain
vigilant while striving to gain more power in
the provincial, district and local
municipalities.
The EFF is contesting all 34 wards in Enoch
Mgijima. It has four PR councillors in the
municipality at present.
The EFF’s EMLM chief whip, Luthando
Amos, criticised cooperative governance and
traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Xolile Nqatha
for saying the Lesseyton Stadium issue should
❝Mayors had to be
changed in EMLM,
Sakhisizwe,
Emalahleni, Ngcobo
and Intsika Yethu
local municipalities.
be investigated. Nqatha said all the financial
powers of EMLM were taken away by the
provincial government.
“Not a cent of the municipality’s money is
paid without the provincial government
verification through the administrator it
d e p l oye d .”
He said they would write to the EFF
leadership in the legislature to introduce a
motion of no confidence in the provincial
government to dissolve Cogta.
Amos said should the EFF step into power
in this election, the old infrastructure from the
1950s which had regular sewage bursts would
be prioritised.
EFF chairperson Xhanti Kani said the
corruption in the ruling party was reflected in
mayors who had to be removed forcefully.
“Mayors had to be changed in EMLM,
Sakhisizwe, Emalahleni, Ngcobo and Intsika
Yethu local municipalities.”
Kani said the Intsika Yethu taxi rank worth
R4m, which was recently handed over, looked
like an animal stall.
“When you evaluate the project, the
amount does not correspond.
“We want people to open their eyes; they
must change their votes to a party which gives
them hope.”
Intsika Yethu Local Municipality
spokesperson Zuko Tshangana said the taxi
rank reflected its worth, which was R4m.
The ANC’s regional secretary, Lusanda
Sizani, rubbished the corruption claims.
MEDIA BRIEFFING: Attending an EFF media briefing recently to discuss plans ahead of the
local government elections in November are, from left, regional command team member
Buyiswa Geld, Chris Hani regional chairperson Xhanti Kani and Enoch Mgijima chief whip
Luthando Amos Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
PARTY LUNCH: DA federal council chair Helen Zille, right, addresses party members and local
businesspeople at a lunch at Luxe Molen Hotel in Komani recently. Harcourts’ Moira Pappas,
left, and DA councillor Tokkie Deysel look on Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
PRAY FOR ELECTIONS
FOOD PARCELS DONATION
C A N D I D AT E S : A
prayer for the
incoming local
government
election
candidates was
conducted at AME
Church recently
Picture: ZINTLE
BOBELO
RURAL OUTREACH
ELECTIONEERING:
Independent candidates take
their local government
election campaigning to a
small farmholding at Tylden.
Pensioner Nolindela Kilana,
69, centre, says she is
impressed by the changes
the candidates are promising
for her municipality. “We
want RDP houses, water,
electricity and an intensified
fight against drugs,” says
Kilana Picture: KHAYA MBESI
THANK YOU: Grateful Nomzamo and Ezibeleni community members receive 400 food
parcels from the Komani Neziphaluka Contractors Forum, donated by the Muslim
community this week Picture: SUPPLIED