Chamber warns of Vaal time bomb

VANDERBIJLPARK. – Organised business took an unprecedented step by writing a letter to the Premier of Gauteng, Mr David Makhura, asking for his immediate intervention to rescue Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) from total financial and operational collapse.

The letter, which was sent to the Premier in middle April, was preceded by a meeting between Emfuleni’s mayor, Mr Simon Mofokeng and the CEO of the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce, Mr Klippies Kritzinger. He was assisted by executive member Carole Mahlangu. The meeting centred around the total collapse of service delivery and financial discipline in ELM.

In the letter, of which Vaalweekblad received a copy, Mr Kritzinger told Gauteng’s Premier that, during the past weeks, Emfuleni Municipality had experienced a serious reduction of service delivery, notably in the form of non-removal of refuse. “This has impacted negatively on the lives of ordinary Emfuleni citizens and is a clear breach of the Constitution,” Kritzinger wrote.

In his letter he also told the Premier that poor financial control measures, an unmotivated management, incompetent staff “doing nothing”, and continuous legal battles, will guarantee “the total collapse of our beautiful area.”

He further states that Emfuleni is sitting on a time bomb with 54% of its Sebokeng community unemployed. “The Logistical Hub Project as promised and supported by Province has failed us due to the incompetence of senior management,” Kritzinger wrote.

He further told Premier Makhura that the biggest tipping point for the Vaal Triangle business community was the recent resignation of Municipal Mayor Yunus Chamda. “For many years he was an honest, motivated, hard-working official, and for him to resign is a clear indication of serious red lights.”
Kritzinger stated the following aspects where Emfuleni needs urgent provincial intervention:

– Financial Management,

– HR/Legal/IR support as there is a total lapse and complete lack of accountability,

– Water supply – irregular supply due to lack of infrastructure maintenance,

– A long-standing problem of sewage-collection and disposal

– Refuse removal – currently non-existent due to vehicle-breakdowns and non-payment of suppliers

– Electricity – regular power cuts are experienced

– Municipal health services – currently there are very limited or no medical supplies available at government clinics

– Municipal roads and storm water drainage (the Vaal Triangle is now known as the ‘Pothole Capital’ of Gauteng),

– Street lighting – crime is thriving in the Vaal Triangle due to non-maintenance.

Kritzinger requested an urgent meeting with the Premier within the next two weeks to address the business community in the “Golden Triangle.”

“The immediate intervention from Province will insure we do not have to go the path of requesting and implementing a process to ensure that ELM is put under administration.” He also promised support and advice from the business community if needed, but said solutions have to be found as soon as possible.

* The Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce is widely recognised as the collective voice of business in the Vaal Triangle and incorporates Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging, Midvaal and Sasolburg. It also resides in the jurisdiction of Sedibeng, Emfuleni, Midvaal and Metsimaholo. The Chamber of Commerce has a long-standing business relationship with NAFCOC Sedibeng as well as Global Business Roundtable.