The DA might be celebrating a highly successful set of election results, but now comes the time to deliver on some of those promises they’ve been making.

They can’t really do worse than what’s come before, but if they want to continue to strengthen ahead of the 2019 general elections then municipalities like Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay have to make some drastic changes.

Early indications are that things are set for a real shake-up, and front and centre is cost-cutting. Here’s TimesLive:

[City of Tshwane executive mayor Solly] Msimanga put a stop to all inaugural parties and catered inaugural events for Tshwane’s new executive‚ and has stopped celebratory dinners and lunches which only benefit politicians.

“This new government in Tshwane has stopped the spending of exorbitant amounts on food and parties for politicians. We must serve the people‚ not party with public funds‚” he said.

About bloody time, sighs everyone except for the political fat cats gorging themselves at every opportunity.

How about those exorbitant overseas trips, paid for by none other than you and I?

Msimanga has also placed a moratorium on all international travel for politicians and officials of Tshwane‚ and trips of this nature will only be allowed after applications are made to the mayoral committee and they are subject to cost-benefit analyses.

“There are benefits to international travel for trade and investment‚ but a culture of taking trips to conferences and junkets all over the world will not be allowed under my government. I have stopped all new international travel requests and we will carefully scrutinise each one individually‚” Msimanga said on Wednesday.

It’s sad that looking after people first and politicians second seems like such a novel concept, but I guess the rot that starts from the top was left unchecked for far too long.

Here’s hoping those in charge of Tshwane can direct the extra funds to those who need it most. The people voted for change, something they sure as hell deserve.

[source:timeslive]