The local elections were a serious kick up the behind for our country’s ruling party, and nowhere was that more apparent than in Gauteng.

The people voted, and the people voted for change. This means it’s time for the DA to deliver on all their lofty promises, which is why they’ve formulated a 10 point plan aimed at improving the lives of those who call the city home.

We know that the DA is ringing the changes in Tshwane (HERE), but let’s look at what new Jozi mayor Herman Mashaba (pictured below) has in store for the Big Smoke.

These resolutions below were taken during a four-day session held at the Joburg Theatre last week, the plan being to help the new political leadership “understand what is required to speed up service delivery to residents”.

Below from IOL:

1. A recognition by the political and administrative leadership of the political arrangement/coalition imposed by the electorate in Joburg. This was necessary to help the city move forward with speed and to be responsible to the electorate’s wishes.
2. Joburg must run a responsive and pro-poor government. This city can be business-friendly and pro-poor at the same time, said Mashaba.
3. Plans and policies must be aligned for the city to work towards achieving a 5% economic growth rate. Joburg should become the engine of the country’s economic growth and this can’t happen at the current growth rate, [Mashaba] said. It is absolutely critical for the city to achieve 5% GDP growth because failing to kickstart the Joburg economy will have dire implications beyond Joburg’s own borders.
4. Create a professional public service that serves Joburg residents with pride. Our residents deserve a city which serves them with the highest standards delivered by a civil service that is dedicated and proud;
5. Ensure that corruption is public enemy number one in Joburg. Corruption steals from the poor and should be nipped in the bud, Mashaba said.
6. Revive the inner city to bring people and business back into the inner city. The official housing waiting list should get signed-off by the mayor within 90 days.
7. Produce, within 60 days, a report on the number of completed houses built by the city and the province – but not yet allocated or handed over to beneficiaries. It is unacceptable that there are houses that have been built, but remain unoccupied when many of our residents live without acceptable accommodation…
8. Fast track the handover of title deeds – to ordinary residents, churches and businesses.
9. Use one of the clinics as a pilot project to investigate possibilities of availing our health facilities to residents for extended hours. Universal access to health is an ideal the city must work towards.
10. A city that is business-friendly attracts investors and entrepreneurs and this leads to the creation of much-needed jobs. Forty percent of issues plaguing South Africa are self-inflicted, said Mashaba. “This great city of the African continent needs to apply itself to what holds us back, cut red tape and ensure we not only improve efficiencies, but also serve with pride…we will all see that our aspiration to achieve the 5% GDP growth is not overly ambitious. It is, with the right attitudes within the city, with business coming on board, very achievable,” he said.

Hey, if Trump can ‘make America great again’ there’s certainly hope for Jozi.

We’ve all grown accustomed to hearing empty platitudes, which means that list above might seem like another political party telling the people what they want to hear.

Only time will tell if the DA can set itself apart from what came before, but at least the bar hasn’t been set very high.

[source:iol]