Staff Reporter
The DA has delivered a scathing annual assessment of the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) under Premier Panyaza Lesufi, assigning an overall score of just 2.9 out of 10.
The DA’s report card evaluates each government department and its respective MEC based on their performance since assuming office and their impact on residents’ lives.
“The results reflect a dismal failure in delivering on promises to the people of Gauteng,” the DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said on Monday.
Highlighting the dire state of local governance, Msimanga criticised the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) for its inability to address persistent issues plaguing municipalities in the province.
The DA scored the COGTA department 3 out of 10.
“Municipalities in Gauteng are buckling under severe challenges, from chronic water shortages and electricity failures to neglected service delivery. This is compounded by a lack of effective leadership and strategic direction,” Msimanga said.
Residents in several municipalities, including Emfuleni and Mogale City, continue to endure erratic water supply and frequent load reductions as municipalities struggle to pay their Eskom debts. Emfuleni, in particular, has spent millions on waste collection without tangible results, leaving residents in unhygienic conditions.
‘Municipalities who are unable to pay their debt to Eskom are forced to implement load-reduction, leaving residents without electricity,” said Msimanga.
Msimanga also accused COGTA, under the leadership of MEC Jacob Mamabolo, of failing to support municipalities in stabilizing their finances, exacerbating the collapse of essential services in the province.
Said Msimanga: “Millions of rands have been spent by some municipalities like Emfuleni to collect their refuse, yet this does not happen, leaving residents to live in unhygienic conditions. This department has also failed to assist municipalities like Emfuleni and Mogale City to fix their finances.”
The DA’s report card paints a grim picture of governance under Lesufi’s leadership, calling for urgent interventions to address the worsening state of service delivery in Gauteng.
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