JOHANNESBURG – Several political parties have promised to speed up service delivery, create jobs, and build a smart city should either one of them gain control of the City of Johannesburg in the upcoming 2021 municipal elections.
Representatives and candidates from the ANC, EFF, DA, Al-Jama’ah Party and ActionSA announced their individual post-election plans at Salaamedia’s Johannesburg Mayoral Candidate Debate at Marks Park, Emmarentia on Wednesday evening.
From land audits and land reform to creating a business friendly environment, here’s what each party is promising voters:
African National Congress (ANC):
Speaking on behalf of her party and its mayoral candidate Cllr. Mpho Moerane, ANC regional executive committee member Matshidiso Mfikoe said that the party will build a “strong” and “innovative” city through engagement with communities.
“The ANC intends to make sure that we build a smart, innovative city; a financially-sound and well-governed city. We’re committing ourselves, working with our communities, to build a strong city,” she said.
She added that they intend on delivering services “promptly and very consistently”, and that the party will work with communities to improve health and safety in the City of Johannesburg.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)
Democratic Alliance (DA)
“The City of Joburg is broken. Residents, business, civil society – everybody in the city – is asking for a restoration of normality and functionality in the City of Johannesburg,” said Dr. Mpho Phalatse, mayoral candidate for DA.
Dr. Phalatse outlined the party’s “seven pillar manifesto”. This includes the party’s focus on service delivery, infrastructure investment, safety, skills development and the transformation of Johannesburg into a smart city.
Al-Jama’ah Party
Thapelo Amad, mayoral candidate for Al-Jama’ah Party in Johannesburg, said that the party is a “political platform for all communities” which is committed to creating access to opportunities for residents.
“We are committed to [being] an alternative voice for service delivery, a voice of accountability, advanced digitization in the City of Johannesburg, foster social cohesion and curb the digital divide,” he said.
Like his counterparts at the ANC and DA, Amad said the party is committed to transforming the city into a smart city. He added that they are an “alternative voice for economic recovery”.
ActionSA
John Moodey, Gauteng chairperson of ActionSA, said that the party will overhaul municipalities in South Africa by implementing a customer-centric approach to governance.