*“MOENIE HUIL NIE”: A SLAP IN THE FACE TO VICTIMS AND ROAD USERS* *GOOD* Statement by *Matthew Cook* , *GOOD* National Chairperson and City of Johannesburg Councillor 04 February 2025 The GOOD Party is shocked by comments made by Johannesburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene. During a site visit to Lilian Ngoyi Street, Kunene is quoted as saying “We're making sure the street lives up to the icon it was named after - moenie huil nie ". The explosion claimed 1 life and seriously injured 41 people. Residents and commuters have been severely inconvenienced for 18 months, with road repairs only estimated to be completed in August. The MMC’s comments are insensitive and lack political maturity. The total cost of the repair is estimated to be around R194 million, a financial blow to the already indebted city. Years of neglect by office bearers have left the city’s infrastructure in a shocking state. And the Johannesburg Roads Agency is struggling to maintain the quality expected of our roads. Last year the agency reported that at least 702 of the city's 902 bridges were in poor or very poor condition, with 12 of them being on the brink of crumbling. Motorists are gambling with their lives when they drive on the city’s roads. Now is the time for the executive to show leadership, not to make jokes at the site of a tragedy.