The previous ANC Mayor allegedly allowed friends to live for free in the Mayoral Mansion but under the leadership of DA Mayor Tyrone Gray, Mogale City Municipality is converting the “Mayoral Mansion” into a Gender-Based Violence safe house and upliftment centre.
Gauteng, South Africa (07 December 2022) – The Democratic Alliance announced yesterday that Tyrone Gray, the Mogale City Mayor, will be converting the mayoral residence into a Gender-Based Violence safe house and upliftment centre.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor was elected the Executive Mayor of Mogale City Local Municipality on 23 November 2021 and believes that Mogale City “has immense potential”. He revealed that “in the first 12 to 18 months, his main focus has been on stabilising the finances”.
The news that Mayor Gray would be turning the “Mayoral Mansion” into a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) safe house and upliftment centre has been met with immense support.
According to the South African Local Government Association “Mayoral Handbook“, a mayor or executive mayor may receive residential privileges and benefits arising from their duties.
- Furnished official mayoral state residences may be provided for Mayors within the jurisdiction of their municipalities.
- The municipality is responsible for the upkeep (e.g., cleaning, maintenance and garden service) of residences. Mayors are allowed to negotiate on a one-to-one basis with the officials allocated to the residence to render additional normal domestic services such as laundry and child care at a price to be agreed upon by the two parties.
- Security clearance is necessary for all employees on a Mayoral estate. The occupier concerned should obtain such clearance in consultation with the SA Police Services.
- A housing allowance will be paid to Mayors irrespective of whether they utilise a mayoral residence offered to them or not. Provided that where a municipality makes certain additional items available for the
private residence, such items will remain the property of the municipality.
But the DA uncovered – pre-to Gray’s tenure – that an ordinary ANC Councillor, allegedly a close friend of the former ANC Mogale City Local Municipality Executive Mayor, had been living in the Mogale City Mayoral Mansion for approximately 14 months in 2017.
“This has been revealed by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Paul Mashatile, in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
There was no lease agreement for the occupation of the Mayoral House signed between the municipality and the ANC Councillor. This means that the Councillor was enjoying privileges that he did not deserve. These privileges include free accommodation, security services, garden services and the maintenance of the mansion.”
Since that expose, Mayor Gray has decided to create a new space for the Mogale City community and anyone whom GBV has impacted.
What an incredible turnaround and use of state money to do good!
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