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PREMIER MABUZA CALLS ON MAYORS TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND BECOME SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE


20 September 2016

Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has called on the new municipal leadership to humble themselves and become the servants of the people.

Premier Mabuza was speaking yesterday [19 September 2016] at the Premier’s Coordinating Forum Lekgotla in White River where he urged especially the executive mayors to passionately and holistically work for the people.

He said Mpumalanga province was fortunate that the people still believed in the ruling party hence it is leading in all the municipalities, however the new municipal leadership needed to continue to work hard and win the trust of the people.

“Judging from the results of the local government elections, we have seen that there is some discontent from our people, some opted to abstain from voting. I am however sure that some of our people still have the hope on us that we will attend to their issues."
“The message is clear that there is discouragement. The opposition parties are capitalizing on the shortcomings of the ruling party. Some of the shortcomings they raise are genuine, and some are exaggerated."
“It is clear that the things we do as the ruling party, some of them constitute our downfall especially the manner we present ourselves to the people, sometimes we are very arrogant. We are however fortunate in the province; we have been afforded the privilege to serve the people again. Let us therefore go all out, humble ourselves, work hard and become the servants of the people,” said Mabuza.

He called for order and unity within municipalities urging the mayors, speakers and chief whips to work together saying internal squabbles were a source of the problems endured by the ruling party which led to the decline of its votes.

“There must be a unity of purpose and peace. The three of you [mayor, speaker and chief whip] must lead and unite the institutions. Let’s focus on our work and stop quibbling. The issues at hand are about the delivery of the basic services which is water and sanitation, houses, electricity, fighting unemployment, building stronger communities and ensuring sound finances at our municipalities,” said Mabuza.

The Premier explained that he would serve in the provincial government until the last day of his time as he has realized that some of his colleagues were eyeing his seat.

“I can see my colleagues are getting ready to occupy my seat, I hope they will be patient enough to allow me serve until the last day of my time, otherwise this is going to disrupt the workings of the ruling party."
“Leaders will come and leaders will go, we need to be patient enough to observe these times. Let us bear in mind that we are source of most of the problems we have, they emanate from us. Our span of life as politicians is very short, however we go to that space knowing very well our jobs are not guaranteed,” he said.

He said the state of the municipal finances was a mess and blamed the executive mayors for not taking the responsibility. He instructed them not to employ new employees if they had no budget for such, and urged them not to spend what they did not have.

Once again, he voiced his views regarding an Eskom account that it was not profitable to the municipalities.

“All of us here are owing Eskom, we are paying penalties year-in and year-out. At one stage I once proposed that municipalities should pull out of this account because they are operating at a loss. Why do you continue selling something that you are not making any profit out of it?” he asked.

The Premier further told them to fill in all funded critical vacancies in order for their institutions to function properly.

“We can turn the situation, let us focus on our work by providing good leadership and create jobs. We have realized that as the ruling party, our downfall is at the municipal level, we must strengthen ourselves at this sphere because we are aware also that the opposition parties are using this card of lack of employment because people expect government to create jobs and employ everyone,” said Mabuza.

Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Office of the Premier
Tel: (013) 766 2453
Mobile: 082 616 6698
E-mail:
mncwangoz@prem.mpg.gov.za


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