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ActionSA is assisting residents in Kwa-Thema and Tsakane in Ekurhuleni - where service delivery protests have erupted after major failures by the metropolitan government with regards to water supply.

This is another sign of the failure of the EFF Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Water, Sanitation and Energy, Cllr Leshaka Manamela, who oversees these critical departments.

Kwa-Thema and Tsakane have been struggling with intermittent water and electricity supply for weeks, with some areas still without water. ActionSA councillors in the area have been deployed to assist with communicating restoration times with residents and deploying water tankers to affected areas.

Last month, ActionSA called for MMC Manamela to resign over the continued failures from the departments he oversees.

ActionSA wrote to MMC Manamela as early as 09 May 2023 regarding water restrictions in these areas and asked for a meeting with his departments at the nearest Customer Care Centre to find a workable solution. We received no response.

On 21 August 2023, ActionSA met with officials servicing the areas of Kwa-Thema regarding intermittent electricity supply, but there has been little progress in installing a new transformer for the area.

Although ActionSA is well aware that the City has failed to upgrade water and electricity systems over the past 29 years, making interruptions inevitable, the failure of the ‘People’s Government’ to communicate with residents and hold non-performing officials to account is unacceptable.

It is clear that Mayor Ngodwana has failed to appoint capable members in his Mayoral Committee and is hopelessly underprepared to lead this City.

As a constructive opposition party in Ekurhuleni, we are working with our activists on the ground to communicate with residents and ensure water tankers arrive timeously to these affected areas.

Issued by  ActionSA COE Caucus Leader, Siyanda Makhubo