Johannesburg Mayor Dr. Mpho Phalatse on Sunday rejected reports that she was about to reshuffle her Mayoral Committee.
“Over the last few days there have been inaccurate reports of my intention to reshuffle Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs) and to purge senior City officials and the senior management of some Municipal Entities,” Dr. Phalatse said.
“I wish to empathically state that this could not be further from the truth.
“These reports have been based solely on the word of unnamed ‘sources’ and a spurious and unseen ‘leaked document’.
“In my view, these sources and the leaked document do not exist.”
On Friday a national daily reported that Dr. Phalatse was expected to make certain changes in her cabinet, reshuffling some members of the mayoral committee and firing others.
Referring to a “leaked” document, the publication said those expected to be reshuffled include Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) of Public Safety David Tembe (ActionSA), MMC of Transport Funzi Ngobeni (ActionSA), and the MMC for Housing Mlungisi Mabaso (IFP).
However, on Sunday the mayor rejected the reports as false saying: “This is but another attempt by our political opponents – both inside and outside of the City – to disrupt the work of repairing and rebuilding Joburg, and our programme of dismantling criminal syndicates that have for been for years siphoning off money meant for the much-needed delivery of services.”
Dr. Phalatse said, “these reports and their drivers” were part of a disinformation campaign that seeks to sow disunity and distrust among coalition partners, who work daily in service of the City of Johannesburg’s 6-million residents.
“Equally, the peddling of false information about a political “hit list” aimed at City and Entity senior managers is designed to create a culture of fear and divide and frustrate the flourishing relationship between the Executive, Legislature, Core Administration and Entities,” the mayor said.
“Where there is corruption and maladministration this will be acted against without fear or favour, and in line with legal prescripts, not the whims of individuals.
“This multi-party government has every intention of changing Joburg for the better, and completing the work of repairing and rebuilding the City – work we intend on doing until our term in office is complete.
“Already residents are beginning to see and feel a better City; and where the changes are not seen or felt, we have every intention of addressing those issues, as the R77,3-billion 2022/23 budget, which came into effect on 1 July, gains momentum.”
