Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Werner Pretorius MPL and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL. See attached pictures here, here, and here with full speech here.
Today, I signed a five-point pledge in Bloemfontein, committing to deliver a future DA-led administration that will restore effective local government and get Mangaung working.
The pledge focuses on five key priorities:
- Fixing the City’s finances
We will restore financial discipline by rooting out corruption, ending wasteful expenditure, fixing the billing crisis, improving revenue collection, and ensuring every rand is spent on delivering services to residents.
- Delivering reliable water and electricity
We will invest in maintaining and upgrading water, sanitation and electricity infrastructure, repairing leaks and faults faster, reducing losses, and ensuring residents and businesses can rely on uninterrupted basic services.
- Building a clean, safe and corruption-free city
We will ensure regular refuse collection, maintain parks and public spaces, strengthen law enforcement, protect municipal infrastructure, and implement a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and maladministration.
- Repairing roads and critical infrastructure
We will accelerate pothole repairs, implement preventive road maintenance, ensure that traffic lights and road signage are functional, and hold contractors accountable for delivering high-quality infrastructure.
- Creating jobs and growing the local economy
We will cut red tape, attract investment, support local businesses, promote tourism and major events, and create an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive and more residents can access employment opportunities
Our pledge follows months of engagement with residents, businesses, community organisations and other stakeholders across Mangaung, who identified failing services, poor infrastructure and financial mismanagement as the city’s biggest challenges.
If successfully elected into government on 4 November, the DA will focus on getting the basics right, restoring accountability, and creating a city where residents can once again have confidence in their local government. Mangaung has the potential to be the flagship Metro in the province. With our rich history and central positioning, the DA can unlock the municipality’s potential.
Our plan is informed by the successes achieved in municipalities governed by the party across South Africa and calls on residents to unite behind a shared vision of towns and a city that works for everyone. We have the blueprint, and we want to bring tried-and-tested practices to Mangaung.
Our plan works when residents ensure they are registered to vote ahead of the November elections and cast their vote for the DA on 4 November.