Lack of leadership led to the city of Tshwane facing a R560-million debt, the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in Tshwane region said on Friday.
”The City of Tshwane has failed dismally to provide leadership to its citizens when needed thereby resulting in a poor implementation of debt collection policy which led to the council’s R560-million debt to Eskom and Rand Water,” said spokesperson Thandiswa Mpondo.
She said although many municipalities were facing a rough patch as a result of the economic meltdown, the ANCYL believed in Tshwane’s case it was a result of lack of leadership and poor management.
”This lack of leadership and poor management also finds its expression to the masses of our people as the service delivery is greatly affected,” she said in a statement.
On Thursday, mayor Gwen Ramokgopa said the city would be ”tightening its belt” to counter its cash flow problems.
Speaking at a media briefing, Ramokgopa rejected claims the city was facing a financial crisis.
The city was recently forced to take out an overdraft of R1,2-billion after it was unable to pay Eskom, Rand Water and others about R700-million for services rendered.
Ramokgopa said by December the city would have reduced the overdraft to R800-million.
The Youth League also wanted the city to speed up the process of changing the name of the capital from Pretoria to Tshwane.
”We strongly believe that the council is not taking the matter of name change serious[ly] … we do not agree with a barrel naming as is used in terms of 2010 Fifa World Cup.
”We are calling upon the ANC council and progressive political organisations in council to petition the minister of arts and culture to bring this matter into its logical conclusion … and the name must be Tshwane.” — Sapa