'This is the bribe to continue the looting' - DA's Helen Zille on CoJ’s R10bn deal with SAMWU

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has launched an urgent interdict to halt the City of Joburg (CoJ)’s multi-billion-rand 'politically facilitated agreement' with the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU).

The DA's Joburg mayoral candidate, Helen Zille, says the deal is a "political bribe" that will bankrupt the city.

"It is not called a 'politically facilitated agreement' for nothing... the ANC agreed to pay R10.3 billion to SAMWU, for no improved productivity – but to ensure that SAMWU continues to support the ANC in the election, and acts as the ANC's foot soldiers."

Zille said this is not only an abuse of power, but also of the money that residents pay for better service delivery.

"To put this into perspective, this R10.3 billion is more than the entire budget in the city per year for capital infrastructure to improve service delivery."

She claims that it was unlawfully introduced into the budget, with the support of other parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Patriotic Alliance (PA), and Al Jama-ah.

"This is the bribe to continue the looting."

Zille said corruption has "eaten away so much of the financial viability" of the city.

"Joburg has the smallest maintenance budget of any major city in South Africa... Cape Town spends 60% more than Joburg does on investment in new infrastructure – even though Cape Town is smaller."

To listen to Helen Zille in conversation with CapeTalk and 702’s Mandy Wiener, use the audio player below: