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The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands urgent answers about the so-called “Bomb Squad” and the Presidential Working Group’s work in the City of Johannesburg.

As the clock ticks down to the critical G20 deadline in November, the DA, and residents, are hard pressed to see what work, if any, these interventions have led to.

Since the President’s highly publicised visit to Johannesburg the executive of the City has only managed to deepen the crisis the City faces.

• Taps regularly run dry. City entities like Joburg Water are unable to ensure water for weeks on end across the Metro – currently hundreds of thousands are without water;
• Road infrastructure has all but collapsed. In the heart of Sandton, a two story deep hole that stretches across a major road has remained unfilled for over a year;
• In the CBD, Lillian Ngoyi (Bree) Street has still not been fixed. This, despite hundreds of millions spent and multiple contractors appointed.

Residents of Johannesburg have a need for the City to return to a working City. One where roads are accessible, streetlights work, and their needs are both heard and addressed. This entire exercise cannot be one that window-dresses certain areas, just so that foreign dignitaries can feel comfortable being chauffeured around the City’s streets.

There are more pressing questions though, the DA, and for that matter, the Johannesburg Council as a whole is yet to see terms of reference, a budget, nor is there any formalised way of working with these groups.

In March of this year the DA submitted a comprehensive plan to the Presidency. This plan outlined every single step any working group could take to address the crisis in the City of Johannesburg.

The DA will press for:

• Answers on whether these bodies are constitutional, and if they are;
• Exactly where the funds come from for the work being done by this working group;
• Full disclosure on how much has been spent and by whom;
• An update on the terms of reference for both the Bomb Squad and the Presidential Working Group, which remain under debate; and
• Clear accountability measures to ensure that any wasted funds can be recovered.

Joburg cannot afford further delays or secrecy as the world prepares to turn its eyes on the city. The DA will continue to fight for transparency, accountability, and delivery on behalf of all residents.

Issued by Solly Msimanga MPL - DA Gauteng Leader