DA Pretoria Candidates Announced

The DA in Pretoria is proud to announce the names of 10 candidates who obtained high positions on the DA's provincial and national parliamentary lists for the 2009 elections. In the photograph above are:

Back: Kenneth Mubu (Academic), Stevens Mokgalapa (Councillor), Dr. Manie van Dyk (MP), Fred Nel (Councillor), Justus de Goede (Councillor).

Front: Les Labuschagne (MP), Rika Kruger (MPL), Sej Motau (Businessman), Natasha Michael (Councillor).

Absent from this photograph is Juanita Lourens-Klopper (Academic).

You may contact any of these candidates to address a house meeting or other event or just chat with them about the DA through the DA Gauteng North Regional office at Tel: 012-343-1358.

DA Speeches in Council 29 January 2009: Transport

SPEECH BY CLLR JUSTUS DE GOEDE

Annexure A Bus rapid transit function

Mr Speaker

Allow me to address these closely-aligned Items jointly, as each bears directly on the other.

The DA has often said in the past that the BRT proposals, which have also been adopted by Johannesburg and Cape Town, are with some reservations, a positive development. No conventional bus system in South Africa can be described as working well and the concept of a dedicated bus thoroughfare, while extremely expensive and complex to build, has been shown elsewhere to contribute to moving people rapidly and safely. Item 3 correctly identifies the problem of taking the taxi industry in particular with us, as both Cape Town and Johannesburg found out to their cost.

Having said this, I think we have to admit that the BRT system in this city – and I am fairly sure the same goes for the other Metros – will not be ready to contribute to public transport in 2010, which makes the reference on page 9 to the fact that “Tshwane’s new buses will not be delivered”, puzzling. I take it these are the standard passenger busses, not suited to the BRT. Estimates from manufacturers are that about 1 200 extra buses would be needed in SA for 2010, assuming they can be built in time ; how does our Metro tend to tackle this problem?

I know that the Mayor is allergic to the word “bus”, but I would be pleased to hear from the MMC exactly what is on the table for the extremely demanding transport program for the World Cup ; we surely don’t intend to run the present museum pieces during the tournament, even if Economic Development has requested a budget for paint to make them look more presentable.

So, mr Speaker, if BRT is no-show in 2010, what then?

Thank you

Councillor Justus de Goede (083 7332557)

SPEECH BY CLLR PETER MILLAR (DA), ward 41.

Annexure A.2. Item 1

Tshwane International Freight Airport

Member of the Portfolio Committee, City Planning and Regional Development.

In the book, Alice in Wonderland, they spoke about curioser and curioser.

In this municipality everything is curiouser and curioser.

This report about the Tshwane International Freight Airport is not just curioser, but also imaginable and quite comical.

About two years ago when the original report first served in Council, it stated the following:
This was a private initiative and the municipality would not be involved.
The only costs to the municipality would be provision of services, water, sewage, electricity, roads, etc.
The main reason for establishing this airport was that Boeing wanted to build a service centre in the southern hemisphere and this was the perfect location.
Freight would be a secondary activity to make extra money.
Wonderboom Airport would not be affected at all by the new airport.

This report starts off with some very flowery language that is reminiscent of the Wonderland that Alice lived in.

In point 2, if you believe the writer, you can imagine the six lane freeway that extends all the way all the way up Africa, through the rift valley, into Cairo. All fantasy, of cause.

The writer of the report starts to hallucinate even more when he talks about the airport creating 66 000 new jobs every year. That is just a dream.

The hallucination continues through the report.

No mention is made of Boeing and its service centre. Maybe that was an illusion in the first place.
The costs of development will be the responsibility of the municipality.
It goes so far as to say that the Municipality must expropriate the land.
Then the report reaches its height of obserdity when it says that Wonderboom Airport must close.

As you can see, this is in total contradiction to the earlier report.

Maybe this report was presented as some kind of joke for our amusement. In that case the writer has something in common with the author of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll.

However, the author was known use opium before writing his books. I certainly hope that the writer of this report does not use opium or anything like that. I hope it was only his wild, creative, imagination that came to the fore while writing this report.

To be able to imagine that this municipality could afford buying the land when money is in such short supply, is a real gift. We are talking about hundreds of millions of rands. However, the report does not specify how much all this will cost, but does expect this almost bankrupt Council to make a decision.

I would venture to say that there are numerous other projects have priority before this type of expenditure.

This project can only become a reality with the backing of national government. We can never do it on our own. Why we are even trying, I don’t know.

We must have a serious commitment from national government before we waste any more time and effort on this unaffordable project.

Let’s have a dose of reality and realise that we do not live in the fantasy world of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland.

All that we have got is Gwen in Wonderland by Tobogo Komane.

PETER MILLAR
DA COUNCILLOR, WARD 41
012-342-0527
082-574-4103
petermillar@polka.co.za

Speech: Council 28 aug 08 - Bus Rapid Transport

Annexure A.1 : Items 9 and 10 – Bus Rapid Transit Operation Plan and Atterbury Road Bridge

Mr Speaker

As Council knows, the proposed BRT system holds a number of advantages over traditional bus networks and the project has received consistent support from this side of the Chamber. Nevertheless, as the report says, it is a “very complex, time-consuming and expensive project”.

So much so, mr Speaker, that we once more have to urge speed on the municipal departments responsible ; there is general skepticism about even Line 1 being operational in 22 months’ time, when the SWC begins. These doubts have been reinforced by statements from the taxi operators here and elsewhere in the country, that they have not reached agreement with BRT operators on routes and other issues. The same caution applies to the Gautrain feeder systems, where the operators cannot as yet tell us what the arrangements are.

The other element of concern in the report is the reference to “integration of the Tshwane Bus Services“ with the BRT network. Sir, I am not certain what is being referred to here, as the inner-city bus service known to me is the Pretoria City Transport, which is in such disarray that a motion has been submitted to this meeting for later discussion. It does not help much to postulate a role for a transport operator which, at best, will have to be radically overhauled.

The widening of the Atterbury Road bridge to accommodate the BTR lane is a welcome piece of far-sighted planning ; the only question is – when will it actually be used?

Councillor Justus de Goede
Democratic Alliance
Tshwane Metro Municipal Council
Cell : 083 733 2557

DA Tshwane Caucus Has a New Leader!

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has pleasure in announcing the new leadership to lead the Tshwane DA Caucus.

The DA would like to congratulate the following persons for being elected to leadership positions in the Tshwane DA Caucus:

- Kate Prinsloo as Leader;

- Justus De Goede as Chairperson;

- Dana Wannenburg as Vice-chairperson;

- Natasha Michael as Chief Whip; and

- Derek Flemming as Deputy Chief Whip

The DA has full confidence in this team who will lead the Official Opposition in Pretoria with zest and dedication

Kate Prinsloo issued the following statement outlining her vision for the caucus.

The DA in the Tshwane Metro Council faces unique challenges and opportunities in the run-up to the 2011 Local Government elections when it is our intention to take over the government of the city. To this end the DA sees itself not so much as the official opposition but more as a government in waiting. Recent by-election results in the city has shown a marked decrease in support for the ruling party and increasing support for the DA. This trend is being supported by national opinion polls.

If all opposition supporters come out in force to vote in 2009 and 2011 and we continue to see the ANC support dwindling we can take over the city. The combined opposition vote in the Tshwane local government election polls was 42,76 . A coalition government, led by the DA, is the obvious solution to our city's problems. Under the leadership of Helen Zille great strides have been made towards making coalition governments work. Already the working relationship between the DA, the Freedom Front and the ACDP in council has improved immeasurably and it is my intention to further consolidate this working relationship.

There is a great depth of skills in the DA Caucus. We have two qualified and experienced CA's who represent the party in the financial portfolio. This as opposed to the ANC and even council where there are no CA's at all. We have lawyers, engineers, trade unionists, demographers, activists and very experienced politicians in our caucus. What distinguishes us from the ANC is that we see ourselves as potential managers of the city and not as incumbents to the gravy train. It is my responsibility and the responsibility of each member of my caucus to show how we could govern this city better.

The DA is appalled at the performance of the Mayor, who seems to be emulating Mbeki by the amount of international swanning about she does instead of dealing with problems, often of her own making, on her own front step. It is time for her to step down and I will, as leader of the caucus, do everything within my power to make this happen sooner rather than later.

The internal dissent within the ANC is palpable and is further debilitating an already dismal performance. I am concerned that when we take over this local government in 2011 it will be completely bankrupt, financially, morally and operationally. The flight of skills from council as a result of the poorly conceived and badly managed Alternative Delivery System has now reached epidemic proportions. We need to assure officials and citizens that we are not necessarily in a never ending downward spiral. That change is possible and that change will come soon.

It is not my first time as caucus leader. In 1994, during the transitional phase of the present phase I was the only member of the then DP in Council. I was therefore leader, chief whip and bottle-brusher for a while. The caucus now boasts 47 DA councillors and it is a privilege and a challenge to lead such a big team.

I joined the then Progressive Party in 1974 and have been continually involved in politics ever since, through the dark days of apartheid, Nationalist Party rule and the halcyon days of the achievement of our constitutional democracy. I have also, unfortunately, seen the systematic erosion of everything we fought for over the last few years. I have spent a term in the Gauteng Legislature as DA Spokesperson for Social Welfare and Population Development and also for Education. Local government however remains my passion. It is at this level that we still have a semblance of direct representation and where we can truly make a difference to peoples lives.

I have studied law, history and politics, am an Advocate of the High Court and have a particular interest in family law. I have lived in Pretoria (not Tshwane) all my life. I have three sons and two beautiful grandchildren.

Councillor Kate Prinsloo (083 458 5324)

Tshwane Council Meeting 31 July - Corporate Services

DA rejects proposed municipal travel policy

Media release: Councillor Justus de Goede, DA, Tshwane. 31 July 2008

A proposal by the Mayoral Committee of the Tshwane Metro Municipality, tabled at the Council meeting of 31 July, was flatly rejected by the Democratic Alliance.

The agenda item outlined a proposed new travel and subsistence policy for the city’s public representatives and officials. Councillor Justus de Goede of the DA described the proposed policy as “provocative and unacceptable, as it proposes inter alia that the Mayor, Speaker, Chief Whip and Municipal Manager qualify for first class international air travel.

“In the current economic climate, given the state of the city’s finances and the fact that only cabinet ministers and heads of government departments in exceptional circumstances may travel first class, this is a major lapse of judgement. In addition, the proposed policy makes allowance for the partners of full-time public representatives, which includes Mayoral Committee members, to take their partners with them overseas, also in first class. Again, this is not government policy.”

De Goede added that the DA had requested that the “insensitive” proposals be reconsidered ; the DA had registered its objection against the item.

Clr Justus de Goede
Cell : 083 733 2557

DA verwerp voorgestelde reisbeleid

Media verklaring: Raadslid Justus de Goede, DA , Tshwane, 31 Julie 2008

‘n Voorstel van die Burgemeesterskomitee van die Tshwane Metro Munisipaliteit, wat gedien het by die Raadsvergadering van 31 Julie en waarin ‘n nuwe reis- en verblybeleid vir die stad se openbare verteenwoordigers en amptenare voorgestel word, is summier van die hand gewys deur die Demokratiese Alliansie.

Die agenda item verduidelik ‘n voorgestelde nuwe reis- en verblyf beleid vir die stad se openbare verteenwoordigers en amptenare. Raadslid Justus de Goede het die voorgestelde beleid beskryf as “ uitlokkend en onaanvaarbaar, aangesien daar inter alia voorgestel word dat die Burgemeester, Speaker, Hoofsweep en Munisipale Bestuurder kwalifiseer vir eersteklas vliegtuigkaartjies vir buitelandse besoeke.

“In die heersende ekonomiese klimaat en in die lig van die stad se finansiële toestand, sowel as die feit dat slegs kabinetsministers en departementshoofde, in buitengewone gevalle, toegelaat word om eersteklas internasionaal te vlieg, is dit duidelik dat hierdie voorstelle gebaseer is op besondere swak oordeel. Wat meer is, word verder voorgestel dat voltydse openbare verteenwoordigers, wat lede van die Burgemeesterskomitee insluit, ook hul metgeselle mag saamneem op buitelandse besoeke, ook eersteklas. Dit is eenvoudig nie in lyn met regeringsbeleid nie”.

De Goede voeg by dat die DA versoek het dat hierdie “onsensitiewe” voorstelle heroorweeg word. Die Party het sy beswaar teen die item aangeteken.

Raadslid Justus de Goede
Sel 083 733 2557

PART II, ITEM 9
CORPORATE AND SHARED SERVICES DEPARTMENT: STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
FY2006/2007 INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW: PERFORMANCE BONUS PHASE 1 CLOSURE REPORT
(PAGES 344-407 (358)


The first question that comes to mind when seeing this report is why it took council more than 12 months to come with said report! According to the legal binding employment contracts with officials and former officials, it clearly states that “Council should execute payment of a performance bonus 6 weeks after the assessment process has started”. This should therefore have been six weeks since end June 2007. This process only started in October 2007!

Can this lack of execution of audit function in the city not be seen as fruitless and wasteful expenditure when officials and unions take legal action against council for not honoring their side of the contracts? This could be reiterated by the fact that said officials and former officials did not receive any explanation as to the reason(s) for the delay or a timeframe for the conclusion of this issue!

The second issue that can be seen from this document, is that 11 of the 24 candidates are today no longer in the employment of the council! All 11 former officials received between 92% and 100% on their scores! As can be seen on page 348 under Category 1c, all except one is still with council! This is nearly half of senior officials in council! I am also aware of at least one of these candidates that received a score of more than 90% in this report, still in the employ of council that received an astonishing demotion to a position of no title! What does this say about the performance plans, score cards and performance agreements? We seriously need to look at it!

Well done to the City Manager and the Mayor! This must be the greatest example of how not to run a city! Either you have no use for officials that do the job well, or you do not want officials that know how to do the job! Either way, the little bit of expertise and experience that were still available to council and therefore to the benefit of the residents, are now lost to us. What or rather who are we left with?

The fact that the most resent Chief of Metro Police, Hlula Msimang received a score of 93% and the fact that his contract only expires in 2010 should state the obvious that with such a score and a contract, he could still try to make a success of the Metro Police and therefore the Safety Department. But no, the Municipal Manager and the Mayor decided we should rather terminate his contract with a probable big handshake to go with that, and re-employ the most controversial official this council ever had in his place!

It is time this council and the Mayor start to explain their decisions, because, believe it or not, this kind of behaviour does not make sense to anyone who believes in a fair, just and accountable governed city council!

Therefore the Democratic Alliance wishes to add a new recommendation, which reads as follows:

Add recommendation 10:

“ That a report be submitted to the next Council meeting containing copies of performance contracts of the City Manager and all Section 57 employees.”

COMPILED BY:
CLR KAREN MEYER
DA SPOKESPERSON: COMMUNITY SAFETY
TSHWANE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
(MOBILE: 082 3737 662)