The African National Congress (ANC) will seek a turnaround strategy for municipalities before the public begins losing faith, secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Monday.
”The NEC [national executive committee] agreed that a turnaround strategy is urgently needed to restore the confidence of our people in our municipalities as primary delivery machines,” Mantashe told reporters following a meeting of the party’s NEC.
”If we are not [acting] decisively, society will start losing faith in government.”
Mantashe said the ANC would act not only in those municipalities where it had majorities, but also in those where it was in opposition. The party would work to ”empower” local councillors.
”If you don’t empower councillors for their day-to-day work … they can’t inspire confidence.
Mantashe’s remarks come amid service-delivery protests by frustrated citizens around the country. Some, particularly in Mpumalanga, have been marred by violence.
Recent protests in Lekwe municipality, which incorporates Standerton and Sakhile, resulted in the firing of the mayor, Juliet Radebe-Khumalo, and her committee.
”We see that there are quite a number of problems in local government,” said Mantashe.
”But we want to emphasise that a lot of councillors are doing good work.”
Last month, President Jacob Zuma said the government will not tolerate the destruction of property and the violence that often accompanies service-delivery protests.
”There is no cause in a democratic and free society, however legitimate, that justifies the wanton destruction of property and violence that we have witnessed,” he said.
His remarks followed a wave of violent protests in municipalities, many of them accompanied by clashes with police.
Zuma said South Africa has a proud history of protest against wrongdoing and injustice.
”This is our heritage. It is what makes South Africa the vibrant democracy it is today, and will continue to be in the future.
”However, burning down libraries, torching houses of people and looting spaza shops do not build a strong nation. It does not solve our legitimate problems.”
Zuma said that while condemning the negative elements of some of the protests, it has to be acknowledged there are challenges that need urgent attention. — Sapa