Mashaba takes aim at e-tolls, cadres and cycle lanes

JMK via Wikimedia Commons

Mashaba is also focusing on cleaning up the city's finances, vowing to crack down on city officials who cost the city R5bn in fruitless and irregular expenditure in the previous financial year. "We will conduct a forensic audit, targeting expenditure and tenders that have raised suspicion. Hear me and hear me well, there will be no slaps on the wrists, there will be no quiet departures or golden handshakes. Those found guilty of corruption and fraud will go directly to jail," he said.

The mayor also said he would break large tenders into smaller pieces and cut out middlemen who sub-tender to smaller parties, to curb corruption.

Also in his sights is what he sees as the city's unnecessary spending, particularly on the much-touted bicycle lanes and for marketing and advertising. "I was concerned to note that R70m has been set aside over the next three years for the development of bicycle lanes around our city. I intend putting a halt to this project. When every road in Johannesburg is tarred, maybe then we will look at bicycle lanes again," said Mashaba.

He said the city will not be spending money on lavish parties and self-promotion, and Johannesburg's political leadership should be ashamed that it had spent more than R156m on marketing and advertising. Of that, R56m went to communicating the end-of-term performance of the outgoing administration, said Mashaba.

He also said that, contrary to criticisms, that he did not understand the plight of the poor, he would ensure the Johannesburg government was a pro-poor government.

Among the raft of changes to be implemented by Mashaba's administration are:

• A review of the boards of city entities to ensure maximum performance and clean governance.

• A skills audit to ensure employees have the skills needed for their jobs. "The days of cadre deployment are over," Mashaba said.

• Longer working hours for Pikitup to make sure the city centre is clean.

• Shift changes for the Johannesburg metro police department to ensure by-laws are enforced.

• Cutting the response time for burst pipes and leakages to two hours after they are reported.

- With TMG Digital

Source: BDpro