mcf manifesto 2021 - makana-citizens-front.org.za

Makana Citizens Front

PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO

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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

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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.

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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:

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• 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

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- 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

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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

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3.STOPINFRASTRUCTURE

DECAY

Fixthewaterandsewagesystem

Repairallpotholesandtarorpaveallroads

Ensureallgarbageisremovedregularlyand

renovatecouncilbuildings

4.BUILDSAFERCOMMUNITIES

ENDgender-basedviolence(GBV)and

municipalsupportforGBVsurvivors

CampaignagainstAusterity

CampaignforaBasicIncomeGrant(BIG)forresidents

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5.REVIEWTHETENDERSYSTEM

Minimiseoutsourcingwhichis

costly

Uselocalexpertiseforalltenders

Residentsofthewardtobeemployedonprojectsintheir

ward

6.ESTABLISHALTERNATIVERENEWABLE

ENERGYSOURCES

Exploreanewwindfarmandsolarenergy

co-operatives

Electricitytobeaccessibletoall

residents

Waterharvestingprojectsinallwards

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7.REBUILDPUBLICCONFIDENCEIN

MAKANA

Municipalitytobepeople-centredand

peopledriven

Allactivitiesandworktobe

transparenttothecommunity

Municipalitywillaccounttothecommunity

8.USEMUNICIPAL

LANDFORTHEBENEFITOFALLRESIDENTS

Allmunicipallandtobeidentified

Municipallandtobeallocatedtoco-operativesfor

communityfoodgardens

Municipalitytofocusonmassivefoodproductiontofighthungerandpoverty;Establishlocalmarketssothatpeoplecaneatfresh

produce

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9.PROMOTESOCIALYOUTHPROGRAMME

Fasttrackyouthskillsprogrammessuchasbricklaying,plumbing,electricalartisan,welding,plastering,painting,

othertechnicalandbuildingskills

Youthtrainingprogrammeswillmakethememployableanywhereinthecountry

Allyouthtobeworking

Allmunicipalprojectstohavesocialimpactonyouthpovertyandyouthunemployment

10.ETHICALTRANSFORMATIVE

LEADERSHIP

RestoretheRuleofLaw

Promotegoodgovernanceandethicalmunicipal

leadership

Zerotoleranceoncorruptionandpromoteclean,

transparentadministrationanddecisionmaking

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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.

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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

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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]

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7. Ward-Based Manifestos and Service Delivery

Priorities Introduction Fromthetimeofitsformation,theMakanaCitizensFrontinteractedwithallcommunities,engagingresidentseverywhereabouthowthecurrentandongoingmunicipalservicedeliverycollapsehasimpactedontheirlives.Amongstotheractivitiesthatwehaveembarkeduponiscommunityphotoshootingwithcandidates,andvideoshighlightingtheterribleconditionsthatresidentsofMakanaliveunder.WehavealsotakentheSABCtothedifferentsitesofMakhandatoengagewithcommunitieswhereordinarycitizenswereabletoexpresstheirdailyhardshipsandsuffering.Wehaveconvenedpressconferenceswherewelaunchedourelectioncampaignprogramme.WehaveissuedmediastatementsaboutproblemsinMakanaandwehavevisitedthefamilyofa13yearoldboywhotragicallypassedawayduetomunicipalneglectofanopentrenchandweofferedoursupport.TheMCFhasheldcommunitymeetingseverydayforseveralweekswherewerecordedallresidents’burningissuesandintroducedtheMCFwardcandidates.TheMCFhasalsoconducteddoortodoorcampaigning,andhasblitzedthecentralshoppingareadistributingflyers-thereceptionhasbeenverypositiveandgood.Ourwardcouncillorcandidateshavealldevelopedmanifestosbasedontheirinteractionswithresidentsintheirwards:

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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