No plans to resign, says Tshwane Mayor
Tshwane City Mayor Cilliers Brink says he has no plans to resign from his post.
Brink reacted on social media on Wednesday evening, after the African National Congress (ANC) said on platform X that Brink was on the verge of packing up his office.
This comes after ANC's Gauteng chairperson Panyaza Lesufi said political intervention is inevitable in cash-strapped Tshwane.
Lesufi made the remarks at the conclusion of the ANC's Provincial Executive Committee lekgotla held earlier this week.
It also comes in the week in which National Treasury has warned Tshwane of the possibility that the city could lose about R650 million after it failed to spend the grants during the 2023 / 2024 financial year.
Lesufi said Tshwane is one of the worst-performing metros in the country.
However, Brink hit back saying that his administration is trying to save Tshwane from insolvency and what he calls networks of corruption that are service to the ANC.
Dear Dr Mampara — I’m going nowhere. The last candidate you fielded in Tshwane was an unrehabilitated insolvent. We’re trying to save Tshwane from insolvency, and from networks of corruption serving your comrades. Maybe you should pay attention to your coalitions in Joburg & Ekh. https://t.co/GLYfGlrErD
— Cilliers Brink (@CilliersB) February 14, 2024
Tshwane DA spokesperson Kwena Moloto says the City Manager is in the process of finalising their response to National Treasury.
"The City Manager has until next week to respond to National Treasury in order to detail the planned measures to ensure the full utilization of the grant funding before the financial year concludes in June 2024. These measures have been adopted by Council," says Moloto.
"It is also important to highlight that Tshwane was not the only Municipality to receive such a letter from National Treasury. In Gauteng, the Cities of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni both received similar letters.
"However, conveniently for Premier Lesufi and the ANC, the only letter to be leaked was Tshwane’s. The campaign season is upon us and the ANC’s desperation can be seen through their attempts for cheap political point scoring.
"It is true that Tshwane has underspent several grants so far in this financial year. However, this is as a result of the introduction of tighter controls in order to curb corruption and fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the Municipality."
Moloto added that tighter controls and oversight have meanwhile been implemented.
"While this has decreased the speed in which grants are spent, it has ensured funds are spent on the residents of Tshwane instead of funding ANC politicians lifestyles."
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