Ekurhuleni services 'for rich and poor'

2011-06-02 16:01

Johannesburg - Delivering services to the poor will not come at the expense of the wealthy in Ekurhuleni, newly-elected mayor Mondli Gungubele said on Thursday.

"... In our endeavours to deliver to the poor, we should not find ourselves lowering standards for those already accustomed to high standards," he told the National Union of Mineworkers' central committee in Boksburg.

"After all, we are convinced that the poor aspire to a standard of living that is enjoyed by the wealthy.

"On their part, the wealthy pay for the services they receive and hence deserve for those to be maintained at a high level."

The metro would "maintain" the levels of delivery to "affluent" areas and would try to "systematically extend" these services to the rest of the residents.

Elections

Gungubele said the ANC had waged a "bruising campaign" in the recent local government elections.

"Objectively speaking, there were times when we did not seem to be on top of our game," he said.

This was a cause for concern and required that the ANC and its allies review its "strategy and tactics" going forward.

On the poll results, he said analysts had a "field day" reflecting on the trends and what these meant for the ANC.

"What appears not to be in contention is that the [Democratic Alliance] has made some gains, consolidating its support base in minority areas and making some inroads in our traditional strongholds," he said.

Gungubele said the DA's performance should be of "major concern" to the ANC.

Traditional support

"They defeated us emphatically in Cape Town... In contrast to the DA, we as the ANC seem to have lost out traditional support, especially in minority areas," he said.

On the upside, the ward in which ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe lives in Boksburg was now controlled by the ANC, he said.

"So, if Comrade Mantashe walks with a much lighter step of late, that is because we now have a situation where our SG is not under DA rule."

NUM's central committee meeting takes place over two days on the East rand.

Congress of SA Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is expected to address the meeting. An ANC leader is also expected to take to the podium later on Thursday.

- SAPA