By Thebe Mabanga
The embattled mayor of Ekurhuleni, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, is expected to deliver his much-anticipated State of the City Address (SOCA) this Thursday at the council chambers in Germiston.
Some of the key highlights of his address will include addressing a significant R2 billion revenue shortfall due to tampering with electricity accounts, recent illegal strikes by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), and various other service delivery challenges.
Xhakaza is also expected to tackle issues such as infrastructure development, power and water supply challenges, road conditions, and human settlements across Ekurhuleni, the country’s largest industrial region.
Last week, Xhakaza told a local publication The African Reporter that he believes the investigation into the R 2 billion revenue shortfall, which stems from tampering with about 1 600 electricity accounts where arrears are illegally wiped off, is the reason behind the recent motion of no confidence brought against him by the Independent Citizen Movement (ICM), supported by African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP).
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) initially supported the motion but, according to the Mail & Guardian, have since withdrawn their backing, though they acknowledge the concerns raised by opposition parties regarding Xhakaza’s leadership.
The investigation, led by MMC for Finance Jongizizwe Dlabathi, was presented to the council at the end of February and will now involve the Auditor General.
Xhakaza, however, remains resolute in addressing these issues despite political opposition, and intends to escalate matters to the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance Jacob Mamambolo or through legal means if necessary.
“We are on course to sort out the rot, and frivolous motions by political parties, driven by those responsible for this corruption, will not deter us,” said Xhakaza.
“It is time we get administrators to account. They are hell-bent on doing everything possible to ensure the report does not go through council.”
Palesa Yates, a councilor for the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) told Inside Metros that the party backed the motion of no confidence against Xhakaza, but denied that they were working with [implicated] officials, noting that although the matter of a revenue shortfall came before council, they did not even know the officials being investigated.
“We supported the motion because of the trajectory of the City’s finances.” said Yates, who noted that in December for example, the council cash at hand would last for ten days instead of the 25 days stipulated by National Treasury.
She also noted that investors are deterred by poor bulk infrastructure while the City’s roads are not safe to drive on at night due to poor visibility and potholes.
Responding to questions about SOCA, Yates said she expects Xhakaza, the city’s former long serving Finance MMC, to “again make promises” about clean governance, service delivery and possibly jobs.
Last Wednesday, parts of the city came to a standstill as local metro police blockaded major highways, including major artery routes to OR Tambo International Airport, in protest over working conditions, overtime, and other grievances.
The EMPD has since met with MMC for Finance, two other Mayoral Committee members, the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), and the South African Police Service (SAPS), with an agreement to address the concerns raised.
The metro has vowed to take action against those who participated in the strike.
The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) has expressed support for Xhakaza, dismissing the motion against him as “political expediency aimed at causing undue panic within Ekurhuleni communities.”
SANCO highlighted service improvements under Xhakaza’s leadership, including the restoration of 50 kWh of free basic electricity, 6 kL of basic water and sanitation, zero property assessment rate payments, and free refuse collection for the city’s most vulnerable residents.
It also pointed to efforts to restore financial prudence and urged residents to pay their rates.
However, SANCO acknowledged ongoing service delivery gaps, particularly in Eskom-supplied areas, including delays in electricity restoration, water supply disruptions, overgrown grass, cemetery maintenance, and stalled mega housing projects.
The address is scheduled to begin at 10am on Thursday.
INSIDE METROS