EXCLUSIVE: Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink "will act with vicious resolve"
Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink spoke to Breakfast with Martin Bester about the current problems in Tshwane and his uncertain future as mayor.
Mayor Cilliers Brink has been making headlines following disruptive strikes by Tshwane municipal workers demanding a salary increase of up to 5.4%.
The City of Tshwane has been granted a permanent interdict against municipal employees who embarked on the illegal strike at the end of July, and are continuing with their action.
Last week Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Zingiswa Losi warned that Brink's days in office are numbered.
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According to Jacaranda FM News, Losi made the remarks after Brink failed to receive a memorandum of demands from Cosatu members who marched to Tshwane House on Friday.
On Monday, Brink joined Breakfast with Martin Bester to set the record straight on the various matters currently surrounding his office and the capital city.
The Tshwane mayor told Martin Bester that the city cannot give in to violence and intimidation.
Wage increases will cost the residents of Tshwane money, and Brink maintains there is not sufficient funding available due to load shedding and the impact of COVID-19.
Over the past decade, there has been R10-billion irregular expenditure, according to Brink, which has also led to further financial problems and mismanagement in the City.
"Because we didn't have majority rule, in the past it was difficult to change certain issues."
Brink also addressed the issues plaguing the Rooiwal Waste Water Plant in the north of Tshwane.
Earlier this year, this plant was linked to a cholera outbreak in the Hammanskraal area, which Brink says has still not been proven.
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However, Brink did admit that there are issues with Rooiwal as the plant has not been upgraded as required due to irregular tenders which led to mismanagement.
"60% of the job [upgrade] was done, and then they walked off-site."
He did however say that the government has failed the people of Hammanskraal as they do not have proper drinking water.
"We have moved the head of supply chain out of her position. I believe that is where many of the things have gotten rotten in Tshwane,” said Brink in relation to the irregular expenditure.
“We will act with vicious resolve.”
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