Zille: DA has improved Tlokwe

Cape Town 24-02-11 - Premier of Western Cape Helen Zille adresses the ANC AT the Provincial Legisture Picture Brenton Geach Reporter Quinton

Cape Town 24-02-11 - Premier of Western Cape Helen Zille adresses the ANC AT the Provincial Legisture Picture Brenton Geach Reporter Quinton

Published Feb 23, 2013

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Johannesburg - There have been significant improvements in the Tlokwe Local Municipality, in the North West, in the three months since a DA mayor was appointed there, party leader Helen Zille said on Saturday.

“While the Democratic Alliance may continue to govern in Tlokwe for only a few days more, we can be proud that we have made major strides in making this a more delivery-focused municipality,” Zille said in a statement.

Tlokwe includes the towns of Klerksdorp, Orkney and Haartebeesfontein.

Divisions between Tlokwe African National Congress councillors resulted in a motion of no confidence being passed in mayor Maphetle Maphetle in November 2012, and the DA's Annette Combrink replacing him.

Zille claimed that on Tuesday, under the instruction of President Jacob Zuma and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, the ANC would try to regain control of the municipality “without following the proper processes”.

On Saturday Zille visited Ikangeng, in the municipality, to see the progress made during Combrink's tenure.

“Under the ANC, residents became used to poor or non-existent service delivery,” she said.

This included 100 housing units, which were built in August last year but had not been connected to water or sewerage networks. The buildings were vandalised as they had not been handed over to the intended beneficiaries, she said.

Zille said the DA was connecting the units to the infrastructure and they would soon be handed over.

Under the ANC certain parts of Ikangeng became illegal dumping sites, but she said the DA embarked on a clean up operation in these areas.

“Residents now live in a cleaner, safer environment - that is the DA difference.”

Zille said other initiatives undertaken by the party in Tlokwe included repairs to fire fighting vehicles and the training of 30

entrepreneurs in small business management.

The DA also asked the auditor general to probe whether the cost of a mayoral car, ordered by Maphetle, could be recovered.

Zille said the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, with customised rosewood interior, cost R736,000 in public funds.

She said the party was also addressing 63 financial irregularities incurred by the ANC.

“Under the ANC, R143 million was irregularly spent last year alone, and a further R152 million was spent without proper authorisation.

“This type of mismanagement does not happen where the DA governs, and it would never occur in a DA-governed Tlokwe,” Zille said. - Sapa

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