The frequency with which new instances of corruption, dysfunctionalism and neglect make the headlines has inverted Pliny the Elder’s expression –‘there is always something new out of Africa’ because under the ANC there are no such surprises.
The latest case in point concerns the R41 million purchase of 41 ambulances that have been parked, unused, for six years in Johannesburg (The Mercury, August 31). With political parties scampering around canvassing votes for the November election, the apparent silence on this issue from those who have been on the Johannesburg Council since the last election is disgraceful.
Surely DA representatives on the Finance and Emergency Services Committees should have been aware of this appalling situation and raised it years ago? Their apparent silence (or ignorance?) confirms the point that councillors do not have oversight, only aftersight of municipal affairs.
The reported back-and-forth between the bureaucrats in the Johannesburg City Council and the Gauteng provincial government on who is responsible for what and in whose court this issue belongs illustrates why the ANC government is such a shambles.
That is why, regardless of which party gets to govern a municipality, until and unless the fat cat entrenched, installed ANC cadres are rooted out, nothing will change. Hopefully, Helen Zille has that objective front and centre on her radar when she becomes mayor of Johannesburg.
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