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The DA is concerned about the high number of vacancies in the ANC-mismanaged City of Ekurhuleni Municipality. The 3 178 vacant positions are a serious threat to service delivery, with chronic underspending on services to the people being the result.

Most notably, the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) has almost 600 vacancies. This undermines efforts to ensure that the people of Ekurhuleni are kept safe. In contrast the DA-led coalition government of Johannesburg has recently graduated 1 500 Johannesburg Metro Police (JMPD) recruits, who will actively work to keep communities safe. The DA-led coalition government in Tshwane has implemented measures to ensure faster response rates by officers and has introduced units to ensure that Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) officers on visible and on the ground.

The 3 178 vacancies in the City of Ekurhuleni are as follows:
• There are 581 vacancies in the EMPD,
• There are 424 vacancies in the Department of Real Estate,
• There are 268 vacancies in the Department of Finance,
• There are 244 vacancies in the Department of Sports, Recreation Arts and Culture,
• There are 227 vacancies in the Department of Health and Social Development,
• There are 180 vacancies in the Department of Transport,
• There are 173 vacancies in the Department of Energy,
• There are 169 vacancies in the Department of Water and Sanitation,
• There are 165 vacancies in the Department of Waste Management,
• There are 144 vacancies in the Department of Roads and Storm Water, and
• There are 78 vacancies in the Human Resources Department.

Aside from the blatantly crippling impact that these vacancies have on service delivery, 3 178 local families could benefit from these vacant job opportunities. This while the people of Ekurhuleni are suffering under a 32.2% unemployment rate in the metro. This unfortunate state of affairs raises serious questions around the planning on the part of the ANC-run Ekurhuleni administration.

Under-staffing and subsequent underspending on service delivery are early indicators of slowed growth and ultimately of slow job creation.

It is clear that the ANC-run Ekurhuleni Municipality under Zuma cheerleader, Mayor Mzwandile Masina, does not care for the people and has no plan for safety and service delivery.

The people of Ekurhuleni deserve a new beginning under a DA-led government that puts their interests first.

Issued by da