GOOD Statement by Sam Shabane
GOOD National Chairperson
12 January 2023
The nine lives of Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams have run out. In light of the Municipality’s disastrous finances, it’s time for someone else to take the reins.
Recent findings by Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke, detailed irregular expenditure of R10 billion, unauthorised expenditure of R600 million, and wasteful expenditure which was underestimated by over R1 billion.
While the DA-led coalition in Tshwane has launched an investigation into the conduct of the former CFO for allegedly “cooking the books”, the Mayor must accept accountability.
It is not good enough for the DA-led coalition to investigate itself. GOOD calls for an independent probe, followed by appropriate legal action.
No number of investigative processes can distract us from the truth that the Mayor and his coalition partners are once again floundering to come up with unsustainable excuses for Tshwane’s poor finances.
Since 2016 the coalition has stumbled from one financial blunder to the next. In just five years, the City of Tshwane lost R8.6 billion to irregular expenditure leading to the Mayor declaring the municipality bankrupt in May 2021. It wasn’t long after that the city was placed under administration.
Since coming out of administration, the coalition has once again proved that it cannot be trusted with Tshwane’s finances. Mayor Williams and Finance MMC Sutton have provided excuse after excuse for their pitiful financial results, without offering any concrete solutions to turn the tide.
If they can’t do their job properly then they must do the honourable thing and make way for people who can.
In the meantime, residents are paying increasingly high prices for the municipality’s mismanagement. Since July last year, Tshwane’s citizens have paid 6% more for refuse removal, 8% more for electricity, and 9% more for water. Mayor Williams has time and time again blamed this on Rand Water and other entities – without ever accepting his own government’s responsibility.
Seven years is more than enough time for Williams and his cohort to have demonstrated their incompetence and moved on. It is time for them to stop sprouting lies and prioritise the interests of the people of Tshwane instead of their own positions and salaries.
Media Enquiries:
Sam Shabane, GOOD National Chairperson
Cell: 0786214042
Email: sams@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 0733671223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za