ANC Emfuleni caucus absent again; DA cries foul

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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has lashed out at the ANC caucus in Emfuleni once again for not attending a council meeting, marking a continued pattern of absenteeism.

During the council meeting held on Thursday, 28 May, quorum was not reached because the ANC councillors did not attend.

Consequently, the meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, 2 June. However, quorum continued to be unobtainable on this date as well, primarily due to a boycott initiated by the ANC councillors.

In a recent statement, DA Gauteng Leader Solly Msimanga highlighted a significant political shift within the African National Congress (ANC).

This development follows the ANC’s choice to remove its own mayor, a decision influenced by the party’s loss of a ward to the DA during the by-election held the previous week.

Msimanga’s remarks suggest that the ANC’s internal struggles and the DA’s electoral gains are indicative of broader shifts in the political landscape of the region.

“Emfuleni, one of the worst-run municipalities in the country, has still not passed its adjustment budget—putting the limited services they are able to deliver in danger of grinding to a complete halt.

“It is deeply unfortunate that the ANC has decided to keep service delivery and government hostage by not pitching to this council sitting. As it stands, they have also not put forward a candidate to replace former mayor Sipho Radebe,” he added.

Msimanga emphasized the ongoing internal conflicts within the ANC regarding leadership positions, which led to their absence from the council meeting.

Emfuleni municipality facing failures

As a result, the Emfuleni Local Municipality is now facing an unprecedented trifecta of failures: inadequate service delivery, a lack of budget, and the absence of an appointed mayor.

He continued, “I will be reaching out to the Gauteng CoGTA MEC, Jacob Mmamabolo, and Gauteng premier, Panyaza Lesufi, to get both the municipality and their party in line. Residents cannot be held hostage because of a party’s internal battles for power.”

Meanwhile, the DA councillors recently undertook an oversight visit to the incomplete ABSA building that was intended to accommodate Emfuleni Municipality staff.

This visit aimed to assess the current status of the building project, highlighting concerns regarding its unfinished state and any implications for municipal operations.

The councillors’ engagement emphasizes the importance of accountability and progress in municipal infrastructure projects, particularly as they relate to effective governance and service delivery within the community.

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“Our findings revealed that the building is not up to the required standard and is currently unsuitable to house municipal employees. Serious concerns remain regarding the quality of the work, compliance, and the readiness of the facility.

“As usual, the ANC-led administration has failed to ensure proper planning, oversight, and accountability in projects funded by the public. The DA will continue to hold the municipality accountable and fight for responsible governance, transparency, and value for taxpayers’ money,” said Emfuleni caucus leader Duncan Mthembu.