ActionSA in Ekurhuleni warmly welcomes the decision made by the Mayor to recall the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Energy, Water, and Sanitation, EFF appointee, Cllr Manamela.
On August 23, 2023, ActionSA publicly called for the removal of MMC Manamela due to significant service delivery failures that occurred under his leadership. Today, we feel vindicated following his removal from office.
This MMC was entrusted with the oversight of critical departments responsible for delivering 60% of the services to our residents and managing a significant portion of the City’s budget, amounting to R55.3 billion.
As early as June 19, our caucus began witnessing major service delivery failures in the department under MMC Manamela’s responsibility. These issues began in Buhle Park, where residents were without power since April. Only after our intervention did the process of installing new transformers commence.
On August 3, 2023, ActionSA facilitated a meeting between the Head of City Planning & Service Delivery and Germiston business owners. These business owners explained that the department failed to repair simple fuses or provide estimated restoration times, resulting in severe financial losses for local businesses.
On September 18, 2023, after months of inadequate water supply, residents in Kwa-Thema and Tsakane took to the streets to express their frustration. Our ActionSA councillors were on the ground, assisting residents during this crisis. However, the MMC was conspicuously absent and failed to address the situation.
Under MMC Manamela’s leadership, local businesses and the overall economy experienced a sharp decline due to the City’s energy and water crisis. Therefore, we wholeheartedly support the Executive Mayor’s decision to recall Cllr Manamela from this critical department.
As a constructive opposition party in Ekurhuleni, we have demonstrated that political oversight during crises is essential for reforming underfunded and poorly managed departments in the City. We commit to holding the incoming MMC to the same high standards as we did with Cllr Manamela.