Dying diggers of Namaqualand need saving
| by Andrew Louw – DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate |
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| Date: 24 April 2019 |
| Release: Immediate |
| The Democratic Alliance in the Northern Cape is demanding that the Sol Plaatje budget be presented and discussed at a council meeting, as a matter of urgency. This must be done before Kimberley faces a repeat of the mayhem that ensued last year, as a result of shutdowns organized by disgruntled community members.While the budget has been tabled, the ANC seems to be ducking and diving from confronting the budget. In effect, the council meeting specifically intended for the presentation and discussion of the budget, was postponed yesterday for the third time in three weeks.The DA strongly suspects this has to do with another possible storm that could be unleashed because of public dissatisfaction relating to higher electricity tariffs, to make up for the shortfall of the R140 million deficit that resulted after the scrapping of the R260 access fee last year.It therefore makes sense that the ANC would try and delay the meeting until after 8th May, so as not to anger the voters before they head to the polls. The ANC does not want to take responsibility for the years of mismanagement of Sol Plaatje municipality.The DA is calling on the Speaker and the Mayor to take charge of the municipality, to ensure that budgetary processes take place in accordance with the timeline, and that they also take into consideration that there must still be public participation on the matter of the budget as well.The DA, however, remains skeptical as to whether processes will unfold as they should.Rumours that Mayor Patrick Mabilo is on his way out, have done little to instill confidence in the institution. Instead, Mabilo continues to be undermined by staff, who rather take instruction from former ousted Mayor, Mangaliso Matika, who governs the the municipality from the shadows.In effect, the municipality has basically come to a standstill. People are rarely at their work stations and requests for the fixing of potholes, lights, as well as refuse removal and sewerage services are not operating as they should.In fact, in the past nine months, only one scheduled council meeting has sat. All other meetings have been ad hoc special council meetings, to deal with crises instead of run of the mill management issues.There is no denying that Sol Plaatje is a municipality in crisis.The budget must be allowed to unfold as required by the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), before Kimberley is also plunged into crisis again. The local economy simply cannot afford another city shutdown. But if the municipality carries on this trajectory, it is bound to invite more disruptive protests in Sol Plaatje.Only change under a DA led government will ensure a transparent and efficient budget that speeds up service delivery instead of hampering it. |
| Media Enquiries |
| Andrew LouwDA Northern Cape Premier Candidate082 383 6914 Shelley De WittResearcher082 847 1387 |
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