Mayor must focus on Joburg, not Palestine

AL JAMA-ah’s Thapelo Amad became the City of Joburg’s youngest leader after he was sworn in last week, through a coalition arrangement with the ANC and EFF.

A few hours later, he was seen on camera wearing a Palestinian scarf over his suit. This was obviously a political statement. Ultimately, Amad should aim to unite the people of the city, behind the goal of service delivery.

Amad was at the forefront of a campaign to rename Sandton Drive Leila Khaled Drive. Khaled is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and is known for hijacking a plane, putting innocent lives at risk.

Amad and his coalition partners should use the city’s money on rendering quality service delivery to five million residents rather than on the political aspirations of the people of Palestine. The focus should be breadand-butter issues. Foreign affairs is a competence of the national government. Councillors and mayors should concern themselves with running an efficient local government for the people they represent.

A coalition works against the electorate because the one who leads is not the one the majority elected.

I was also shocked to hear that Amad is talking about processing a R2 billion loan from the Development Bank of Southern Africa. The idea was rejected by most opposition parties last year. Even at the height of incompetence, the ANC had rejected it.

Amad is plunging the city into debt in his first week.

This coalition government is fast becoming another slap in the face of the electorate. The ANC’s politicking in Gauteng has given minority parties the responsibility of presiding over powerful political offices that the electorate did not choose them for.

Coalitions became a popular form of government following the 2016 local government elections, as a way to minimise the ANC’s electoral dominance. It was never about improving people’s livelihoods and lives.

Coalitions have been defined by political egos and hurting political majorities as opposed to building a better society. Coalition governments have always led to greater instability and decreased voter confidence.

When political parties come into positions of power, they implement their manifesto. This means that the minority political party in power will not hesitate to implement its aspirations. Unfortunately, this means that taxpayers’ money is being used to fund policies the majority did not vote for.

Politicians have done this to us many times – they seek political relevance by campaigning against Israel, while claiming to defend Palestine when, in fact, they are not doing that. Instead, they are seeking ways to boost their relevance in the political landscape. If they wanted to protect Palestinians, our politicians would have at least tried to hold peaceful dialogues between both territories.

South Africa should establish itself as an ambassador of unity and freedom. We should occupy the position of peace and pathfinder when it comes to the Israel and Palestine issue.

Those occupying government positions must also remember that their decisions must be made based on the values of our Constitution. Minority political parties cannot be allowed to use taxpayers’ money to promote individual foreign policy positions.

Mayor Amad, focus on Johannesburg, please, not Palestine.