Former Joburg mayor Parks Tau addresses city’s financial woes

Former Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau has weighed in on the city’s worsening financial state, arguing that the current leadership is not solely to blame for the ongoing crisis. Speaking at the African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee (NEC) sub-committee media briefing at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Tau stated that Johannesburg’s financial instability and service delivery failures have been years in the making.

Joburg’s Financial Troubles Worsen

In recent months, Johannesburg has faced intensifying criticism over poor service delivery, financial mismanagement, and deteriorating infrastructure. Many residents have voiced frustration over water shortages, power cuts, and uncollected waste, while businesses have raised concerns over the city’s unstable governance.

The situation prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to publicly express his dissatisfaction with Johannesburg’s condition earlier in March, calling for urgent intervention to address the city’s financial and administrative challenges.

Tau: Financial Problems Are Deep-Rooted

Tau, who served as Johannesburg’s mayor from 2011 to 2016, defended the current leadership, stating that the city’s financial struggles have been building up over time. He dismissed claims that Johannesburg’s financial collapse is solely due to the current administration, explaining that structural problems have existed for several years.

“Some of the issues are deep-seated financial problems that have emerged over time. So you can’t necessarily attribute the current challenges in the municipality to the current financial leadership. We have had to deal with the reality of the deterioration of the financial position of the municipality,” Tau said.

A City in Financial Crisis

Johannesburg’s financial struggles stem from several long-standing challenges, including:

Declining revenue collection – The city has struggled to collect payments for services, leading to a budget shortfall.
Aging infrastructure – Power outages, broken water pipes, and potholes have worsened due to underfunding.
Political instability – Frequent changes in leadership have disrupted long-term financial planning.
Rising debt – Johannesburg has accumulated billions in debt, further straining its financial position.

Mayor Dada Morero Seeks National Help

Despite the harsh criticism, Tau believes that the current leadership is taking steps to address the city’s challenges. He pointed to a letter written by Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero to President Ramaphosa, in which Morero formally requested national government intervention to assist the municipality.

Tau believes this request demonstrates political will and commitment to fixing the crisis.

“The city’s leadership has shown a willingness to address service delivery issues. Mayor Morero’s letter to the president is evidence that there is recognition of the challenges and efforts to seek support.”

Calls for Urgent Solutions

With Johannesburg’s financial crisis worsening, experts and opposition parties have called for immediate interventions to prevent a total collapse. Some have suggested:

Stronger financial oversight to ensure funds are managed efficiently.
Improving revenue collection by enforcing bill payments.
Investing in infrastructure maintenance to prevent further service breakdowns.
Greater political stability to enable long-term planning.

Looking Ahead

While Johannesburg’s financial struggles have been developing for several years, many residents feel urgent action is needed now. Whether national government intervention will bring real change remains to be seen, but for now, Tau insists that the current leadership is not solely responsible and that efforts are being made to restore the city.

As pressure mounts, the people of Johannesburg are hoping for concrete solutions, not just political statements, to fix the city’s worsening crisis.