Latest news with #Mashaba
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Call for provision of water tankers as Hartebeeshoek shutdown looms
Call for provision of water tankers as Hartebeeshoek shutdown looms Residents across the north of Tshwane are bracing for a major water shutdown as Rand Water is set to begin 16 days of maintenance on the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir, starting July 3. The essential maintenance work, which will affect Tshwane's reservoirs and meters supplied by the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir, is scheduled to start on Thursday, July 3, at 07:00 and is expected to be completed on Friday, July 18, at 19:00. With supply disruptions expected to affect large parts of the north, communities are taking matters into their own hands, storing water, co-ordinating with neighbours, and calling for urgent intervention from the Tshwane metro in the form of water tankers. The prolonged shutdown, scheduled to last until July 18, forms part of a Rand Water and Tshwane infrastructure upgrade. While the metro has promised contingency plans, residents said past experiences have left them doubtful. In areas such as Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve, previous water shutdowns were marred by delays in water tanker deliveries or no tankers arriving at all. 'Last time, our taps ran dry and no tanker showed up for days. We had to walk long distances just to get water for drinking and cooking. We can't go through that again. 'We need water tankers deployed every day in all affected areas,' said Selina Mashaba, a resident of Soshanguve. Mashaba said it is not the first time they've had to live like this. 'It's time the municipality treats water like the essential service it is, not something we must beg for every time maintenance is done.' Households in areas like Akasia, Mabopane, and Winterveldt have begun storing water in plastic drums, buckets, and bottles in anticipation of the outage. Mabatho Nkadimeng said the water interruption comes at a bad time, because children are not going to school. She added there's nothing she can do about the situation. 'We have two drums that we are filling slowly. But with three kids at home, that won't last long. If tankers don't come, we'll be in trouble. 'Rand Water and the City of Tshwane are playing with our lives. We cannot survive 16 days without water. This is not just an inconvenience, it's a crisis.' Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba assured residents that roaming water tankers would be dispatched as and when the need arises. According to the metro, the city has been notified by Rand Water of its 16-day planned regulatory inspection and cleaning maintenance of the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir in compliance with the Dam Safety Regulations. The following reservoirs and meters will be affected: – Akasia, Akasia East and Akasia West Reservoirs: Amandasig (all extensions), Beetgesberg 279-JR, Chantelle (all extensions), Florauna, Hartbeeshoek 303-JR, Hartbeeshoek 312-JR, Hartebeeshoek 251-JR, Heatherdale AH, Heatherview (all extensions), Ninapark (all extensions), Plantland 567-JR, Witfontein 301-JR and Zandfontein 317-JR, Doreg Hermon 289-JR, Karenpark (all extensions ), Klerksoord AH, Plantland 644-JR, Rosslyn, Strydfontein 306-JR, The Orchards (all extensions), Farm areas (Akasia), Hartbeeshoek 614-JR, Clarina (all extensions), De Onderstepoort 300-JR, Dorandia, Eldorette (all extensions), Hesteapark (all extensions), Theresapark (all extensions), Winternest AH, Witfontein JRS Ga-Rankuwa East, Ga-Rankuwa West and Ga-Rankuwa Industrial Reservoirs: Ga-Rankuwa (all units), Medunsa 237-JR, Sjambok Zijn Oude Kraal 258-JR, Kafferskraal 308-JR, Ga-Rankuwa view, Kameelfontein 257-JR, Syferfontein 430-JQ, Krelingspost 425-JQ, Uitvalgrond 434-JQ, De Wildt AH, Ga-Rankuwa Z1, Rama 768-JR, Ga-Rankuwa Industrial. – Kruisfontein Reservoir: Soshanguve South (all extensions), Soshanguve A, B, TT, VV and XX, Wentzelrust 223-JR, Soshanguve East, Kruisfontein 262-JR, Kruisfontein 259-JR, Klip-kruisfontein 708-JR. – Klipfontein Reservoir: Klipfontein 268-JR, Klip-kruisfontein 708-JR, Soshanguve South Ext 12, Soshanguve South Ext 13. – Mabopane Main, Mabopane Res and Mabopane Central Reservoirs: Klippan 102-JR, Mabopane (all extensions), Rietgat 105-JR, Soshanguve (all extensions), Tswaing 149-JR, Winterveldt, Winterveldt AH, Mabopane 702-JR, Nooitgedacht 256-JR. – Magaliesberg/Rosslyn Reservoir: Amandasig (all extensions), Beetgesberg 279-Jr, Eldorette 311-Jr, Haakdoornboom 267-Jr, Hartbeesthoek 251- Jr, Hartebeesthoek 303-Jr, Hermon 289-Jr, Karenpark (all extensions), Klerksoord AH, Klerksoord (all extensions), Klipfontein 268-Jr, Rosslyn (all extensions), Rosslyn East (all extensions), The Orchards (all extensions), Witfontein 301- Jr, Witfontein 305-Jr, Clarina Ext 8, Chantelle Ext 41, Farm Areas (Akasia), Moloto. – Rama City meter: Rama City – Soshanguve DD Reservoir: Bultfontein 107-JR, Klippan 102-JR, Mabopane Unit CV, New Eersterust (all extensions), Soshanguve (all extensions), Sterkwater 106-JR, Stinkwater, Zoutpan 104-JR, Winterveldt Ext 4 – Soshanguve L Reservoir: De Beers, Kopanong (all extensions), Kruisfontein 359- JR and 262-JR, Onderstepoort 266-JR, Onderstepoort (all extensions), Rietgat 611-JR and Wentzelrust 223-JR, Mabopane S, The Farm 670-JR. – Plot 56 Strydfontein meter: Fundus AH Ext 0 and Patryshoek AH Ext 0. – Rosslyn Extension 15 meter: Nkwe Estate. – RW Direct 2 (SAB): SAB, Rosslyn Industrial area. – Winterveldt Reservoir: Kromkuil 99-JR, Winterveldt AH, Winterveldt AH Ext 1, Winterveldt 101-JR. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Mashaba ‘played': Where to now for ActionSA after being kicked into the political wilderness in Joburg?
The ANC and its partners will now decide who should replace Nobuhle Mthembu as speaker of the Council. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says his party's relationship with the ANC has completely broken down, with those close to the situation believing he was outsmarted. ActionSA played a significant role in Dada Morero's election as mayor of Johannesburg last year. In turn, the ANC supported the election of ActionSA Speaker of Council, Nobuhle Mthembu. But the relationship soon soured, leading to ActionSA abstaining from a no-confidence vote on Wednesday in protest against Morero, and the ANC retaliating by voting to boot out Mthembu. Speaking to The Citizen on Thursday, Mashaba said it is clear that the working relationship between the two parties is 'non-existent', but ActionSA will not pull out of the partnership in Tshwane. 'From day one, the relationship was very difficult, and it was even affecting us in public. We do not want any association at all with Dada Morero's administration,' he said. He said ActionSA was not consulted on issues such as the State of the City address, the 2025 budget, and the controversial bomb squad that was announced earlier this month. 'We tried to get them to do the right thing, but it was not really working, so we decided that we cannot support this man,' he said. Mashaba said he had engaged with the leadership of the ANC regarding some of these issues, including concerns about ethical governance in the City of Johannesburg. Back to the benches Mashaba said his party will now go back to the opposition benches, where it plans to hold the ANC accountable. 'They thought that they are punishing us by taking the speaker's position, but I can tell you now that we are relieved. No one can hold a gun to our head when Johannesburg is busy collapsing. 'We will operate as an effective opposition with no strings attached,' he said. What about the speaker? The City of Johannesburg is currently without a speaker of Council and councillors will now have two weeks to select a new one. That process will be presided over by the current acting city manager, Tshepo Makola. Earlier this year, Morero said he would reshuffle his mayoral committee to ensure that people with the right skills are in the right positions. However, The Citizen understands that the smaller parties in the government of local unity (GLU) led by Morero are likely to take the position. The 'return of Gwamanda' Another reason some believe Mashaba was outsmarted is due to an alleged meeting he had with Al Jama-ah councillors. He claimed former mayors Thapelo Amad and Kabelo Gwamanda said they had been sent by the DA to convince ActionSA to vote for the return of Gwamanda as Joburg Mayor. 'On the 6th of June, they came to my office asking for my support to remove Dada and vote for the election of Kabelo Gwamanda. I said to them, 'What nonsense are you talking about?',' he said. Both Al Jama-ah and the DA have denied this claim. DA Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the party 'did not make any promises' about the vote. 'Fortunately, we can speak for ourselves. Our motion to remove the speaker was inadmissible, and our caucus' decision to support her removal was tabled on record in council. 'It is unfortunate that the ANC didn't keep their promise to Mashaba that if he [ActionSA] abstains and keeps their mayor, they will abstain and keep the speaker. 'It must be frustrating working with people who can't keep their word.' This belief that Mashaba had been 'played' was supported by several other sources in the council who spoke to The Citizen. ALSO READ: Joburg speaker removed in vote of no confidence Morero 'the right man for the job' Meanwhile, ANC Gauteng spokesperson Mzi Khumalo said Morero's survival of a motion of no confidence vote on Wednesday was a sign that he was the right person for the job. 'Under the leadership of Dada Morero, the City of Johannesburg is making visible and meaningful inroads to stabilise governance, restore service delivery, and respond to resident concerns,' said Khumalo. It remains unclear who will become the next speaker of the City of Johannesburg. NOW READ: Joburg mayor Dada Morero survives motion of no confidence
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
'Do you need dialogue to see our roads are in shambles?': Mashaba slams national dialogue
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has strongly condemned the R700 million to be spent on the upcoming National Dialogue as a wasteful spending Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has slammed the government's planned R700 million National Dialogue, calling it a waste of public funds and out of touch with the daily struggles faced by millions of South Africans. Mashaba made the remarks on Monday in Alexandra, where his party launched its campaign for the 2026 local government elections. 'It's really so sad when I hear our president announcing the spending of R700 million to hold talks about talks when roads are in shambles,' Mashaba said. 'Do you need a National Dialogue to know that the roads are in a bad state?' The National Dialogue, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration, is billed as a nation-building initiative aimed at addressing South Africa's persistent social and political divisions. The program includes a National Convention in August 2025 involving more than 1,000 delegates, followed by six to nine months of public engagement. An Eminent Persons Group will also be appointed to serve as ambassadors for the process, which is expected to produce a 30-year action plan focusing on jobs, inequality, education, health care, and land reform. However, Mashaba said the dialogue is nothing more than a costly public relations exercise. 'Indications are that the so-called National Dialogue is already looking like a carefully choreographed process to fool South Africans yet again,' he said. Mashaba also took aim at the government's previous initiatives, including the annual investment conferences, which he described as media spectacles with little tangible return. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'All we have seen are media picture-perfect announcements of claimed investor pledges amounting to hundreds of billions of rands, with nothing pointing to such pledges leading to noticeable job creation,' he said. 'No one seems to be asking how much has been spent on these conferences and what has been their return on public investment, other than fabulous media appearances for the president.' He also slammed the Government of National Unity, saying it lacks cohesion and direction. 'The GNU includes different parties pulling in different directions. No new policies have been introduced to tackle economic stagnation,' Mashaba said. Mashaba cited the latest employment data, saying nearly 300,000 people lost their jobs in the last quarter, with more than 8.2 million South Africans now unemployed and another 3.5 million who claimed to have given up looking for work. 'Expected economic growth has been revised down repeatedly, from 1.3% to 0.6%,' Mashaba said. He warned that ActionSA will monitor the National Dialogue process closely. 'If it goes ahead, we will follow the money,' he said. 'Every rand spent will be scrutinized. We will demand full transparency on how the funds are allocated, which service providers are appointed, and whether ordinary South Africans benefit - or whether this becomes another Trojan horse to benefit politically connected middlemen who add no value.' 'We refuse to stand by and let South Africans be fooled again,' he added. IOL Politics
TimesLIVE
23-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Alexandra residents say they feel neglected by government
Residents of Alexandra in Johannesburg say receiving basic services such as a regular supply of clean water, electricity, waste removal and proper sanitation remains a dream for many of them. On Monday, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba launched his party's nationwide campaign aimed at improving services in local government. Residents took advantage of Mashaba's visit and laid bare their frustrations and daily struggles regarding service delivery. Lusanda Siswela, who lives along London Road in Alexandra, said they have been living in shacks for many years, but they still lack basic services. She said they had hoped to be allocated RDP houses. 'These shacks have been here for 15 years, but we still don't have electricity and water. It's winter, and we're freezing because we have no power. Paraffin and gas are too expensive. We're struggling. Our R350 doesn't even cover the cost of paraffin, and we're unemployed. The government should help us with electricity. We are voting, and we're asking for help,' she said. Illegal electricity connections are rampant and residents admit to connecting illegally to the grid, and put the blame on the government for failing to provide them with electricity. Water and its billing are also a major problem, residents said. One resident told TimesLIVE that he was charged nearly R15,000 for water usage, even though he doesn't have a water meter and doesn't know how these charges are calculated. 'Here in Alex, we sometimes go two or three days without water. It makes it hard to cook, clean and stay healthy,' said Bongani Khumalo, another resident. Youth unemployment is another major concern. Zami Vakilahle Slender said the government hasn't done enough to help young people in Alexandra. 'We haven't seen any youth programmes here in years. The youth are being neglected. Many turn to drugs because it's the only way they know to deal with things. The government doesn't care unless it's election time, and then they just make empty promises.' Health services are also not good enough. 'When we go to the hospital, we often don't get the medicine we need because the hospitals are overcrowded,' Zami added. Skanyiso Shezi said residents are losing trust in the government. 'Politicians only show up when elections are coming. They just pass by, give us free T-shirts and disappear. They don't see what we're really going through,' he said. As part of ActionSA's campaign for the 2026 local government elections, Mashaba rolled up his sleeves and filled some of the potholes in Alexandra, saying that was his way of showing that real change requires action, not just talk. Mashaba said: 'To know that the roads in Alexandra are bad doesn't need an unnecessary national dialogue.' 'ActionSA is ready to take municipalities off the path of decay and set them firmly on the road to recovery and growth,' he said. TimesLIVE
IOL News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Herman Mashaba fills potholes in Alexandra as ActionSA launches 2026 election campaign
ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba works alongside community members to patch a pothole on London Road, Alexandra, as part of ActionSA's 2026 campaign kickoff. Image: X/@HermanMashaba Politicians will do almost anything to earn votes. This was demonstrated on Monday morning when ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba launched his party's 2026 local government election campaign by personally repairing potholes in Alexandra. The campaign launch took place on London Road (Vincent Tshabalala Road), where Mashaba was joined by Tshwane mayor Dr. Nasiphi Moya, Member of Parliament Athol Trollip, and ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont, among others. According to the party, the campaign marks the start of an intensive, nationwide effort to 'fix local government' in South Africa, where service delivery failures have long denied residents basic services and human dignity. 'Communities like Alexandra continue to be left behind,' Mashaba told the media. 'They are left without reliable access to clean water, electricity, refuse removal, and functioning sanitation. Sadly, this is not merely a developmental failure, it is a daily violation of the basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution.' Mashaba, who previously served as Johannesburg mayor from 2016 to 2019 under the Democratic Alliance, said the collapse of local government represents one of the greatest threats to South Africa's democracy. 'This is the sphere of government closest to the people, and yet it is where mismanagement, incompetence, and corruption are most acute and most deeply felt by our communities,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Residents in Hammanskraal were drinking contaminated water while officials 'sat on their hands,' he added. Raw sewage flows into rivers and streets in eThekwini, and schools in the Eastern Cape lack sanitation, yet municipalities spend millions on 'vanity projects.' 'In countless towns and townships, street lights are dead, roads are cratered, and families endure years without running water or power,' he said. 'These are not isolated incidents, they are symptoms of a broken society and a broken system.' Mashaba said that he did not come to Alexandra simply to recount failures, but to bring a 'message of hope, change, and action.' Alexandra residents continue to face longstanding challenges, including poor housing, inadequate sanitation, crumbling infrastructure, potholes, and sewage spills. Sewage was visible along the road during Mashaba's visit, and some potholes were filled with wastewater. After his speech, Mashaba grabbed tools and helped repair one of the potholes himself. This comes after DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille, who recently confirmed that she is considering running for Johannesburg mayor in 2026. IOL News previously reported that Zille said she has been approached by her party and is weighing the decision. Meanwhile, Johannesburg faces deep-rooted problems, including water shortages, power outages, hijacked buildings, broken traffic lights, uncollected waste, overcrowded informal settlements, and widespread crime. Over the past eight years, the city had nine mayors from various parties, with many residents saying service delivery has only worsened. Some Joburg residents previously told IOL News they prefer the leadership of current ANC Mayor Dada Morero and Mashaba over any potential DA mayor. Mashaba said ActionSA was founded in 2020, ahead of the 2021 local elections, with a clear mission, to reverse the failures of local governance and restore public trust. 'For far too long, this critical sphere of government has been brought to its knees by inefficiency, corruption, and mismanagement,' he said. 'ActionSA was born to challenge the status quo and lead a new era of ethical, responsive, and people-centered local governments.'
