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As the City of Johannesburg's challenges related to the Lilian Ngoyi Street gas explosion keeps racking up, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned about the city's governance, or rather lack thereof, under the ANC/EFF/PA coalition. It is alarming that while the City lacks funds for critical infrastructure maintenance and repair, it continues to spend money on defending irregular appointments that could have been prevented by adhering to proper procedures.

This situation underscores why the DA, along with thousands of Johannesburg residents, are disappointed that the motion for the dissolution of the city council was defeated. It is evident that the current coalition government is leading the city towards a governance collapse. The residents who signed the petition for dissolution align with the DA's view that a change in governance is urgently needed to rectify these ongoing issues.

Moreover, it's concerning that the national government has lost confidence in the City of Johannesburg's governance to such an extent that it rejected the request for a disaster declaration. This decision forces Johannesburg taxpayers to bear the financial burden of repairing the damages from the Lilian Ngoyi Street explosion, estimated at around R178 million. The DA plans to request a full report from the Executive Mayor on the reasons for this rejection and to further investigate this matter.

We remain committed to holding the current city administration accountable and advocating for better governance practices that prioritise the well-being and safety of Johannesburg residents. We will continue to push for transparency, proper procedure, and responsible fiscal management to ensure that the city's resources are used effectively for the benefit of all its citizens.

Issued by Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku - DA Johannesburg Caucus Leader