DA knuckles down on Mashaba after “immigration” gaffe
The Democratic Alliance is scrambling to save its reputation, and prove it is a party capable of governing South Africa following a series of gaffes by Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the DA has now assembled a task team to supervise the four big municipalities it’s running in alliance with smaller parties, after Mashaba referred to undocumented immigrants as criminals in comments that sparked criticism from civil rights groups and government.
“We can’t appoint people and say, we’ll see you in five years,” said DA leader Mmusi Maimane, in an interview on Wednesday (15 February).
“People must know there is accountability. There’s freedom for people to innovate in government but they must deliver on the manifesto. Johannesburg is a big metro. I have put together a team that must go support the new leadership.’’
Maimane also noted concerns about the Johannesburg government’s plans to merge close to a dozen municipal companies with the council’s departments that have sparked criticism from labor unions and unease in his own party.
“Statements like that do not help,’’ Maimane said.
“The concerns about immigration, those are national issues that require national engagement. We must stick to the arrangements that are not only enshrined in our constitution but in our practice.”
Speaking to Bloomberg Mashaba said he was pleased about the involvement of the team sent by the party but warned it should let him proceed with his work.
“That is something I welcome, as long as they obviously do not interfere with my day-to-day business.”
“The problem of undocumented immigrants is not a national issue; it’s something that impacts directly on the city of Johannesburg’s ability to deliver to our people,” he said.
“That is why, with immigration not being our competency, we engage the national government to do something about it because, how can anyone expect us to deliver to the residents of Johannesburg when we have so many undocumented immigrants.’’
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