Yesterday, 6 June 2018, during a media conference, the mayor of the Mangaung Metro Municipality (Bloemfontein, Dewetsdorp, Van Stadensrus, Wepener and Soutpan), Ms Olly Mlamleli, indicated that she is going to propose that the Metro must buy between 1000 and 2000 tickets for the Bloemfontein Celtic soccer match and then hand these tickets out to the poor.
The ANC government is only interested in short term politics and the proposed purchase and distribution of the soccer tickets can be seen as a desperate attempt by the ANC to hold onto political power.
At present, the Metro is burdened by serious financial deficits and creditors, like Bloemwater, are not being paid while infrastructure is deteriorating. Mangaung is currently rated the worst metro in the country and the National Treasury is even considering placing the Metro under administration.
The residents of the Metro deserve proper service delivery and a responsible local government.
The Metro is failing to meet its targets for service delivery in terms of water supply, sanitation and the maintenance of roads.
It is unacceptable for the mayor to even consider buying soccer tickets while there are much more pressing matters that need urgent attention. The poor will benefit more from infrastructure development and access to basic services than from soccer tickets.
Read the original article in Afrikaans on Die Vryburger
South Africa Today – South Africa News
