Gwamanda failed to give accurate representation of Joburg’s finances, say opposition parties
Johannebsurg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, in his second State of the City Address, assured residents that the metro was financially stable despite its poor revenue collection and budget adjustment.
Picture: X/KabeloGwamanda
JOHANNESBURG - Opposition parties in Johannesburg said that Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda failed to provide an accurate representation of the municipality’s finances.
Gwamanda delivered his second State of the City Address (SOCA) at the Council Chambers in Braamfontein on Thursday.
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He assured residents that the metro was financially stable despite its poor revenue collection and budget adjustment.
Opposition parties believe Gwamanda is encouraging residents to be optimistic and resilient to hide what they say is his failure to stabilise the municipality’s coffers.
Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader, Belinda Kayser-Echoezonjoku, said Gwamanda was not honest about the city’s financial struggles.
"The mayor has said a whole lot of nothing. He has basically not taken the residents of Johannesburg into confidence."
At the same time, ActionSA’s Nobulhle Mthembu insisted that the current administration was failing to do its job.
"How can the hub of Africa not have finances to sustain the residents, to provide water?"
But Johannesburg’s financial crisis is a long-standing issue, which the DA and ActionSA also battled during their time in government.