ActionSA Gauteng chairperson Funzi Ngobeni urged Gauteng residents to give the party the mandate to govern and execute its policies its own way, saying ActionSA’s objective is to strengthen consequence mechanism processes to create zero tolerance for corruption.

“This is not to say that we would not accept the outcomes of a coalition government, as we are part of a Multi-Party Charter, but our main intention is to govern on our own and lead the province out of the depressing trenches it has found itself in,” he said.

Ngobeni was officially declared the party’s Gauteng Premier candidate ahead of the upcoming elections in May, by ActionSA president Herman Mashaba, in Johannesburg.

Ngobeni said ActionSA was unapologetic about the need for the removal of the African National Congress (ANC) from government on May 29.

“As the economic pulse of South Africa and a gateway to the broader African economy, we, as the people of this vibrant and resourceful province, should act as one to arrest the [economic] decline before it swallows us whole,” he said.

Ngobeni announced the party’s strategy for reigniting the economy, introducing its infrastructure roadmap – a carefully thought-out strategy to ignite economic growth.

This programme touches on crucial areas: economic development and spatial planning; transport; roads and logistics; human settlements; and water and sanitation.

Ngobeni explained that to arrest the economic decline, an ActionSA-led provincial government would take back control of the province’s “deserted” economic infrastructure.

He noted that regions in Johannesburg were riddled with old, dilapidated and hijacked properties, and promised that in his first 100 days in office, he would commission a province-wide audit of all abandoned properties, including old factories and dilapidated residential buildings.

He said these properties carry enormous economic potential.

Ngobeni explained that a second 100-day priority was to fix provincially controlled traffic lights, road markings and signs, ensuring they work while enhancing the monitoring and evaluation system to track those that malfunction.

Furthermore, he highlighted that the Infrastructure Roadmap also placed emphasis on the need for upgrading the water and sanitation infrastructure of municipalities across the province.

He said his administration would prioritise the strengthening of the cooperative governance model to ensure that the provincial government effectively plays its oversight role over municipalities, impartially, while also assisting in sourcing investment into the new and resilient water and sanitation infrastructure of the future.

“An ActionSA government in Gauteng will ensure that infrastructure programmes are completed on time, there is value for money spent, and there is maximum transparency in contracts awarded. It is our objective to strengthen consequence mechanism processes as we shall entrench zero tolerance for corruption. It is important that we inculcate and cultivate this culture, which will assist us in installing a professionalised provincial civil service,” said Ngobeni.

MAN OF CHARACTER

Meanwhile, Mashaba described Ngobeni as someone who was able to hit the ground running, with a track record as Development Planning MMC, Finance MMC and Transport MMC in the City of Johannesburg.

He said there was no better person he could think of to lead the party’s charge in Gauteng.

“He has proven himself able and ethical and, therefore, represents the qualities ActionSA looks for in a leader. After having served on my mayoral committee in the City of Johannesburg, Ngobeni became the third employee of the People’s Dialogue soon after we launched,” said Mashaba.

He said Ngobeni helped carry the party to success as the National Director of Operations, adding that he has always shown himself incredibly able to activate ground operations.

As ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson, Ngobeni ensured that the party was active in all nine regions of the province, said Mashaba.

“Without a doubt, I know that he is what the residents of Gauteng need to turn around the decay of 30 years of the ruling party’s misrule. His entire life story speaks to a man of character who is committed to improving the lives of all South Africans,” he said.

Mashaba expressed confidence in Ngobeni’s premiership, saying he would bring action to communities that had been long forgotten in Gauteng.