GOOD press statement by Sarah Mabotsa,
GOOD: City of Tshwane Councillor
8 July 2022
What is Randall Williams actually doing to end irregular expenditure in Tshwane?
That’s what residents should be asking; after it emerged this week that the City of Tshwane lost another R88 million in irregular expenditure.
Between November 2019 and October 2020, the city hired 627 waste management workers under a 12-month contract. R88 million was spent on their hiring, yet workers were never allocated work – according to Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke. Several court cases and unfair dismissals later, the money remains out of the city’s hands.
This is the latest in a line of concerning spending scandals. Last year, news broke that the city had lost a total of R1 billion to irregular expenditure. The loss was so large that the provincial government was forced to place Tshwane under administration.
One would think these bombshells spur action, yet no plans are in place to prevent more millions from flowing into dodgy projects.
The lack of concern and initiative from Mayor Randall Williams is enormously worrying, especially as rates in Tshwane keep going up. As of July 1st, residents are paying 6% more for refuse removal, almost 8% more for electricity, and 9% more for water. With a billion and some change in the bank, these hikes could have been avoided.
It’s time the mayor and his coalition take the problem of irregular expenditure seriously. The residents of the Jacaranda City should not have to choose between heating or eating while billions of rands simply disappear.
GOOD calls for an urgent council debate on this matter. The city needs to put a plan in place to prevent more losses, so residents can stop being ripped off.
Media Enquiries:
Sarah Mabotsa, GOOD: City of Tshwane Councillor
Cell: 064 684 8640
Email: smabotsamuthivhi@gmail.com
Janke Tolmay, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0733671223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za