Karabo Ngoepe, News24
Pretoria – Newly elected mayor of Tshwane Solly Msimanga says no one will be allowed to use blue lights in traffic in the city except the President of the Republic.
“Blue lights will be a thing of the past in the city. The only person who will have blue lights will be the president of the country,” Msimanga told reporters on Friday.
“Gone are the days where publicly-elected officials will think they are VIPs. The only VIPs will be the people of the city.”
Msimanga said that was to ensure that leaders never get to think they are more important than the people who put them in office.
“The moment people feel like they are more important that’s when they start serving themselves instead of serving the communities. Our officials will also need to be engaging with our communities more instead of only when there are service delivery protests,” he said.
“That is saying to our people that we value you, you are more important and we will come listen to you and we will act on what you are saying.”
ANC threat
Msimanga responded to the African National Congress’ threat that it was in charge of the majority of wards where he would have to engage residents.
The ANC chairperson in Tshwane Kgosientso Ramokgopa pointed out that the party was in charge of 69 wards in the municipality and Msimanga would have to address them and be introduced by ANC councillors who can decide to “throw him under the bus” in their introductions.
Msimanga said that was nothing more than trying to disturb the rolling out of service to settle a score.
“I want our residents to know that the ANC will halt service delivery in areas they think is their home. This is something that is very telling that they will want to risk our people receiving services just to prove a point. We will ensure that service delivery takes place even in those wards,” said Msimanga.
