JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA DECEMBER 01: City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor; Herman Mashaba during a media conference to mark his 100 days in office on December 01, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mashaba said that time is running out for illegal immigrants in the city centre and he has already engaged a number of embassies […]
Herman Mashaba rolls up his sleeves and gets stuck into cleaning Lenasia’s streets
Herman Mashaba’s “roll up your sleeves and join the clean-up” in Lenasia last week drew mixed reaction from social media.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA DECEMBER 01: City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor; Herman Mashaba during a media conference to mark his 100 days in office on December 01, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mashaba said that time is running out for illegal immigrants in the city centre and he has already engaged a number of embassies […]
Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, is a controversial figure. His comments on closing South Africa’s borders and migrants in general, have ruffled a few feathers.
However, he certainly is a visible leader. He has been on the ground with the cops on more than one occasion and last week, he hit the streets again, this time, in Lenasia.
The Rising Sun Lenasia reports that Mashaba in partnership with Pikitup, led a multi-departmental clean-up campaign within the Lenasia CBD. According to the publication, “the main aim of the walkabout was to address issues faced by the Lenasia community, ranging from from illegal dumping, the vagrants in the CBD and informal traders”.
Now, you could argue that this was a PR exercise, but Mashaba received plenty of praise on social media for his efforts.
This photo posted to Facebook by “We Are South Africans” has been shared almost 14 000 times at the time of writing.
Dale Hutcheson wrote: “Obviously this is a political message, but let’s first define what that message is before we knock it. To me this shows a leader that is willing to get involved and make a difference. As opposed to the ruling party’s message of denial, cover ups and blaming all of SA’s problems on racism. Well done Herman!!” [sic]
Nazier Haffajee said: “Make the man president” while Ronald Ginsburg added: “Salute to Mayor Herman Mashaba! He should be given his bonus with pleasure unlike some fat cats who don’t even show up at work and get paid millions”. Freddie Goosen also had praise for the mayor, saying: “This man has perfected the understanding that a real Leader is to lead and serve his people and not to be served. He deserves each single vote he got, and above
Freddie Goosen also had praise for the mayor, saying: “This man has perfected the understanding that a real Leader is to lead and serve his people and not to be served. He deserves each single vote he got, and above all he deserves his salary. Well done Mr. Mashaba you deserve our utmost respect.”
However, as mentioned, not everyone was so endeared with the “publicity stunt”. Reinhardt Wolf said: “I have a problem with this sort of publicity stunts if they were doing the job they were appointed to do the people appointed to sweep the streets would go been doing it. And jobs would be created but now they use the lack of service delivery as a “I am a good mayor campaign”. It is a bit like Filicity Purchase fixing a leaking tap in massi!” [sic]
Lisa Cohen-Veit also said: “What? A new budget has miraculously sprung up? Are the DA going to sweep every single squatter camp in SA on a daily basis?!!! Good luck with that one. Back story people, this isn’t real.” [sic]
What do you think of Mashaba’s efforts?
