Emfuleni Executive Mayor Asan Marco says he wants a second stint to finish turning around one of the country’s worst-performing municipalities, with a plan anchored on fixing aging infrastructure, stimulating jobs and confronting corruption head-on.
Marco, who was elected mayor on June 10 after serving as MMC for Finance, is one of four ANC mayoral nominees who have gone through interviews for the November 4 local government elections.
He says he will accept whatever deployment the ANC deems fit.
In an interview with Africa Daily, Marco did not mask the scale of the crisis in the Vaal.
“I’m not going to mask our challenges. I do admit that one of the municipalities that have been faced with serious challenges, aging infrastructure being amongst that,” he said.
He put unemployment at 59% in the area, a figure he says directly cripples revenue collection because jobless residents cannot pay rates and taxes.
“However, we are turning the tide around,” he insisted.
On infrastructure, which he says remains his thorniest issue, Marco pointed to a new water utility established with Rand Water to deal with both sewer and water infrastructure that has plagued Emfuleni for years.
“The issues of roads for me has been a stony issue. Look, people can’t invest in an area where the roads are bad,” he said.
Waste management and electricity are the other two pillars. He wants waste to generate income through buyback centres and waste-to-energy projects, with daily collection that produces value for residents.
On electricity, he cited a planned shutdown that started this week in Vanderbijlpark to stabilise supply that constantly trips and hurts business.
“These are the issues that I’m looking into and we are willing to invest,” he said.
To tackle unemployment, Marco is banking on big-ticket investments.
He said the municipality’s Special Economic Zone will be central to job creation, alongside a R7-billion investment from South African Breweries expected before the end of the month, a new mine, and the expansion of companies that have chosen not to leave the Vaal.
“There are different business investments that are coming into the area… We believe that on its own will translate into creation of jobs. And from that our people will be able to pay for their rates and taxes,” he said.
He also pointed to the Vaal River Carnival in September as proof of the area’s economic potential, saying all hotels and guest houses were fully booked this week.
On corruption allegations that have dogged Emfuleni, including reports linking his name to graft and the R16-million fleet scandal, Marco was defiant.
“Look, there are challenges within the municipality and it is us that are exposing them,” he said.
He said several people have been arrested in recent weeks for tampering with infrastructure and that it was his council that blew the whistle on the fleet scandal.
“It is us as council, which council that I serve that has ensured that we blow the whistle against this particular issue,” he said.
“I have not… I’m not part of any corrupt activities unless of course there is such, and I believe that such should be reported to the law enforcement and law enforcement will take the responsibility to ensure that I’m apprehended.”
A self-described product of the ANC Youth League since 2008 and currently regional treasurer of the ANC in the Vaal, Marco said he has no doubt the ANC remains the only party that can turn the country around, despite its weaknesses.
“As soon as you are able to admit your particular challenge, it means that you can actually turn the situation around,” he said.
“We are in a coalition government and our plan is that we actually win by majority and we are turning the tide around… This city has potential. It just needs the political will.”