TOPHAM FOR MAYOR

By Cllr Francois Bekker
Brandon Topham is the DA’s Tshwane mayoral candidate. Bringing youth, expertise, business acumen, and zest to the candidature, Topham promises to embody DA supporters’ quest for change that is so desperately needed to turn the Tshwane Metro’s track record of one of the worst performing metros in the country into a success story synonymous with genuine service delivery to all the residents of the city.

Topham is committed to champion good and clean government underscored by transparency, accountability and effectiveness. “I am firmly committed to creating an employment generating environment. I realize the paramount importance of economic development that is needed to achieve the growth, progress and stability that is needed to build a strong and prosperous society.” said Topham when he accepted his nomination as the DA’s mayoral candidate. “I am cognisant of the fact that the mayoral position is an unremitting responsibility.” Topham added.

With an impressive background as a Forensic auditor, Topham is a Charted Accountant and an attorney he will show zero tolerance to corruption, maladministration and incompetence that rob residents of value for their rates and taxes.

Elected for a second term last year as chairperson of the DA Gauteng North region, Topham enjoys the support of his colleagues and is regarded as someone who unites people around shared values, goals and aspirations.

The many leadership positions held by Topham in various organisations and committees is testimony of Topham’s leadership ability. “I am often the maverick that chooses not to be ordinary, because ordinary, as the saying goes, does not change the world.”

Married to Mari and the father of three sons, Topham values the essence of family as the foundation of a stable society. “As a politician I care deeply about the wellbeing of people and their futures” said Topham. “My aim is to make the Tshwane Metropolitan city a place where people from all walks of life can pursue their dreams and live the lives they choose to live.”

MAYOR GIVES ELECTION SPEECH

Today’s State of the City address by the Executive Mayor can be seen as a pre-election speech. Although he mentioned the successes of the Metro during the previous five years, he did not mention any shortcomings in delivery.

The Democratic Alliance yesterday proposed for the second year an alternative State of the City Address highlighting the ANC’s failures in several departments.

If one looks at service delivery one can really think of many instances where the Tshwane Metro failed the community. Why did the switch gear in the Kentron Substation at Centurion catch fire? Because of the failure to implement a maintenance plan for such infrastructure? Why is raw sewage running into the Apies River at Rooiwal? Why are many Itsoseng residents still not connected to an installed sewage system in their township?

The Mayor said that the City must start enforcing city by-laws vigorously and he mentioned safe buildings. All I can ask Mr Mayor is when last did you look at our own building? Do you ever use the dysfunctional lifts in Munitoria and do you ever park in the basement parking of Sammy Marks to experience the fresh smell of sewage? Not to mention the grass that is growing on top of some of the parking garages in the Munitoria yard.

He said that the Metro provided more than a million plastic bags for waste collection. The question is - who benefited; the residents or the service provider?

As far as the next five years are concerned: Yes it is a good wish list and it is a challenge to set tough goals. The question remains: will the Mayor with the manpower/structures in place be able to meet these goals? I doubt it!

FIREMAN'S DEATH HIGHLIGHTS STORMWATER PROBLEM

BY CLLR KAREN MEYER

I wish to add my condolences to those already extended to the family of Mr Henry Knox by my colleagues, Ben and Dana Wannenburg, on behalf of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Tshwane Caucus. It is always sad when we lose our members, particularly when they lose their lives to either save or serve others in the community. We salute them!

As Alderman Gert Pretorius (DA Caucus Leader in Tshwane) indicated in a statement issued last week, how many more lives must be lost and/or property damaged before the Tshwane Metro Council gives urgent attention to the insufficient and inefficient storm water drainage system in the City of Tshwane? Clearly, the infrastructure cannot handle the flooding on the scale that we have been witnessing. Judging from world trends regarding unpredictable weather patterns, we can expect more of these types of natural disasters. WE NEED TO BE FULLY PREPARED!

A thorough risk analysis needs to be done immediately and the red areas identified. Once this has been done, adequate budgeting can take place. For example, the department of Disaster Management only receives about R12 000-00 per annum which is budgeted for disaster relief aid (eg. blankets). Other departments do assist but do not really budget for this.

Furthermore, are our emergency services properly equipped with general disaster management vehicles? Are their current vehicles sufficiently suited and equipped to deal with natural disasters such as flooding? If not, this should be budgeted for as a matter of priority.

We should not put the lives of our emergency services personnel at any greater risk –their jobs are hazardous enough. The DA wishes to thank each and every member who was (and still is) involved in rescue missions, for the sacrifices made in serving the residents of Tshwane. We pray for their safety.

FLOOD DAMAGES PUT SPOTLIGHT ON INSUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE

BY ALDERMAN GERT PRETORIUS,DA LEADER IN THE TSHWANE METRO COUNCIL

During the week following New Year scores of residents in the north of Pretoria were washed out of their homes by heavy rains in the area. Hammanskraal seems to have been one of the worst affected areas. Furniture and personal belongings were apparently lost or damaged. Residents interviewed by the media expressed their dissatisfaction with the ANC-led Tshwane Metro Council and blamed it for their losses. They allegedly claimed that the council had failed to address their problems.
A week later, the Pretoria News headline screamed: “Wall crushes toddler to death”. According to the article, a three year old orphaned boy was killed after heavy rains caused a wall to collapse in Winterveld (about 30km north of Pretoria).This occurred on Sunday, 9 January 2011.
Once again, members of the community blamed the government for the tragedy. They complained that they had to live in mud shacks whilst waiting for RDP houses. A community leader is quoted as having said: “Just early in the afternoon before the accident, we were with the member of the mayoral committee (MMC) and we told him that the houses were not safe as it was raining but it seemed as though our pleas fell on deaf ears”.
How many more properties must be damaged and/or destroyed or even worse, lives lost, before the Mayor and his committee take firm steps to address the issue? We in the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Tshwane Metro Council understand what it is to have our pleas fall on deaf ears. Whilst we are limited in the actions we can take, the community can do something positive. There is really no place for suffering in a democracy – Give the DA a chance to govern Tshwane and vote for change during the forthcoming municipal elections.

BOLD STAND AGAINST CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ASKED

By Cllr Francois Bekker

The eight suspects who are implicated in a child pornography case that shocked South Africa in the past few days appeared in the Pretoria North Magistrate court yesterday.

The DA gathered outside the court to show its support to the 16 days of activism against women and child abuse. The DA called on the community to take a bold stand against child abuse.

CRIME IN PRETORIA EAST

By Cllr Karen Meyer

In a newspaper article this morning, a robber allegedly told a home-owner in Faerie Glen (in the east of Pretoria) that the area was dangerous and questioned why the family had moved there. As the DA ward councillor in the area, I can assure residents that Faerie Glen is no more dangerous than other areas in Pretoria East and in general, the crime rate in this area compares favourably to some other areas in Pretoria (as was set out in the statistics released by the SAPS earlier this year).

Having said this, crime in general is not acceptable and I have discussed the situation with the Tshwane Metro Police, as well as with the South African Police (SAP) at both Garsfontein and Boschkop. They have assured me that more visible patrols will be instituted in Faerie Glen (and other areas in their jurisdiction) and they will be supported by organizations such as neighbourhood watch, sector policing personnel, Radio Buddies and private security companies.

We are all aware that crime tends to increase at this time of the year as people are spending more money, going on holiday (thereby leaving their houses unattended) and generally, being in a more relaxed mode. The police have pointed out that it is for these reasons that the public must be more vigilant. By all means enjoy yourselves but do not relax your guard completely (for example, by leaving your doors open whilst entertaining outside).

Should residents require crime prevention tips, the SAP and/or Metro Police will be more than willing to assist in this regard ( this is also regularly done by way of the media and is on-going at this time of the year).

SETTLEMENT FOR KEKANA NOT IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE

By Cllr Brandon Topham

The Democratic Alliance in Tshwane is pleased that the outstanding Ntsebeza report was released to council. We do not support the decision taken to make a settlement offer to Kekana of R2,340,512. We do not agree with the ANC's decision to settle rather than complete the investigation which commenced in February 2010. The inspection to date has incurred R757 553 in costs but has no conclusive conclusions due to reported interference and lack of co-operation form officials per instruction of the previous Mayor Ramokgopa. Whilst we agree that spending money to complete an inspection which in part will be covered by the Special Investigations Unit does not make sense, we believe that in the interest of justice and proper public administration, Kekana and the public deserve to know the truth about the allegations prior to him being paid a golden hand shake of convenience which will allow the city to wash its hands of the dirty laundry in the eye public for so long. Why should our money be waisted just because our previous Mayor did not allow evidence to be presented to the investigators? The money spent to date is wasteful and fruitless expenditure due to her actions and should be recovered from her. Allowing someone to escape justice purely because of inconclusive evidence due to interference is bad for our city and creates an unhealthy position. The city must bite the bullet and complete the inspection without interference and then a decision made. The current payment of convenience is not acceptable in a modern democratic and transparent society. Kekana must face the charges and be cleared or found guilty.