ActionSA Gauteng chair Funzi Ngobeni has told Polity that the current government in Gauteng is “already gone” as the party gathers to discuss policies that will pave the way to the upcoming elections.

Speaking on the sidelines of ActionSA’s Policy Conference being held in Johannesburg, Ngobeni said that the African National Congress (ANC) government in Gauteng has introduced gimmicks to hold on to power but he said “South Africans are gatvol” and have demonstrated that in the 2021 elections, where the ANC was garnered about 34% of the vote.

He said while citizens have already decided they don’t want an ANC government, they still question whether ActionSA will be able to form a coalition, as party leader Herman Mashaba has stated that he is not keen to work with the ruling party.

“We will continue to work with the other parties that are like minded. We have been struggling to get the Democratic Alliance (DA) to understand that we need to put South Africans first before our own aspirations. We are saying that in Johannesburg it is best to have another government, whether it is a DA-led or ActionSA-led, as long as it is not what we currently have,” said Ngobeni.

There is political will, he noted, as he pointed out that valuable policies have been tabled but not implemented over the years. 

“We are promising that the energy policy that was approved by this policy conference will be implemented if [voters] give us a mandate,” said Ngobeni.    

He is promising South Africans that ActionSA will not be found wanting when it comes to issues of corruption, which has been a hindrance to implementing policies in the country.  

Ngobeni says corruption has continued without those implicated being punished. 

He promised that ActionSA will always hire the right people for the right positions, and not because they are card carrying members of ActionSA.

He said his party will be swift to bring in Independent Power Producers to solve the energy crisis and ensure that the electricity prices are affordable.

When asked about the suggested inquiry into the recent Johannesburg fire, which claimed more than 70 lives, including that of 12 children, Ngobeni said the move was unnecessary.

He said government needs to transform dilapidated buildings into affordable housing and into areas where small businesses can operate.

“We cannot be going around having commissions when solutions are right in our faces. We tried to do so before 2019 when Mashaba was the Mayor. The template is there in the City of Johannesburg and all he has to do is to implement it and South Africans will be happy,” he said.

Ngobeni said saving residents has never been the ANC government’s priority.