ANC accused of failing Johannesburg’s residents in the wake of Usindiso fire tragedy

The DA has once again slammed the ANC led City of Johannesburg leadership following the party's oversight visit to the Lillian Ngoyi Street and the Usindiso Building where 76 people died when the building was set on fire by one of its former residents.

The DA team including provincial caucus leader, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku visited the Usindiso building which was engulfed in flames in August 2023 as part of assessing progress in the Usindiso Regeneration Block project.

"The city has not made much effort towards rehabilitating the building. They make promises to residents and don't fulfil these promises. ," Kayser-Echeozonjoku said.

Mayor Dada Morero's assurance during his recent state of the city address to rectify the ongoing degradation of Lillian Ngoyi Street has also come under scrutiny. Promising repairs following a gas explosion in 2023, Morero pledged to complete the renovations to the gas explosion site by August 2025. Yet, critics, including Kayser-Echeozonjoku, have argued that this timeline seems frustratingly distant amid an urgent need for action.

On the overall state of the city, Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the city of Johannesburg is deteriorating daily due to the city’s inability to carry out its duties, adding that this state of neglect has also impacted the health and safety of Johannesburg residents.

"Motorists are now forced to watch how they are driving in the city due to potholes and sometimes the robots are not working and the lights in the city are not working," she stated.

The outcry from the DA comes after the party last Wednesday, submitted a motion of no confidence against the mayor who has been accused of collapsing service delivery.

Mayoral spokesperson, Chris Vondo accused the DA of playing politics adding that the proposed motion of no confidence against the mayor will not succeed as the DA does not have the numbers.

"The mayor responded to the Lillian Ngoyi matter during his State of the City address. The DA is politicking," he said.

On the progress with Lillian Ngoyi Street and other service delivery challenges in the city, Vondo stated: "We have the infrastructure plan including water and the mayor spoke at length about all these issues. We have prioritised more than 24 reservoirs and have a clear turnaround strategy.

"The DA is responsible for some of the challenges the city is facing.  They were in charge and responsible, they failed with the finances leaving the city in bad shape. We inherited a R6 billion shortfall, which could not be accounted for,"' said Vondo.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za