Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink has responded defiantly to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent criticism of service delivery in Pretoria, stating that the president should focus on addressing pressing national issues such as load shedding, land grabs, and job losses instead of blaming the Democratic Alliance (DA) for challenges in Tshwane.
Brink attributed the strained economic climate and challenges in service delivery to the national government led by Ramaphosa, highlighting the lack of necessary equipment for law enforcement agencies and the resultant land grabs in townships as examples.
“The president would rather blame other people than take responsibility,” Brink remarked, emphasizing the dependence of local government on the performance of the national government.
He dismissed Ramaphosa’s criticism as politically motivated and made under pressure, asserting that effective governance in Tshwane is contingent upon the national government’s performance.
Brink’s response came after Ramaphosa criticized the DA-led administration in Tshwane, alleging a lack of good governance and failure to deliver services during the ANC’s voter registration drive over the weekend.
Addressing residents in Mamelodi, Ramaphosa highlighted significant challenges faced by residents, including water and electricity shortages, sanitation issues, and crime.
However, Brink defended his administration’s efforts, stating that he was personally addressing water issues in Mamelodi during the voter registration weekend and participating in bylaw operations in Region 6 alongside law enforcement agencies on Monday.
He also commended the successes of the Tshwane Metro Police Department’s weekend operations, underscoring the ongoing commitment to addressing challenges in the municipality.