Tensions Rise Between Kunene and Lesufi Over Road Repairs in Johannesburg

In a heated public dispute, Kenny Kunene, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Roads and Transport in the City of Johannesburg, has accused Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi of undue interference in the city's road maintenance processes. This disagreement brings to light underlying tensions regarding jurisdiction and effective governance in addressing Johannesburg's persistent road issues such as potholes and infrastructure degradation.

Kunene charged in a recent media statement that Lesufi has overstepped his provincial boundaries by getting involved in the daily operations of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), particularly by contacting Zweli Nyathi, the agency's Acting CEO. Kunene suggested that Lesufi's actions are an overreach from the provincial seat, which could be problematic for the separation of powers and responsibilities between different levels of government.

The MMC elucidated that maintaining roads within the city falls under the purview of the JRA, an organization specifically authorized to manage and repair the city’s roads, as well as grant way-leaves for access to road infrastructure. Kunene emphasized the importance of adhering to established protocols and warned of legal actions if external entities attempt any unauthorized road work, hinting at the jurisdiction of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) to enforce the city's bylaws.

Kunene also brought up Lesufi’s "Nasi Ispani" initiative, which aims to tackle unemployment through temporary job creation, as a point of contention. The MMC expressed reservations about the program's approach to employing large numbers of individuals without necessarily providing them with the specialized skills required for roadwork, referencing past initiatives that he deemed unsuccessful.

In a stance of defending the city's interest in maintaining a high standard of road repair and infrastructure work, Kunene has categorically rejected the involvement of the Gauteng Premier's office in municipal responsibilities. He expressed a clear preference for skilled, qualified personnel to undertake such critical work and conveyed wariness over joint ventures that might jeopardize the city's reputation or the quality of infrastructure services.

Responding to the allegations, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi emphatically denied Kunene’s accusations of interfering with the city's governance or the JRA. In a statement to The Citizen, Lesufi challenged Kunene to produce evidence of direct communication with Nyathi, something the Premier denies doing. Lesufi's refutation of the accusations against him positions the disagreement as a standoff that delves into the depths of political accountability, transparency, and appropriate governance practices within South Africa’s multi-layered government structure.

This altercation underscores a larger debate about the effective management of basic service delivery in major South African cities, where the state of roads is a perennial concern for residents and businesses alike. It also reflects the challenges faced in ensuring cooperation between various layers of government while respecting the autonomy and mandates of individual entities tasked with service delivery.