Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English by Tshegofatso Pheto and in Afrikaans by Gerhard Strydom
Outrage is mounting after revelations that senior political offices in Matlosana have spent R662,000 on new furniture, replacing furniture that is still in good condition, despite repeated complaints from frontline workers about the lack of essential tools to carry out their duties.
The expenditure, which includes luxury desks and chairs for the offices of the Speaker and the Single Whip, as well as the alleged R280,000 conference table purchased by the Executive Mayor, comes amid ongoing reports of under-resourced departments where employees lack basic equipment.
The water teams in Matlosana that are supposed to attend to pipe bursts, need comprehensive toolboxes equipped with shovels, picks, screw drivers, torches, pliers etc. are currently working with cell phone lights and without the basic tools.
A fully equipped toolbox is around R18,000. There is simply no funding available for much-needed basic tools, but politicians can spend R662,000 on luxuries while basic services can either not be delivered or take hours due to a lack of equipment.
This is a slap in the face of our front-line workers and the public alike, as these funds could have been used to address urgent service delivery backlogs and support overstretched staff, or paid towards the arrears owed to ESKOM and Midvaal Water Company.
This incident raises further concern about fiscal discipline, prioritization of public funds, and the ANC’s leadership’s commitment to equitable service delivery.
The Democratic Alliance demands transparency and a redirection of resources towards areas of real need. It is unacceptable that image and comfort take precedence over service and responsibility.