Pretoria - RDP housing, corrupt-free administration, land, jobs or free services for the poor... How do political parties intend winning the hearts of voters in the August 3 polls? Staff reporter Rapula Moatshe speaks to some of the political parties gunning to govern the capital city.
African National Congress
Residents without electricity can pin their hopes on the ANC as it intends to increase power connections to more than 96% households in the next five years. Regional spokesman Teboho Joala said this goal was among the numerous service delivery issues that would be addressed. Steady supply of water would also be a priority, with increased capacity at Roodeplaat and Rietvlei dams.
Households with access to basic water and sanitation will increase to above 96%.
The party wants to upgrade informal settlements and enhance debt collection by strengthening collection capacity by ensuring 100% rollout of smart meters.
Joala said the ANC would popularise the fraud and corruption hotline.
The township economy will be further boosted by ensuring that a minimum of 25% of all goods and services are procured from township enterprises.
“We will increase schools within the free wi-fi range, continue adult basic education and training and complete the basic education programme for expanded public works programme participants.”
Healthcare will be improved to leverage the city’s role as a pilot municipality for the National Health Insurance scheme.
A metro police desk will be introduced at police stations and a safety volunteer programme rolled out.
Participation in sporting codes via school sports leagues for soccer, rugby, cricket and netball will be encouraged.
“We will initiate projects to reduce the city’s carbon footprint with efficient lighting, solar panels and geysers.”
Democratic Alliance
Job creation and eradicating corruption are the top priorities DA mayoral candidate Solly Msimanga has for the capital. Under the slogan Vote for Change, he has canvassed across the city, promising a better future with better services and creating economic opportunities for all.
Economic empowerment and upliftment of communities will be achieved by cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship, he says.
A DA-led capital will introduce “job zones” in places such as Industrialist, Babelegi and Ga-Rankuwa “offering developers discounts on development contributions and tariffs in return for creating jobs”, said Msimanga.
The party vowed to eliminate corruption, which Msimanga believes has thrived under the ANC government.
“Service delivery stopped and unemployment increased in Tshwane.”
The expanded public works programmes beneficiaries would be selected by a fair process and not by ward councillors and their cronies, he says.
The DA would bring local government back to the people by ensuring “efficient, quality services to all areas of the city and provide indigent households with free basic municipal services”.
The DA will build an honest capital city to stop the rot and decay.
“This means ridding the city of corruption, such as the unfair allocation of housing and jobs to ANC members or the friends and families of councillors,” he said.
Non-performing councillors would be removed. A specialised narcotics unit would be set up to fight drug dealers.
Economic Freedom Fighters
Service delivery to the poor will be free, says Omphile Maote, regional EFF elections co-ordinator. Pensioners and RDP house dwellers who could not afford to pay for municipal services should also not be expected to pay.
“If you are receiving a grant and live in an RDP house, how are you expected to pay for water and electricity? We are going to make sure there is zero rates those people,” she said.
Maote bemoaned that city pensioners who were unable to settle their municipal bills were having their electricity cut off and barred from buying electricity if on prepaid.
Rampant corruption in the allocation of the RDP houses by the municipality will be tackled.
“People who are not top on the list of the RDP house beneficiaries are getting first preference because of their political connections,” said Maote.
Under an EFF government, houses would no longer be allocated to ANC card-carrying members only, she said.
Maote accused the ANC-led city of being short-sighted by operating clinics in communities only during the day.
“This government thinks people only get sick during the day and not at night,” she said.
Opening the clinics for 24 hours would be one of the priorities her party would implement once it has assumed office.
Business people in the townships should also expect to get tenders from the city under the EFF municipality.
There will also be no room to hide for drug-dealers. Land access had been placed high on the list of services.
Freedom Front Plus
The Freedom Front Plus wants to put in place an immediate moratorium on affirmative action with regards to scarce skills and positions vacant for more than 90 days.
The party’s Awie Erasmus said the party had an eight-point plan.
“We want to stop the appointment of officials without merit and select the best person for the job regardless of skin colour.”
The party was committed to a fair dispensation, equal opportunities and rights for everyone, he said.
“The tender process of the municipality must be reviewed to ensure multiparty representation on adjudication committees to bring about transparency.”
Only contractors and consultants with the requisite expertise and a proven record to do the work would be appointed.
Erasmus said the FF+ would decentralise local government and devolve power to communities through sub-councils and smaller municipalities.
“Local government should be local. We are committed to law enforcement at local level to ensure safety,” he said.
The unnecessary changing of place and street names would be stopped.
“We will levy fair taxes and tariffs and stop unfair increases. Tariff increases will not solve the financial shortages, but rather increase the non-payment of bills.”
The party was committed to creating a favourable environment for the private sector to stimulate economic growth and create sustainable job opportunities.
“We will act as an effective watchdog on maladministration, corruption and incompetence.'
Pan Africanist Congress
Poverty and inequality levels in the city need to be addressed, and PAC deputy president Sibusiso Xaba promised these would be given attention if the party got the nod to govern.
Inequality formed part of the PAC's national manifesto as a crisis rooted in the history of foreign domination, he said.
It was a problem because it took away people’s dignity.
Unemployment was a burning issue in the city and only voters had the power to change the situation.
The PAC promised to empower ratepayers to restore people’s self-respect and self-worth.
The party would advance its land policy to stop the sale of municipal land in favour of an agriculture-oriented approach to development.
Agriculture and agro-processing remained an undisputed champion in creating employment, he said.
“Worker-owned farms rather than farm jobs are a key component of the PAC plan. Even technology development will focus on seeking methods and equipment to improve the financial viability of urban farming,” he said.
The PAC wants to fight the “post-traumatic stress disorder of our painful past, which shows up in substance abuse”.
It would also fight mental disorders through primary healthcare.
“This will improve personal relations, thus reducing crime, especially domestic violence.”
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