mcf manifesto 2021 - makana-citizens-front.org.za
TRANSCRIPT
Makana Citizens Front
PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO
2
1. Foreword
ItiswithgreatpleasurethatonbehalfoftheMakanaCitizensFront(MCF)leadershipcollectiveandthecitizensofMakana,Ipresentthishistoricpeople’smanifesto.Inthelifehistoryofourbelovedcity,neverbeforehaveallcitizensfromallwalksoflife,bothblack,white,‘Colored’and‘Indian’cometogethertosupportaunitedcivicfronttocontestelections.Allmajorstakeholderssuchastaxiassociationsandvariouscivicmovementshavecometogether.Weareunitedinourdiversityaroundonecommonagendaofensuringthatweaddressthefollowingurgentissues,namely:
• rebuildingourcityfromtheruinsofcorruption• maladministration,• badgovernance,• incompetentofficials• nepotismandjobsforfriendsandpoliticallyconnected• infrastructuredecay,• paralysisbyANCinternalrot• servicedeliverycollapse.• crisisofhasteandqualitydeficiencyofleadership• crisisofwater• seweragespillages• corruption• risingunemploymentrate
Kindregards,LungileMxubeMakanaCitizens’Frontinterimconvenor
3
2. Makana Citizens Front’s vision and mission 2.1 Vision
Ourvisionistobuildawaterresilientandsustainablefuturecityfoundedonthevaluesofhumanrights,humandignity,peoples’democracy,inclusivegrowth,equaljobsandbusinessopportunitiesforallcitizensofMakana. 2.2 Mission
OurmissionistobringbackMakanaasthecapitalcityofinternationalandAfricanfestivalsthroughrestoringgoodgovernanceandruleoflaw.Toredressinfrastructuredecay,andcleanupmunicipaladministration,andfixthepotholes,seweragespillagesandthedirtinessofourcity.2.3. Objectives Oneofourkeyobjectivesistofixthebrokenmunicipalservicedeliverymachineryandtodemocratisethemunicipalitysothereistransparencyindecisionmaking,sothereiscommunityinvolvementtorestorepublicconfidence,andtobuildacaringmunicipality,unitedandpeople-centredandpeople-driven.TheMCFwillfasttrackinstitutionaltransformationanddevelopmenttodevelopanintegratedinfrastructuremasterplanforthecityandanintegratedenvironmentalmanagementplan.Wewillfocusonrevenuecollectionandfinancialviabilityofthemunicipality.TheMCFwillbuildagoodworkingrelationshipbetweenthemunicipalityandthebusinesscommunityandwillaimtoattractmoreinvestorstothemunicipality.TheMCFisfocussedonfindingwaystoaddresstheveryhighunemploymentrateofover70%inMakana,toaddressmasspovertyandgrowinghungerandtopromotessafercommunitiesworkingwithSAPSandcommunitystructuresindealingwithgenderbasedviolenceagainstwomenandchildren.2.4.OurcorevaluesTheMCF’scorevaluesarehonesty,integrity,transparency.Wewillensureethicalleadership.TheMCFisanti-corruptionandcommittedtoahumanrightscultureandconstitutionalism. WearecommittedtobuildingunityandsocialcohesionwherebothBlackandwhite,IndianandColouredlivetogetherinneighbourhoodsetupscharacterisedbypeace,harmony,securityandstability.Wearecommittedtogenderempowermenttoachievegenderequality.Wearecommittedtotheprincipleofanon-racialandintegratedsociety.Weareanti-xenophobicandantiracial-polarisation.TheMCFwillupholdprofessionalismandrunacommittedadministrationthatdeliversservicestothepeopleefficiently,quicklyandtimeously.Wewillnotwaitforsevendayswhenpeoplereportaseweragespillage.
4
Wewillintroduceanewcultureofperformanceexcellencewithconsequencemanagementforincompetence,lazinessandgrossnegligence.TheMCFwillempowerthemayortotakedrasticactionagainstnon-performers.TheMCFiscommunitybasedcivicmovementthatispoliticallynon-alignedthatisaccountabletothepeople.Weareanon-racialorganisation,democratic,anti-racist,people-centredandpeople-drivenorganisation. 3. Background to the Makana Citizens Front (MCF)
TheMCFwasformedoutofmasspublicmeetingsheldfromMay2021onwards,afterasuccessfulthreedayshutdownofMakhandabyresidentsandtaxiassociations.Theshutdownfollowedacrisisofseveralyears.Atthecentreofthecrisisiswater.Themunicipalityhasbeeninavirtualstateofparalysisandcollapseforaboutonedecade.Thelasttimeitreceivedanyaccoladesforservicedeliverywasin2005whenithadreservesofoverR50million.By2014,itwasbankruptandowedoverR150million.ThemunicipalitywasplacedunderadministrationtwiceandTreasurydevelopedafinancialrecoveryplanforthetown,butallofthisfailed.Otherinterventionshaveincludedsecondingmunicipalmanagersfromothermunicipalitiesandbringinginexternalchieffinancialofficers.Theseinitiativesfailedbecausecorruptionhadbecomeentrenchedacrossalllayersofthemunicipalityanditwasimpossibleforoutsideadministratorstoimplementtherecoveryplans.InJanuary2020,thelocalcommunitymovement–UnemployedPeoples’Movement(UPM)broughtthefirsteversuccessfulHighCourtapplicationinSouthAfricatohavethemunicipalitydissolvedonthebasisthatithadfailedinitsconstitutionaldutytoprovideevenabasiclevelofservicestoitsresidents.TheorganisationsandpeopleinvolvedinthisareallkeyplayersintheMCFandhavebroughtawealthofresearchexpertiseandorganisingexperiencetotheMCF,aswellascontributingtheirgoodreputationsinthedifferentcommunitiesofMakana.Currently,themunicipalityhastwoadditionalHighCourtordersagainstit–oneorderingittotakeimmediateactiontocontainseweragespillsandtheotherorderingittotakeimmediateactiontocleanupenormouspilesofrefusefoundinthetownshipswherethemunicipalityrefusestoprovidearegulargarbageremovalservice.ThemunicipalityhasignoredbothoftheseHighCourtorders.Therearehugeratinfestationsinthecitybecauseofthesegarbagepileswhichresidentshavetooccasionallyburn–causingfurtherhealthhazards.
4. Stakeholder Engagement and support for their interests TheMakanaCitizensFrontiscommittedtoworkingwithallstakeholdersandtosupportingthemincludingbutnotlimitedto,thefollowing:
5
• Non-governmentalorganisations–weshallsupportallNGOsthatareinvolvedinmanysocialactivitiesandprogrammessuchasthosewhoaresupportingvictimsofgender-basedviolence,childheadedfamiliesandsingleparentswhoarefacingthedailyhardshipofpovertyandagrindingunemploymentrate.Wewillsupportanti-crimecampaignprogrammesandactivelybuildstreetcommitteesinordertoachievethebuildingofsafercommunitieswhereourpeoplecanliveinasecured,comfortableandpeacefulenvironment.
• MakanaSportsCouncil–inthisregard,wewillimprovetheworkingrelationsandwewillensurethat15%ofthemunicipalgrantsthataresupposedtoberingfencedforsportsdevelopment,areinvestedappropriatelytoupgrade,maintainandimprovedsportsinfrastructureandfacilities.WeshallremovethemunicipalredtapetomakeiteasierforallsportingcodesinMakanatogrowandproduceprofessionalswhowillcompeteprovincially,nationallyandinternationally,toshowcasethatMakanahastalent.WewillensuresportsdevelopmentisrelocatedtotheofficeoftheExecutiveMayorwheretheMayorwillassignoneofthePRcouncillorstoberesponsibleforallsportsaffairs.WewillalsoexploreamanagementmodelwhereMakanaSportsCouncilwillhaveautonomytomanagesomeofoursportsfacilities,suchastheindoorsportscentre.Therewillbestrictmonitoring,evaluationandaccountabilitytothemunicipality.WeshallinvestinsportsdevelopmentbyensuringthatweappointasportsdevelopmentofficerwhowillbelocatedintheExecutiveMayor’soffice.WeshallconveneaSportsIndabawherewewilldevelop,jointly,astrategicblueprintdocumentforsportsdevelopmentinourcity.Weshallauditallfundsthathavebeencommittedbythemunicipalityforsportsdevelopmentandhowthesefundshavebeenutilisedbythepreviousadministration.
• Labour–weshallworkhardtoimprovetherelationswiththelabourcomponentandworktowardsresolvingissuessuchassalaryinequalities,municipalgradesandworktowardspromotinglabourpeaceandinvestinskillsdevelopmentfortheempowermentofworkers.
5. An over arching manifesto, service delivery priorities and ten-point plan
TheMCFwillensurethat:5.1 Theneedsofeachwardareassessed,andprioritiessetinconsultationwiththeirward
committeesinthefollowingkeyareas:- sewageprovisionandmaintenance(eliminatebuckettoilets)- waterprovisionandsecurity- wastemanagementandrefuseremoval- housing- electricitysupplyandsecurity- roadprovisionandmaintenance
6
- aesthetics(managementofgrass,treescemeteries)- publicrecreationareas,sportingandculturalfacilities,andchildren’splaygrounds- foodsecurityandsocialdevelopment- healthfacilities,disabilitysupportandsubstanceabusefacilities- communications
5.2 Thatdeliveryofmunicipaloperationsareimprovedthroughoversight,accesstoinformation
andcommunicationasfollows:- themunicipalitywillcomplywiththerelevantplanninganddevelopmentpoliciesofthe
country- municipalbudgets,incomeandexpenditurereports,auditreports,servicelevel
agreements,performancemanagementagreements,minutesofCouncilandcommitteemeetingsetcarepublishedonthemunicipalwebsiteandsocialmediachannels
- allmunicipalofficialsimplicatedinmaterialirregularitiesandotherformsoffinancialmisconductwillbeinvestigatedandreportedtolawenforcementagencies
- theemploymentcontractsofaccountingofficerswhoaidedandabettedcorruptactivitiesthroughthederelictionofdutieswillbeterminated
- theMunicipalPublicAccountsCommitteeandInternalAuditCommitteeisstrengthenedandsufficientlycapacitatedandsupportedbymanagement,workingtowardsacleanauditor-generalreportin2022/23
5.3 ThefinancialviabilityofMakanamunicipalitywillbeimprovedasfollows:- financialdisciplinewillbeexercised,themunicipalitywillseektoincreasethegatheringof
businessandresidentialrates,andimproverelationshipswiththecommunityviabettercommunicationsandimprovedservicedelivery
- themunicipalitywillseektoimprovethecollectionofservicepaymentsbyprovidingregularreadingofbulkandresidentialmeters
- themunicipalitywillplanfortheaccumulationofadequatecapitalreserves- Ensurethattheequitableshareisincreasedandusedforservicedelivery- andimprovethebillingsystem
5.4 Abusiness-friendlyenvironmentwillbecreatedtoencouragejobcreationandsustainability:
- alltenderswillbesubjectedtoanopenandtransparentprocess- thelocaleconomicdevelopmentunitwillbereviewedwiththeintentiontounlock
economicbenefitsforthelocalcommunity- anincentivepolicywillbeimplementedforinvestorsandlocaleconomicdevelopments- improvemunicipalcapacityforby-lawenforcement- themunicipalitywillworktowardsgoodqualityeducationforallandwillworktocreate
effectiveandconsistentservicedelivery
7
OurTen-PointPlanThefollowingtenpointplanisbasedonthepracticalneedsofourpeople.Duringourcommunitymeetings,thepeopleexpressedtheirfrustrations.Theyaresickandtiredofthecurrentservicedeliverycollapseanditsnegativeimpact,hencetheMakanaCitizensFrontwasborn.Havinglistenedtothedailyhardshipsandsufferings,thefollowingten-pointplanisourcommitmentandservicedeliveryprioritiesthatweshallimplementaspartofourfirst100daysinofficewhenwetakeover:
1.FIXBROKENMUNICIPALSERVICEDELIVERY
MACHINERY
Implementoversightandmonitoringandevaluation
Nocouncillorwillbepaidwithoutsubmittingawrittenreportthat
willbeverified
Noofficialwillbepaidasalarywithoutsubmittingareportontheirareaofresponsibility(from
themayortotheordinaryworker)
Salariespaidbasedonevidencethattheworkhasbeendone
AuditsConstituencyinputinto
whetherservicesarebeingdelivered
2.CLEAN
ADMINISTRATION
Introduceacultureofperformance
excellence
Consequencemanagementforlazyandcorruptstaffand
councillors
Incompetentofficialswillberemoved
Nepotismandsexorpaymentforjobswill
bepunishableoffences
8
3.STOPINFRASTRUCTURE
DECAY
Fixthewaterandsewagesystem
Repairallpotholesandtarorpaveallroads
Ensureallgarbageisremovedregularlyand
renovatecouncilbuildings
4.BUILDSAFERCOMMUNITIES
ENDgender-basedviolence(GBV)and
municipalsupportforGBVsurvivors
CampaignagainstAusterity
CampaignforaBasicIncomeGrant(BIG)forresidents
9
5.REVIEWTHETENDERSYSTEM
Minimiseoutsourcingwhichis
costly
Uselocalexpertiseforalltenders
Residentsofthewardtobeemployedonprojectsintheir
ward
6.ESTABLISHALTERNATIVERENEWABLE
ENERGYSOURCES
Exploreanewwindfarmandsolarenergy
co-operatives
Electricitytobeaccessibletoall
residents
Waterharvestingprojectsinallwards
10
7.REBUILDPUBLICCONFIDENCEIN
MAKANA
Municipalitytobepeople-centredand
peopledriven
Allactivitiesandworktobe
transparenttothecommunity
Municipalitywillaccounttothecommunity
8.USEMUNICIPAL
LANDFORTHEBENEFITOFALLRESIDENTS
Allmunicipallandtobeidentified
Municipallandtobeallocatedtoco-operativesfor
communityfoodgardens
Municipalitytofocusonmassivefoodproductiontofighthungerandpoverty;Establishlocalmarketssothatpeoplecaneatfresh
produce
11
9.PROMOTESOCIALYOUTHPROGRAMME
Fasttrackyouthskillsprogrammessuchasbricklaying,plumbing,electricalartisan,welding,plastering,painting,
othertechnicalandbuildingskills
Youthtrainingprogrammeswillmakethememployableanywhereinthecountry
Allyouthtobeworking
Allmunicipalprojectstohavesocialimpactonyouthpovertyandyouthunemployment
10.ETHICALTRANSFORMATIVE
LEADERSHIP
RestoretheRuleofLaw
Promotegoodgovernanceandethicalmunicipal
leadership
Zerotoleranceoncorruptionandpromoteclean,
transparentadministrationanddecisionmaking
12
6. Practical evidence of the living conditions of our people
Danile Malinga walks past one of the many places where sewage has leaked from broken drains for the past 3 years. It has been neglected and when it overflows there is flooding in Mr Malinga’s yard. This is the most dehumanizing situation. The MCF undertakes to fix sewerage spillages in the entire Makana.
Welekazi Makina who lives in Tantyi, struggles to get water as the communal tap is broken and the municipality refuses to fix it.
13
This area in Joza was supposed to be a mobi-gym for youth. More than R800 000 was invested by social development and the site was then neglected and abandoned. It is now being used as a dump.
A giant illegal dumpsite in KwaNdancama next to Mfanandini Tavern in Ward 9. The residents who stay next to the dump have become sick from the dead dogs and cats that are dumped there. The smell is unbearable and has lowered the dignity of our people. Even when they clean their homes within an hour, the garbage blows in and the homes are left in a mess again. The Makana Citizens Front will ensure that we remove all illegal dumpsites to restore the dignity of our
14
people so that they can live in a clean and healthy environmentally sustainable environment.
Sewerage and leaking fresh water mix together and flow through Joza.
Babalwa Dike stands in her front yard which is soaked in sewage.
[photos by Daylin Paul and Bonile Bam for New Frame]
15
7. Ward-Based Manifestos and Service Delivery
Priorities Introduction Fromthetimeofitsformation,theMakanaCitizensFrontinteractedwithallcommunities,engagingresidentseverywhereabouthowthecurrentandongoingmunicipalservicedeliverycollapsehasimpactedontheirlives.Amongstotheractivitiesthatwehaveembarkeduponiscommunityphotoshootingwithcandidates,andvideoshighlightingtheterribleconditionsthatresidentsofMakanaliveunder.WehavealsotakentheSABCtothedifferentsitesofMakhandatoengagewithcommunitieswhereordinarycitizenswereabletoexpresstheirdailyhardshipsandsuffering.Wehaveconvenedpressconferenceswherewelaunchedourelectioncampaignprogramme.WehaveissuedmediastatementsaboutproblemsinMakanaandwehavevisitedthefamilyofa13yearoldboywhotragicallypassedawayduetomunicipalneglectofanopentrenchandweofferedoursupport.TheMCFhasheldcommunitymeetingseverydayforseveralweekswherewerecordedallresidents’burningissuesandintroducedtheMCFwardcandidates.TheMCFhasalsoconducteddoortodoorcampaigning,andhasblitzedthecentralshoppingareadistributingflyers-thereceptionhasbeenverypositiveandgood.Ourwardcouncillorcandidateshavealldevelopedmanifestosbasedontheirinteractionswithresidentsintheirwards:
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
8. Conclusion Finally,MakanaCitizensFronthasarrived.WecalluponallresidentsandcitizensofMakanawhodeeplylovetheirgloriousCityofSaintsnottowastetheirvotebutgiveMCFachanceandvotetheMCFonthe1stofNovember.Please,let’sallremember,another5yearswiththeANCinpowerinMakanawillbeadeathsentence.Ourcommitmenttothevoters,residentsofMakanaandtheentirebusinesscommunity,isthatifyouvoteusintopower,wecommittothefollowing:
• Weshallrestoreanewcultureofperformanceexcellencewithconsequencemanagement.• Wewillputinplaceandensurefrommunicipalmanagertodirectorstosupervisorsthat
theysignperformancemanagementcontracts.• Wecommittoinstallanewadministrationthatisaccountableandtransparentwith
monitoring,oversightandevaluationsystemsthatwewillputinplace.• Wewillensurethatweintroduceapeoples’budgetingandplanningprocessforservice
deliveryprioritieswherecommunitieswillbeatthecentre.• Weshallrestoretheruleoflawandfirecorruptofficialsandarrestthieveswhohavelooted
ourmunicipalitytotheground.• Weshallfollowanddemandfinancialrecoveryamongstthosewhoarebeneficiariesof
Kabusoforensiccorruptionreport.• Wewillorganizethebusinesscommunitywhowillbeconsultedandwhowillhaveagreater
sayintheselectionofseniormanagersanddirectorsinthemunicipality.• Weshallprioritiselocalbusinessandthebestlawyersinthetown.Therewillbenomore
hireofexpensivelawyersfromoutoftownwhenwehavegoodlawyersinourcommunityandweshallcreateanenvironmentthatisconduciveforbusinessandinvestors.
Dissolve Corruption! Zizojika Izinto! Ontbind Korrupsie!
People Shall Govern!!
Vote Makana Citizens Front - MCF