Speech by the Executive Mayor,
I want to thank the members of the media for honouring our invite. I know, we’ve seen a lot of each other in recent weeks, and therefore we plan to make this a short and precise briefing.
We have invited you to announce the new members of the Mayoral Committee that will work alongside me to build a Capital City that works for all its people. I am pleased that as coalition partners we were able to consult and work together to form a strong team in a matter of days.
This should demonstrate our urgency and commitment in fixing the challenges that are facing Tshwane. Ladies and gentlemen, as I stated during my acceptance speech in Council, it is indeed a great honour to have the opportunity to serve the people of Tshwane through the Office of the Mayor.
However, as you may be aware I did not make it here on my own, in fact it was quite a battle! But by working together as a coalition we made it. Despite the recent disruptions and challenges in the Tshwane Council our multi-party coalition is strong and ready to get to work in delivering services to the residents of Tshwane.
Now, before I introduce the team, it’s important that I briefly outline our my five core priorities that will ensure we fast track service delivery for all. These include:
1. Prioritise the City’s finances and stability by devising and implementing a bold recovery plan that focuses on the core functions of the municipality.
2. Reduce the number of unscheduled water and electricity outages, invest in our core infrastructure and mitigate the effects of load-shedding.
3. Improve basic services pertaining to pothole repairs, street light maintenance, grass cutting and public cleaning.
4. Secure infrastructure assets, main roads and business nodes against criminals by improving the focus and functioning of the Tshwane Metro Police Department.
5. Instill high levels of productivity and professionalism in City officials through appropriate performance management systems.
These five priorities are drawn from our coalition agreement and represent the areas which I know that we must focus on as a team. However, to do this properly requires that we must have a strong team in place.
With that it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the team of MMCs that will work with me to fix Tshwane. Some of the MMCs you know while others will be a bit new.
Here they are, I would ask that they each step forward and raise their hands as I call them out.
MMC for Corporate and Shared Services – Cllr Kingsley Wakelin (DA)
MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning – Alderman Hannes Coetzee
(ActionSA)
MMC for Utilities and Regional Operations – Cllr Themba Fosi (DA)
MMC for Environment and Agriculture – Cllr Ziyanda Zwane (IFP)
MMC for Finance – Alderman Peter Sutton (DA)
MMC for Roads and Transport – Alderman Katlego Mathebe (DA)
MMC for Community Safety – Alderman Grandi Theunissen (VF+)
MMC for Social Development – Cllr Peggy De Bruin (Action SA)
MMC Human Settlements – Cllr Ofentse Madzebatela (DA)
MMC for Health – Cllr Rina Marx (VF+)
I’m pleased to introduce this strong team of individuals that are fit for purpose, ethical and ready to serve the people of Tshwane. It’s important that we have a competent team that can hit the ground running. Being an MMC is incredibly difficult, you are on call all the time, 24/7.
You must also walk a fine line in terms of ensuring that the administration does what they are expected to do without overstepping. The fact is that politicians are often placed in position where they must account for poor decisions or performance by officials, this is why MMCs must ensure they critical oversight over the work of their departments.
We have tight deadlines such as the Adjustment Budget and the Draft Budget for the 2023/24 financial year. So, we must stay focused and put the interests of Tshwane residents ahead of everything else.
As we stand before you here we are going to get straight to work. As soon as this briefing is done we will be heading upstairs to engage on the Adjustment Budget and we have already planned the budgetary workshops for next week as well.
Let me once again congratulate the team of MMCs and thank you all for being here.
Dear sir,
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Norman le Roux. My reason for this communication is regarding the `Tjaart van Vuuren public swimming pool` and all the public pools and spaces in general.
Public spaces are important to the communities at large and in terms of how we (CoT) present ourselves to potential investors and visitors and of most importantly, the public who we serve. The `first impression` or` clothing` people experience when looking at our city. These spaces provide (or should provide) a clean, safe and healthy environment for the public (something to enjoy and be proud of). Many can not afford to get in a car and go to private spaces. Currently your `clothes` are in a bad condition. I recently pointed this out in an investor questionnaire sent by your office. Are we looking for hand-outs or investors? Hope for the public or discouragement? With all respect I do realize the huge financial problems you face and the budget constraints however public spaces are extremely important to our well being and a sign of our care (or don`t) for the people the CoT serve.
The pool in question serves many, many people, aside from leisure (a lot of people enjoy family visits, events, and occasions under the trees on the lawns (currently being maintained by grace of a private donor). Many children learn to swim here, many schools and churches bring kids for an outing and hold galas here. Many swimmers train here. People recuperate from surgery here and people with injuries can get exercise here (Unlike most sport and exercise swimming is impact free and healing), the fire brigade and police use the facility for search and rescue and other training. Sports clubs for fitness and swimming lessons. Old folks and little ones all benefit from this healthy outdoor activity.
This pool is constantly in a battle to stay open, constantly in need of chemicals to keep it hygienic and is also in need of maintenance. The people who work here do the best they can with limited resources. If the intention is to shut down these spaces what is their outlook? There are currently 2 to 3 security guards on the premises at any time, what is their purpose? I understand 1 but 3? When we can`t even keep it open?
Please, in the short term get chemicals to keep the water clean and hygienic.
Please make us proud (not ashamed) of our public spaces. Make them spaces we`d like to show to and share with people.
We have started a WhatsApp group with the interest of this pool in mind to raise awareness and see how we can be of help in resolving the challenges faced by council. It`s a new development but we hope to be able to raise funds and get community involved in maintaining this environment for all who use it. I`m sure many ideas and suggestions will flow and would like to have your input on the possibilities.
We `d like this pool to be the `tip of the spear` when it comes to restoring the image and purpose of public spaces in our city.
We await your favorable response.
Thank you,
Norman le Roux
Kindly I’d love to reach to Mr Ofentse Madzebathela of Human Settlement is regarding the informal settlement case I reported to Human settlement under the ANC Leadership
Morning we would like to request a meeting with the Roads and Stormwater MMC Mme Katlego Mathebe regarding the construction of Tar roads in Ward 31 zone 4 & 5 on behalf of the community of Ward 31 specifically zone 4 & 5 residents.
Regards
Matlhogonolo More