I NT E RV I E W • I N SIG HTS FRO M T HE E X ECUTIVE MAYOR
Leading a financial recovery to reignite excellence
Executive Mayor Cllr Randall Williams gets candid about the challenges faced by the City of Tshwane and highlights the hard work being put in to place its finances back on sound footing. It is widely known that the current administration inherited numerous challenges, the most significant being a legacy of financial mismanagement and resulting insolvency. How dire is the situation? What’s the realistic recovery period and how does the City get there? The City’s financial situation is very serious. It has been downgraded as a result of its declining financial health and it is critical that we embark on an extensive financial recovery. When I took office in November 2020, we found that we inherited a deficit of R4 billion from the provincial administrators. This was after the DA-led
administration left a surplus of R297 million in March of 2020. So, in a space of eight months, the City went from a surplus of almost R300 million to a deficit of R4 billion. However, since taking office, in one year, we have managed to reduce that deficit by R3.4 billion – by stabilising the operating account and ensuring that we pass an adjustments budget that is in line with the City’s revenue expectations. One of the things we have made a point of doing is ensuring that we don’t put unnecessary strain on rate payers, keeping our property rates as low as possible. That has made sure that – at least for now,
Since taking office, in one year, we have managed to reduce a R4 billion deficit by R3.4 billion – by stabilising the operating account and ensuring that we pass an adjustments budget that is in line with the City’s revenue expectations.” 2
REIGNITING EXCELLENCE IN TSHWANE 2 0 2 1
while residents are coping with significant electricity and water increases, which are beyond the City’s control – residents are not facing inflated or higher based property rates increases. Are there any concerns of private sector disinvestment given the City’s financial situation? How do you allay such fears? The City does have a very strong private sector investment community and continues to attract investment
from various sectors in its key competitive spaces such as the automotive industry – in particular, the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) located in Silverton, which is going to significantly develop the area and have a massive economic impact.
