Cape Town – DA leader and current Cape Town Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has proposed reducing the size of government and outsourcing some municipal services to private companies.
Hill-Lewis unveiled the proposals during the DA’s manifesto launch over the long weekend, calling for Cabinet to be reduced from 32 departments to 15. He argued that a smaller government would cut costs and improve service delivery.
“Fewer departments mean fewer bloated ministerial salaries, better service delivery and tangible job creation,” Hill-Lewis said.
The proposal would also see services such as refuse collection and water provision potentially handed to private operators, with companies expected to meet strict service-delivery standards.
According to The South African, local government expert Miyelani Holeni was speaking to 702 and discussed whether the proposal could work, pointing to examples from the United Kingdom and the United States where private entities have been involved in delivering public services.
The DA wants private companies to play a leading role in delivering basic municipal services such as water and electricity as many municipalities struggle with failing infrastructure and service delivery.
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“Some have multiple private entities who are competing for customers. So, imagine a day when refuse collection is provided by Thabo’s company, the next day it could be XYZ Company and Sons,” Holeni said.
The proposal forms part of Hill-Lewis’ broader vision for a leaner and more efficient government.
According to IOL, the DA has also pledged to take a tougher stance on failing municipalities, including action against corruption, illegal land occupations and wasteful spending ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
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