10 Point Improvement Plan for the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality

Democratic Alliance 10 Point Improvement Plan for the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality

1. DRASTICALLY REDUCE CRIME by ensuring municipal policing services are efficient, effective, adequately equipped and responsive through training, training and more training to improve the quality of policing staff. We will expand the number of municipal police in areas where crime rates are particularly high and we will ensure that at least one response car per municipal ward is available at all times.

1. CREATE A TRANSPARENT AND CORRUPTION FREE MUNICIPALITY by ensuring that all council and sub-council meetings are open to the public, ensuring that all council and sub council meeting minutes, IDP documents and other important documents such as the budget are accessible to the public and, by establishing an effective system to process complaints and to report corruption. We will open our tender adjudication committee to the public to ensure that the whole process is transparent and fair.

1. APPOINT QUALIFIED MUNICIPAL COUNCILLORS AND CAREERED MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS by ensuring that all DA councillors and Mayors are “fit for purpose” and that they sign a DA Councillors Charter that commits them to a required standard of service. We will appoint officials based on ability and not on party affiliation and continuously monitor and evaluate individual staff performance. No jobs for pals!!

1. IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE by creating one-stop service centers in which all municipal functions would have offices and officials to assist residents. We will ensure that these offices are adequately staffed and fully equipped, these staff will be trained and effective.

1. DRASTICALLY IMPROVE MUNICIPAL FINANCES by ensuring an effective billing system is put into place operated by trained and competent officials, thus ensuring correct billing for all residents. An effective debt collecting process must also be implemented thus ensuring that the municipality receives, on a monthly basis, all monies owed to it.

1. CARE FOR ALL THE POOR by providing rebates for the poor, disabled and pensioners based on a combination of property values and the level of household income. We will implement an indigent policy to provide relief for residents unable to afford the basic necessities of life including a basic water supply, sanitation, electricity and refuse removal.

1. ENCOURAGE ENERGY SAVING AND “GREEN” PRACTICES by offering residents the opportunity to recycle all waste, introduce energy saving methods in the home and at work, and by offering incentives to encourage the installation of energy saving devices in the home and at work.

1. INTRODUCE A NEW SYSTEM OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION thus ensuring a more effective partnership between the municipality and residents, greater input and by-in by residents in municipal projects thus increasing “customer satisfaction” with residents.

1. INCREASE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN UNDERPRIVILEGED AREAS AND DEVELOP A SYSTEM OF EFFECTIVE MAINTENANCE WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY EXISTS, we will ensure that the we are able to provide bulk service delivery and maintain bulk service infrastructure, including electricity, water and sanitation services. Roads are the lifelines of the city and as such must be maintained and extended to all areas. A turnaround time of no longer than 48 hours will be allowed for the repair of potholes, and all faulty traffic lights and non-functioning street lights will be repaired within 24 hours. We will increase the staff operating our Customer Care Service Hotline from the current 41 agents to 200 agents, thus ensuring a 24 hour response time.

1. UNINTERRUPTED SERVICE DELIVERY is a right of every resident of the city. We will have an effective plan in place to ensure that service delivery remains uninterrupted, regardless of any form of protest that is taking place in the city.