/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Ekurhuleni is the filthiest Metro in Gauteng, and it comes as no surprise that the municipality’s R1.2 billion waste collection project has nothing to show for it.

Amabhungane has reported that disgruntled waste collectors in the City, who were the intended beneficiaries of this R1.2 billion job creation programme were being underpaid.

This project was meant to create jobs in the City and also offer a mentorship programme to 45 community-based waste collecting contractors and six recyclers by local companies in the area.

At the end of the mentorship programme, contractors were supposed to have their own equipment, their own plant and have a favourable bank profile.

However, a forensic investigation has since revealed that community contractors were purportedly underpaid by R2.69 million while the companies who were to mentor them were overpaid by R7.6 million for alleged fictitious services.

This report also comes of the back of a report by the Public Protector which found that the City was in contravention of the Constitution after it failed to collect refuse in the Kempton Park area.

While billions of Rands have been poured down the drain - not a single person has been held to account for this.

In a municipality where unemployment stands at 39%, it cannot be that programmes meant to uplift communities, provide basic services and keep our streets clean, has amounted to naught.

This is not the first waste project where millions of Rands have been squandered by Mayor Mzwandile Masina and his ANC cronies.

A similar R27 million project by the City, which was to empower waste pickers by providing them with Tuk-Tuks, never saw the light of day.

These Tuk-Tuks, which were purchased from a company linked to ANC Spokesperson, Pule Mabe - a known associate or Mayor Masina, are currently lying stripped and abandoned on the outskirts of Heidelberg.

This once again highlights how the ANC-led city is abusing public funds to line the pockets of a few connected individuals at the expense of residents, completely side-stepping their Constitutional mandate.

When the DA takes office in Ekurhuleni every dodgy tender will be investigated and every cent of misappropriated funds will be recouped.

Those who have squandered public funds must be ready to switch their Green, Gold a Black attire for the Orange jumpsuits of Modder Bee Prison.

Come 1 November, residents of Ekurhuleni will usher in a government that doesn’t steal, but that gets things done.

Issued by DA Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate, Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL