No more blue lights in the capital city, Tshwane, even for President Jacob Zuma, newly elected mayor Solly Msimanga said on Friday, delivering his inaugural address.
Msimanga, the DA’s second elected mayor outside of Cape Town, was sworn in on Friday during a council sitting, which drew dozens of people to the chamber.
Business Day reported that the ban even applied to Zuma but it was later confirmed by News24 & Times Media Group that the president would be the only person allowed to utilise a Blue Light Brigade but the newly elected Mayor even wants that to end.
“Even when Zuma comes in believe me there will no longer be blue lights. We will ensure that this city has a new feel and new look. All those who used to think they are VIP in this city … no more. The VIPS are residents of this city,” Msimanga said.
His stance on blue lights mirrors that of the DA-run Western Cape province.
Ministers, political party leaders, kings and the business will not be allowed to use the blue light to distract traffic in the City of Tshwane anymore.
Msimanga said that was to ensure that leaders never get to think they are more important than the people who put them in office.
“Blue lights will be a thing of the past in the city,” Msimanga told reporters on Friday.
“Gone are the days where publicly-elected officials will think they are VIPs. The only VIPs will be the people of the city.”
But his inaugural address was marred by disruptions from the opposition benches, which now include the ANC.
Msimanga said blue lights, cronyism, corruption and poor service delivery now belonged to the past for the capital city, which houses the Union Buildings and almost all government departments, and the offices of Cabinet ministers.
In response to heckling and jeering from the ANC, Msimanga appealed to the party to humble themselves.
And humble they should be. Blue light brigades are just silly, check out the depiction below…
https://youtu.be/dIl5p6gPWjg
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