Concerned civil society groups call for accountability as they offer plan to return CoJ to former glory
The organisations met President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet on Friday afternoon at the metro’s headquarters in Braamfontein.
The commission of inquiry into the Usindiso blaze inspeced five buildings suspected of being hijacked in central Johannesburg on 3 July 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Concerned civil society organisations have presented a plan to the government on how the City of Joburg can be restored to its former glory.
The organisations met President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet on Friday afternoon at the metro’s headquarters in Braamfontein.
They told the president it appeared that there was no political will to address service delivery shortfalls in the city.
"Accountability is but a slogan. Water can flow, and electricity can go out. Nobody has ever been held accountable for it and nobody loses their jobs when they don’t do their job in the city."
That was the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Neeshan Balton telling Cabinet that the word "accountability" had almost become non-existent in the City of Johannesburg.
He said if government was indeed serious about turning the metro around, government must crack the whip on incompetent city officials.
"There must be a review of all senior managers at CoJ and entities whether they can do what they are employed to do. We think that these boards must be scrapped. If they can’t be scrapped, change the composition."
The Gauteng government has welcomed the submission by civil society, emphasising the need for collaboration between the two.