An overview of the activities of the association in 2010

 Dr Barry Vosloo, voorsitter van die vereniging, 
neem 2010 in oënskou

Inleidend:  In 2006 het die JBV ‘n SWOT-analise onderneem om te bepaal hoe hy georganiseer moet word om meer doelmatig na die belange van sy lede om te sien. Dié ontleding het bepaalde leemtes uitgewys. In hierdie voorlegging probeer ek aantoon in welke mate die vereniging  vanjaar daarin geslaag het om die tekortkominge aan te spreek.

Die werklas van die voorsitter en sekretaris is buitensporig en die bestuurskomiteelede het nie spesifieke pligte en verantwoordelikhede nie.

Die buitensporige werklas van die voorsitter en sekretaris was ‘n bron van kommer. Ten einde die werklas beter te versprei, het die bestuurskomitee  vanjaar verskeie kundige persone gekoöpteer om die verantwoordelikheid vir bepaalde funksies te aanvaar.

Ek herinner u daaraan dat hulle hierdie gemeenskapsdiens vrywillig verrig. Alles wat hulle in JBV-verband doen, doen hulle in hulle vrye tyd en op eie onkoste. Ek begin by die “ou” hande. Ek is die voorsitter en Dennis Richmond, die ondervoorsitter. Soos ek, is Dennis is ‘n oud-onderwysman. Hy bedryf tans twee suksesvolle sake-ondernemings op die dorp. Japie Bosch, die sekretaris, is ‘n oud-joernalis en was vroeër in diens van die voormalige Johannesburgse dagblad, Die Vaderland. Hy was later die hoofuitvoerende beampte van die Institute of Municipal Finance Officers (IMFO). Japie wend sy joernalistieke vaardighede aan om ons blog te bedryf. Wat Johan Thiart, ons tesourier, al van munisipale geldsake vergeet het, moet die jong Turke nog leer. 

Die gekoöpteerde lede van die bestuurskomitee is soos volg:

·   Pollie Marx is ‘n voormalige stadsraadslid en kerkorrelis van Barberton. Hy is tans ‘n suksesvolle sakeman op ons dorp. Vanweë sy spesifieke belangstellings hou Pollie vir ons ‘n ogie oor dorpsbeplanning en omgewingsake.

·  Jakkie Pieters is ‘n projek- en programbestuurder van beroep en die voorsitter van die Oos-Kaapse Vereniging vir Fisiekgestemdes. Hy is verantwoordelik vir ledewerwing en -administrasie.  

·  Gustav Barnard hou namens die vereniging ‘n valkoog oor die munisipale finansies. Hy is ‘n geoktooieerde rekenmeester van nering, beskik oor ‘n MBA-graad en MA- en doktorsgrade in die filosofie. Sy akademiese kwalifikasies en ondervinding verleen aan hom die veelsydigheid wat sy JBV-verpligtinge van hom vereis.

·  Dot Coppaert is onlangs gekoöpteer en hanteer lede se klagtes oor munisipale dienslewering. Sy het voorheen in dieselfde hoedanigheid in die belastingbetalersvereniging van Mogalestad gedien.

·  Ons is tans besig om Vivienne Bojé en Ryno du Preez na die bestuurskomitee te koöpteer. Vivian is ‘n dinamiese persoon en voormalige boervrou wat verantwoordelikheid sal aanvaar vir openbare skakeling en geldinsameling. Ryno, die eienaar van ‘n suksevolle plaaslike loodgietersonderneming, sal, namens die vereniging, ‘n ogie oor die munisipaliteit se tegniese aktiwiteite hou.

 Die JBV het nie ‘n omskrewe visie en missie nie. Een van die eerste take wat die bestuurskomitee vanjaar onderneem het was om die grondwet onder die loep te neem, o.a. met betrekking tot die visie en missie van die vereniging.

The association does not have a strategic plan. Strategic planning is defined as the process of identifying an organization's future course and then determining the best approach for achieving those goals and objectives. All strategic planning deals with at least three key elements, i.e. what do we do, for whom do we do it, and how do we do it? The JBRPA constitution clearly spells out what we do and for whom we do it. In addition, we have recently approved a number of how-do-we-do-its, viz. how to deal with members’ complaints; how to co-opt persons with specific skills to the management committee; how to approach officials of the Kouga Municipality; how to respond to calls for a rates boycott. These issues have been recorded as policy decisions. A pressing how-do-we-do-it that is presently receiving urgent attention is how to increase our membership.

The local authority views the JBRPA as elitist and confrontational. Over the past few years the JBRPA has deliberately moved away from a confrontational approach and has assumed a more conciliatory style in dealing with the municipality, confident in our belief that it is possible to be assertive without being abrasive.

For example, the JBRPA is on record that, for various reasons, it does not support a rates boycott by its members. The association has also shown that it is happy to acknowledge the good things done by the municipality.

However, the association has also pointed out that it will support more aggressive measures if matters take a turn for the worst.

Die JBV geniet beperkte blootstelling in die media en elders. Blootstelling in die plaaslike media was weliswaar tot onlangs ietwat skraps. Nadat die JBV egter deur ‘n Our Times-joernalis uitgenooi is om deur sy bemiddeling berigte in sy koerant te plaas, het hierdie toedrag van sake aansienlik verbeter. Hierbenewens het ons sekretaris, Japie Bosch, hierdie blog aangelê wat kommunikasie met ons lede verbeter het. 

The JBRPA is constrained by negative community perceptions and dwindling membership. Increased coverage in the local media and the blog should help to improve negative community perceptions about the JBRPA. Diminishing membership remains a problem that we will need to address urgently. Hopefully the newly-constituted standing committee on membership will produce a solution.

Die vereniging beskik nie oor voldoende geld om sy aktiwiteite te finansier nie. Ons maak op Vivienne (openbare skakeling en fondsinsameling ) staat om voortaan in hierdie verband leiding te gee.

In closing: The JBRPA is confident that it has developed a feasible structure to address the deficiencies pinpointed by the SWOT analysis. We shall have to work hard next year to ensure that our plans come to fruition.

Has the time come for a more aggressive stance?

 Dr Barry Vosloo, chairman

Over the past few years the JBRPA has deliberately moved away from a confrontational approach and has assumed a more conciliatory style in dealing with the municipality, confident in our belief that it is possible to be assertive without being abrasive.

Dr Barry Vosloo

For example, the JBRPA is on record that, for various reasons, it does not support a rates boycott by its members. The association has also shown that it is happy to acknowledge the good things done by the municipality.

However, the association has also pointed out that it will support more aggressive measures if matters take a turn for the worst.

Sadly, we have come to the conclusion that our moderate approach is not working well.  The time for more robust action has, therefore, come.

We are becoming increasingly impatient for two reasons.

• Firstly, despite the best efforts of Peter Gerber, the municipality has so far failed to respond to a number of members’ complaints on behalf of which the association acted as an intermediary and
• Secondly, a meeting was recently called by the MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs to inform the municipality and local ratepayers’ and residents’ associations of the outcome of his department’s investigations into the associations’ complaints about poor municipal service delivery.

However, gross discourtesy was shown by the Mayor, Speaker and Municipal Manager towards the MEC, his officials, and representatives of ratepayers’ and residence associations.

Mayor Robbie Dennis

• The Mayor arrived half an hour after the appointed time of the meeting;
• The Speaker turned up more than an hour late and
• The Municipal Manager did not put in an appearance at all.

(Click HERE to read an earlier report in this regard.)

So, the Mayor’s call on the people of Kouga to “work together with respect for the roles each one of us has been assigned by the communities we serve,” (Our Times, 16 December 2010), takes the breath away. He and his officials clearly do not practice what they preach.

It is worth noting that the association has already formally expressed its solidarity with the St Francis Bay’s Residents'Association efforts to carry out a municipal rates boycott.

Important meeting for holiday home owners

Owners of holiday homes also have a say in the municipal affairs of the town. We want to involve them as members. Should you know such persons, please inform of them following meeting:

On Monday, 20 December 2010 the Jeffreys Bay Ratepayers' Association will hold a meeting for holiday makers who own property in the town .

The aim is to recruit these people as members so that they have the backing of an association that keeps an eye on the municipal affairs in the town.

The meeting will take place at the Jeffreys Bay tennis club at 17:00 (5 pm).  Duration: about 60 minutes.

Members of the association, as well as residents who are non-members and want to join, are all welcome to attend.

Click on map to enlarge.

"Tax boycotts a form of corruption"

Well, well, well.

Premier Thandi Modise of the North West Province said that while she recognised that some of the grievances of the Sannieshof Inwoners- en Belastingbetalersunie (SIBU) were legitimate, their boycott action was illegal, and suggested that it could also be seen as a form of corruption, reports Sapa, via News24.

* The premier did not mention a word of the extent of corruption within municipalities.

Read the full report HERE.

Municipalities hike tariffs on the sly

Municipalities are busy quietly, but dramatically hiking levies and tariffs for services other than the usual water, electricity and property rates.

Economist.co.za economist Mike Schüssler this week reported that municipalities’ income from consumers and businesses in the third quarter of this year was 72.2% more than in the same period two years ago, reports News24.

Schüssler based his assertion on figures published by National Treasury, summarise the figures reported each month by the municipalities.

“Own income”, which excludes allocations from central government, increased from R30bn to R51.7bn in this period.

The biggest increase, 124.5%, was in the “other” category.

Schüssler said that he suspected that municipalities were imposing levies on items that had not previously been paid for in order to extract more money from the consumer. He said that over two years “other” costs had risen 10 times nominal GDP growth, which was alarming. South Africans could not afford these costs and, moreover, received precious little value for their money.

Anita Botha, a municipal expert at Pro-Active Management Services, said all other levies and tariffs were included in this category. It could for instance involve the hiring of sports grounds, development contributions for bulk services, the cost of graves or traffic fines.

She suspected that the large increases were on specialised services such as the approval of building plans and services aimed at the commercial consumer.

Sake24 conducted a couple of spot checks and found examples of excessive increases.

In eThekwini (Durban) the basic tariff for a three-phase electrical connection (2 401A to 3 200A), according to documentation on the council's website, shot up from R180 000 in 2008/09 to R642 510 in the current financial year – a 256% rise.

Earlier this year bus tickets for the disabled in Tshwane went up from R120/year to R160/month.

Last year a businessman who wishes to remain anonymous received a quotation of R30 000 from a local authority in Gauteng for an electrical connection to a refuse dump that he wished to develop. He had not done the connection, and when he again asked for a quotation this year the price had risen to R130 000.

A town planner employed by one of the foremost outdoor media companies said the Johannesburg Metro Council had introduced a new R3 351 levy for media companies who wanted to appeal if their applications to erect outdoor advertising on council grant had been turned down. He said about 70% of applications were rejected.

Nog geen besluit oor minder munisipaliteite

Daar is nog geen finale besluit geneem oor die afskaffing van swak munisipaliteite regoor die lande nie, het mnr. Sicelo Shiceka, minister van samewerkende regering, Dinsdag gesê.

Hoewel sommige provinsies “haastig” is dat die proses moet plaasvind, het Shiceka gesê die besluit sal gegrond wees op verslae wat na verwagting in Januarie ingedien sal word. Dit sal aandui watter munisipaliteite gaan wegval, berig Sapa via Sake24.

“Ons kan nie munisipaliteite afskaf voor die plaaslike regeringverkiesings (volgende jaar) nie,” het Shiceka gesê.

Hy het sy departement se plan om die stelsel “skoon te maak” voor 2014 weer beklemtoon.

“Suid-Afrika sal dan nuwe munisipaliteite hê.”

Intussen het Shiceka gesê die departement het meer as 30 wette en 350 voorwaardes in die Munisipaledienstewet geïdentifiseer wat geskrap gaan word, aangesien dit dienslewering belemmer. - Sapa

Disabled parking

DOESN'T it irk you when you see a perfectly fit and healthy looking individual drive into a disabled parking bay, just so they can scrape a few seconds off their shopping trip?

It irks Mrs A, who thought she would teach the drivers of a municipal vehicle a lesson when she saw them do just that, reports The Herald.

The pair – one man, one woman – had zipped into a bay clearly marked for the disabled at a supermarket recently.

Out they climbed and Mrs A noticed there was (1) no disc on their car and (2) they seemed pretty fit and active. A little overweight, perhaps, but certainly not disabled. The metro’s parking spaces are starting to fill up with pre-Christmas shoppers and that means more selfish motorists taking up disabled parking bays.

Her blood started to boil, but she wasn’t quick enough to say anything to them as they scuttled into the supermarket. So Mrs A marched up to their car, unscrewed the valve on their tyres and let all the air out.
I love it!

However, The Herald motoring editor, Bobby Cheetham, tells me that Mrs A’s action is – technically – a criminal offence.

Isn’t that ironic? Parking in the disabled bay isn’t a crime, but “pranking” the idiots who do park there is. Bobby advises that next time she should rather take their registration number and if you know where they work – in this case, the municipality – then give their head office or employers a call.

Wanbetalers skuld miljarde rande

Wanbetalers skuld munisipaliteite al ’n yslike R65 miljard (R65 000 000 000) en daar is geen keer aan dié wegholtrein nie.

Mnr. Sicelo Shiceka, minister van samewerkende regering, het gister toegegee dié syfer is ’n “reuse-bekommernis”, maar gesê hy is steeds optimisties dat munisipaliteite teen 2014 doeltreffend gaan wees “en dinge anders gaan doen”.

Die nasionale tesourie het verlede week bekend gemaak die land se 283 munisipaliteite het teen 30 September vanjaar ’n totale skuldlas van R62,3 miljard  gehad.  Klik hiernaas om die berig in Die Burger te lees.                                                           

Dié syfer was R50,4 miljard teen 30 Junie 2009.

Meer as 60% van die R62,3 miljard is residensiële skuld (R37,7 miljard).

“Die uitstaande skuld is nou ­R65 miljard en styg skerp.Wanbetalers in groot metromunisipaliteite is die grootste sondaars en was teen 30 September R35,4 miljard in die rooi – ’n styging van 12,4% (R3,9 miljard) in vergelyking met die vorige geldjaar.”

Munisipale kenners waarsku al ’n geruime tyd verbruikers sal nie kan byhou by die skerp stygings in munisipale tariewe nie en dat dié skuldlas nog momentum gaan opbou.

Mnr. Mike Schüssler, bekende ekonoom, het vandeesweek gesê verbruikers het in die derde kwartaal van vanjaar 72,2% meer betaal vir munisipale dienste as in dieselfde tydperk twee jaar gelede.


Shiceka het in reaksie gesê hy twyfel of die 72,2% korrek is.

“Munisipaliteite moet hulle begrotings aan die nasionale tesourie voorlê en dit moet in lyn wees met inflasie.”

Hy het toegegee daar is wel gevalle waar munisipaliteite die Wet op Munisipale Eiendomsbelasting ten koste van inwoners uitbuit. Shiceka het gesê plaaslike regering sal beduidende veranderinge ondergaan ná aanstaande jaar se plaaslike verkiesing, “en nog meer in aanloop tot 2014”.

Die grootmaat-infrastruktuurfonds wat vir 2011 in die vooruitsig gestel word, kan ’n aansienlike verskil maak, het Shiceka voorspel.

“Ek dink byvoorbeeld die rol wat munisipaliteite in die welslae van die Wêreldbeker-sokkertoernooi gespeel het, word onderskat.”

Só verdwaal ons

Dr JEI de Swardt skryf:  vir my as 'n geneesheer is dit moeilik om adresse op te spoor weens die afwesige of onleesbare straatname. Sekerlik is dit voordelig vir almal wat ons dorp besoek dat daar sigbare straatnaamborde is.

•  Die afwesigheid van huisnommers dra by tot dié probleem. -- JB.

Rocketing municipal bills hit SA

Pretoria - In the third quarter of this year South Africans shelled out 72.2% more for municipal services than during the same period two years ago.

Annual municipal rates and services tariffs were now equal to the total amount that South Africans paid in personal tax. But for this massive contribution they received little value for money, said Economists.co.za director Mike Schüssler, who reported these statistics.

He reckoned these large increases equalled a 3.37 percentage point rise in interest rates, reports fin24. Read the full report by clicking HERE.

It was no wonder, he said, that interest-rate cuts did not have the desired outcome of getting consumer expenditure rolling forward. A large part of these savings were being sucked up by municipal accounts.He said local authorities needed to reduce costs, and municipal officers' salaries were excessive.

It was not a case of too little money. Municipalities were hopelessly ineffective.

Schüssler said the fact that municipalities' outstanding debts were continually rising was a sign that consumers were being tapped dry.

Dis nie iets om oor te spog nie, Kouga

Gister is berig dat die Kouga-munisipaliteit eerste plek op die Munisipale Produktiwiteitsindeks in die Oos-Kaap beklee en 30ste on die land, metrorade uitgesluit. Die berig verskyn onder hierdie een.

Hieronder is vier menings daaroor.

Japie Bosch, sekretaris van die vereniging:

Dit sê nie veel vir plaaslike regering in Suid-Afrika as die hoogste punt wat aan ‘n munisipale raad (George) slegs 59,6% is nie. Dis 'n swak rapport.  Daarom het die Kouga-munisipaliteit met sy 53,1% nie iets om oor te kraai nie.

Altesame 46,9 % van Kouga se produktiwiteit en werk het nie die toets geslaag het nie. Dit beteken dat hy byna die helfte van sy werk nie doen of nie reg doen nie. Hoeveel verkwiste miljoene rande verteenwoordig dit?

O, weë vir die dorpe waar dit vrotter gaan.

Dog, gee Kouga die krediet dat hulle darem die beste van die slegte in die Oos-Kaap is.

Dit kom voor of die maatskappy wat die opname gedoen het, geloofwaardig is. Sy bevindinge is landwyd in die media gerapporteer. Hy het alle rade oor dieselfde kam geskeer.

Joe Oosthuizen, Chairman of the Federation of Ratepayers' and Residents' Associations in Kouga (FEKRRA):

1. The criteria used to judge the municipalities are not ones that ratepayers would necessarily choose. The ratings would have to be skewed towards service delivery.

2. None of the municipalities score very high.

3. Oudtshoorn, which is, reportedly, in a very bad shape, ranks 8 places higher than Kouga.

4. Most of these criteria are influenced by the size of the municipality. According to the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, the Metros and larger municipalities are far more likely to succeed.

It does not take much to be the best municipality in the Eastern Cape as this province is right at the bottom of the pile. I would never brag because I was the top student in the Eastern Cape-Class!

Gustav Barnard, bestuurskomiteelid van die vereniging:
 

Al punt wat behoort te tel, is volpunte.

Barry Vosloo, voorsitter van die vereniging:

As Municipal IQ 'n geloofwaardige organisasie is wat geloofwaardige uitsprake maak, het ons geen keuse as om ons munisipaliteit geluk te wens nie. Die probleem is egter: hoe geloofwaardig kán hulle en hulle bevindings m.b.t. die Kouga-munisipaliteit wees as hulle nie eens die vereniging se mening getoets het nie?

1st in the Province; 30th in the country

• 1st out of 37 the Eastern Cape;
• 30th out of 231 in the country;
• Mark: 53,1%;
• Country Average: 38%.

That is the scorecard of the productivity in the Kouga Local Council. Figures of a Municipal Productivity Index (MPI) was released by the company, Municipal IQ, yesterday.  The latter describes itself as "a unique web-based data and intelligence service specialising in the monitoring and assessment of all of South Africa’s 283 municipalities".

The MPI bases its scores for muncipalities on five factors, each of which is weighted. The maximum possible score is 100; the average for metros (big cities) is 55.8 and average for the local municipalities is 38, with the worstperforming scoring 17.20.

The five factors are as follows:

1. Poverty – the extent of poverty in a municipality and the municipality’s response to this poverty;
2. Access to services – proportion of the population with access to a minimum level of basic municipal services;
3. Economic “intelligence” - the level of economic activity and economic infrastructure in a municipality that impact on productivity;
4. Financial governance - as suggested by expenditure patterns and levels of capital expenditure, often benchmarked per resident for comparative purposes; and
5. Occupancy levels – the converse of vacancy rates in the municipal administration (to reflect capacity).

Below is a full listing of the performanc of local councils in South Africa. Eack block contains the following:

* Position out of 231; 

* Name; 

* Province; 

* Percentage obtained.

To enlarge the table:  hold "control" and turn the mouse wheel. 

(Remember this tip, it applies to all websites.)

1 -- 77	77 -- 154	155 -- 231
1/231 George (WC) (59.6)	78/231 Nokeng tsa Taemane (Gt) (49.0)	155/231 Ngqushwa (EC) (40.9)
2/231 Saldanha Bay (WC) (58.2)	79/231 Mbombela (Mp) (49.0)	156/231 Nkomazi (Mp) (40.6)
3/231 Knysna (WC) (57.9)	80/231 Inxuba Yethemba (EC) (48.9)	157/231 Greater Tzaneen (Lm) (40.5)
4/231 Gamagara (NC) (57.5)	81/231 Lekwa (Mp) (48.6)	158/231 uMshwathi (KZN) (40.4)
5/231 Bitou (WC) (57.0)	82/231 Rustenburg (NW) (48.5)	159/231 Ramotshere Moiloa (NW) (40.4)
6/231 Swartland (WC) (56.6)	83/231 Emalahleni (Mp) (48.3)	160/231 Umvoti (KZN) (40.4)
7/231 Breede Valley (WC) (56.5)	84/231 Thaba Chweu (Mp) (48.3)	161/231 Mkhondo (Mp) (40.3)
8/231 Witzenberg (WC) (56.5)	85/231 Musina (Lm) (48.2)	162/231 Ditsobotla (NW) (39.8)
9/231 Overstrand (WC) (56.2)	86/231 Mantsopa (FS) (48.2)	163/231 Great Kei (EC) (39.6)
10/231 Drakenstein (WC) (56.1)	87/231 Siyancuma (NC) (48.0)	164/231 Thembisile (Mp) (39.6)
11/231 Cape Agulhas (WC) (55.9)	88/231 Kareeberg (NC) (48.0)	165/231 Abaqulusi (KZN) (39.5)
12/231 Hessequa (WC) (55.7)	89/231 Umsobomvu (NC) (47.7)	166/231 Greater Tubatse (Lm) (39.4)
13/231 Matzikama (WC) (55.5)	90/231 Renosterberg (NC) (47.6)	167/231 Mkhambathini (KZN) (39.3)
14/231 Laingsburg (WC) (55.5)	91/231 Tokologo (FS) (47.6)	168/231 King Sabata Dalindyebo (EC) (39.0)
15/231 Richtersveld (NC) (55.4)	92/231 Masilonyana (FS) (47.5)	169/231 Mafikeng (NW) (38.7)
16/231 Mossel Bay (WC) (55.2)	93/231 Buffalo City (EC) (47.5)	170/231 Dannhauser (KZN) (38.6)
17/231 Bergrivier (WC) (55.0)	94/231 Greater Kokstad (KZN) (47.5)	171/231 Greater Letaba (Lm) (38.6)
18/231 Khâi-Ma (NC) (55.0)	95/231 of Madibeng (NW) (47.4)	172/231 Indaka (KZN) (38.5)
19/231 Lesedi (Gt) (54.7)	96/231 Endumeni (KZN) (47.3)	173/231 Amahlathi (EC) (38.4)
20/231 Govan Mbeki (Mp) (54.7)	97/231 Kamiesberg (NC) (47.2)	174/231 eDumbe (KZN) (38.3)
21/231 Steve Tshwete (Mp) (54.5)	98/231 Moretele (NW) (47.1)	175/231 Bushbuckridge (Mp) (38.2)
22/231 Oudtshoorn (WC) (54.4)	99/231 Magareng (NC) (47.0)	176/231 Ezingoleni (KZN) (38.1)
23/231 Midvaal (Gt) (54.3)	100/231 Modimolle (Lm) (47.0)	177/231 Nkonkobe (EC) (38.0)
24/231 Stellenbosch (WC) (54.2)	101/231 Dikgatlong (NC) (47.0)	178/231 Maquassi Hills (NW) (37.9)
25/231 Kopanong (FS) (53.9)	102/231 Tswelopele (FS) (46.9)	179/231 UMuziwabantu (KZN) (37.7)
26/231 Beaufort West (WC) (53.8)	103/231 Polokwane (Lm) (46.9)	180/231 Ulundi (KZN) (37.7)
27/231 Kgatelopele (NC) (53.7)	104/231 Msukaligwa (Mp) (46.9)	181/231 Maruleng (Lm) (37.6)
28/231 Swellendam (WC) (53.3)	105/231 Ikwezi (EC) (46.6)	182/231 Blouberg (Lm) (37.5)
29/231 uMhlathuze (KZN) (53.2)	106/231 Naledi (FS) (46.5)	183/231 Ratlou (NW) (37.4)
30/231 Kouga (EC) (53.1)	107/231 Umdoni (KZN) (46.4)	184/231 Moshaweng (NC) (37.4)
31/231 Cederberg (WC) (53.1)	108/231 Pixley Ka Seme (Mp) (46.3)	185/231 Senqu (EC) (37.4)
32/231 Nama Khoi (NC) (53.0)	109/231 Hibiscus Coast (KZN) (46.3)	186/231 eMadlangeni (KZN) (37.3)
33/231 Theewaterskloof (WC) (52.9)	110/231 Mogalakwena (Lm) (46.2)	187/231 Mbonambi (KZN) (36.9)
34/231 Thabazimbi (Lm) (52.8)	111/231 Karoo Hoogland (NC) (46.2)	188/231 Kagisano (NW) (36.6)
35/231 Umjindi (Mp) (52.7)	112/231 Gariep (EC) (46.2)	189/231 Sakhisizwe (EC) (36.4)
36/231 Prince Albert (WC) (52.6)	113/231 Nala (FS) (45.7)	190/231 Greater Giyani (Lm) (36.4)
37/231 Msunduzi (KZN) (52.6)	114/231 Lukanji (EC) (45.5)	191/231 UPhongolo (KZN) (36.4)
38/231 Khara Hais (NC) (52.5)	115/231 Kou-Kamma (EC) (45.5)	192/231 uMlalazi (KZN) (36.4)
39/231 Letsemeng (FS) (52.4)	116/231 Mier (NC) (45.4)	193/231 The Big Five False Bay (KZN) (36.2)
40/231 Breede River/Winelands (WC) (52.3)	117/231 Maluti a Phofung (FS) (45.3)	194/231 Greater Taung (NW) (36.2)
41/231 Randfontein (Gt) (52.2)	118/231 Mpofana (KZN) (45.2)	195/231 Mthonjaneni (KZN) (36.2)
42/231 Metsimaholo (FS) (52.0)	119/231 Maletswai (EC) (45.2)	196/231 Mutale (Lm) (36.1)
43/231 Ngwathe (FS) (52.0)	120/231 Kwa Sani (KZN) (45.2)	197/231 Elias Motsoaledi (Lm) (36.1)
44/231 Westonaria (Gt) (51.9)	121/231 Phokwane (NC) (45.1)	198/231 Fetakgomo (Lm) (36.1)
45/231 Siyathemba (NC) (51.9)	122/231 Setsoto (FS) (45.1)	199/231 Makhuduthamaga (Lm) (36.0)
46/231 Delmas (Mp) (51.8)	123/231 Lephalale (Lm) (44.9)	200/231 Molopo (NW) (35.7)
47/231 Kannaland (WC) (51.6)	124/231 Dipaleseng (Mp) (44.9)	201/231 Impendle (KZN) (35.7)
48/231 Matlosana (NW) (51.5)	125/231 Kai Garib (NC) (44.8)	202/231 Ingwe (KZN) (35.4)
49/231 Moqhaka (FS) (51.4)	126/231 Mtubatuba (KZN) (44.6)	203/231 Okhahlamba (KZN) (35.3)
50/231 Camdeboo (EC) (51.2)	127/231 Phumelela (FS) (44.3)	204/231 Mhlontlo (EC) (35.1)
51/231 Tlokwe (NW) (51.1)	128/231 Ba-Phalaborwa (Lm) (44.3)	205/231 Qaukeni (EC) (34.9)
52/231 Blue Crane Route (EC) (50.8)	129/231 Umtshezi (KZN) (44.2)	206/231 Jozini (KZN) (34.9)
53/231 Baviaans (EC) (50.7)	130/231 Emnambithi-Ladysmith (KZN) (44.2)	207/231 Umzimvubu (EC) (34.9)
54/231 uMngeni (KZN) (50.7)	131/231 Newcastle (KZN) (44.1)	208/231 Matatiele (EC) (34.6)
55/231 Dihlabeng (FS) (50.5)	132/231 Inkwanca (EC) (44.1)	209/231 Nkandla (KZN) (34.6)
56/231 Mangaung (FS) (50.5)	133/231 Kgetlengrivier (NW) (43.6)	210/231 Umzumbe (KZN) (34.4)
57/231 Matjhabeng (FS) (50.5)	134/231 Albert Luthuli (Mp) (43.5)	211/231 Nquthu (KZN) (34.3)
58/231 Emthanjeni (NC) (50.4)	135/231 Greater Marble Hall (Lm) (43.4)	212/231 Ubuhlebezwe (KZN) (34.3)
59/231 Hantam (NC) (50.4)	136/231 Lekwa-Teemane (NW) (43.3)	213/231 Ndwedwe (KZN) (34.0)
60/231 KwaDukuza (KZN) (50.4)	137/231 Ventersdorp (NW) (43.2)	214/231 Hlabisa (KZN) (33.8)
61/231 Thembelihle (NC) (50.4)	138/231 Nketoana (FS) (43.1)	215/231 Umhlabuyalingana (KZN) (33.5)
62/231 Sol Plaatjie (NC) (50.3)	139/231 Kheis (NC) (42.9)	216/231 Imbabazane (KZN) (33.5)
63/231 Sunday's River Valley (EC) (50.3)	140/231 Mandeni (KZN) (42.7)	217/231 Vulamehlo (KZN) (33.4)
64/231 Ubuntu (NC) (50.2)	141/231 Makhado (Lm) (42.7)	218/231 Mnquma (EC) (32.6)
65/231 Mookgopong (Lm) (49.9)	142/231 Tswaing (NW) (42.6)	219/231 Ntambanana (KZN) (32.4)
66/231 Kungwini (Gt) (49.9)	143/231 Naledi (NW) (42.3)	220/231 Umzimkhulu (KZN) (32.2)
67/231 Tsantsabane (NC) (49.9)	144/231 Nxuba (EC) (42.2)	221/231 Nyandeni (EC) (32.2)
68/231 Emfuleni (Gt) (49.8)	145/231 Dr JS Moroka (Mp) (42.1)	222/231 Maphumulo (KZN) (32.2)
69/231 Ga-Segonyana (NC) (49.7)	146/231 Thulamela (Lm) (42.0)	223/231 Engcobo (EC) (31.7)
70/231 Emakhazeni (Mp) (49.5)	147/231 Mamusa (NW) (41.9)	224/231 Elundini (EC) (31.3)
71/231 Mafube (FS) (49.5)	148/231 Molemole (Lm) (41.7)	225/231 Intsika Yethu (EC) (30.5)
72/231 Merafong City (NW) (49.3)	149/231 Mohokare (FS) (41.7)	226/231 Port St Johns (EC) (29.2)
73/231 Mogale City (Gt) (49.3)	150/231 Tsolwana (EC) (41.6)	227/231 Ntabankulu (EC) (28.7)
74/231 Makana (EC) (49.2)	151/231 Aganang (Lm) (41.5)	228/231 Mbizana (EC) (28.0)
75/231 Bela-Bela (Lm) (49.2)	152/231 Emalahleni (EC) (41.1)	229/231 Nongoma (KZN) (27.8)
76/231 Ndlambe (EC) (49.1)	153/231 Lepele-Nkumpi (Lm) (41.0)	230/231 Mbhashe (EC) (26.7)
77/231 Moses Kotane (NW) (49.1)	154/231 Richmond (KZN) (40.9)	231/231 Msinga (KZN) (25.4)

No golden handshakes

In principle it was "unacceptable" to give municipal officials golden handshakes - particularly if they were administrators with a case to answer.

Local Government Minister Sicelo Shiceka (right) made this clear after hearing about the R2,3 million golden handshake given to suspended Tshwane city manager, Kiba Kekana, reports SAPA via News24.

"There should be no golden handshake in principle and that person can't be allowed to resign," he said.

40% New ouncillors

The Minister announced that he wanted at least 40% representation of new councillors in municipalities after next year's local government elections. 

There was a need for new councillors, who, Shiceka said, would be trained in time for next year's local government elections."

Warning regarding shoddy services

Shiceka also sent a strong warning to private companies providing shoddy services in local government, saying they would no longer be paid out in full if communities were not satisfied with their work.

This will be catered for in one of the sections of the Municipal Systems Act which Shiceka hopes would be passed before the elections.

He wants "the new crop of leaders" to find a system that is changed. The bill will also make a provision for the MEC to intervene within 14 days when municipalities employ according to whom they know instead of skilled workers.

If the MEC fails, then Shiceka will then have to correct that.

No more political managers

Another issue needing correction was the blunder in municipalities where political office bearers also found themselves in management positions.

"You have a bigger responsibility being an office bearer, so you can't be a manager," he said.

Amalgamating municipalities?

From Thursday (2 December 2010) the ruling party would hold a two-day meeting to reflect on provincial and local government and find ways of making it more efficient. Shiceka said issues such as amalgamating municipalities and amending laws would also be looked at.

Click HERE to read the full report.

Recruitment meeting

On 20 December 2010 the Jeffreys Bay Ratepayers' Association will hold a recruitment meeting for holiday makers who own property in the town .

The aim is to recruit these people as members of the association so that they have an association with an organisation that keeps an eye on the municipal affairs in the town.

The meeting will take place at the Jeffreys Bay tennis club at 17:00 (5 pm).

Residents are requested to inform their friends with holiday homes of  the meeting.

Members of the association, as well as residents who are non-members, but want to join, are all welcome to attend.

That's what they look like and that's who they are

The management committee of the Jeffreys Bay Ratepayers' Association has changed face over the last few months.

Who are they?  What do they look like?  Where do they come from?  What did they do previously?

Since the last annual general meeting in February 2010 three members have resigned.   In order to function properly a number of newcomers have had to be co-opted.  Click HERE to read about the committee members.

Minister vervang

Slegs twee dae nadat mnr Sicelo Gqobana as Oos-Kaapse Minster van Plaaslike Regering en Tradisionele Sake 'n suksesvolle vergadering met belastingbetaler- en inwonersverenigings van Kouga gehad het, is hy vervang.

Tydens bogenoemde vergadering het hy die Kouga-munisipaliteit uitgetrap.  Berig hieronder.

Die  Oos-Kaapse premier het sy kabinet geskommel.  Die nuwe Minster van Plaaslike Regering en Tradisionele Sake is mnr Mlibo Qhoboshiane, 'n voormalige provinsiale leier van die ANC-jeugliga, berig News24.

Mnr Gqobana is nou die Minister van Gesondheid in die provinsie.

Lees die volledige berig deur HIER te klik.

Minister gee Kouga ‘n skrobbering

Mnr Sicelo Gqobana

Die munisipaliteit van Kouga het gister ‘n skrobbering van mnr Sicelo Gqobana, die Oos-Kaapse Minister Van Plaaslike Regering en Tradisionele Sake, gekry. Terselfdertyd het hy inwoners aangewakker om te kla as dit nodig is.

“As julle kla, is julle geregtig op antwoorde”, het hy verklaar.

Disrespek

Die minister en 12 van sy senior ampternare het 333 km van Bisho af gery om ‘n vergadering met belastingbetaler- en inwonersverenigings, raadslede en amptenare van Kouga in Humansdorp by te woon. Hy is met ‘n teleurstelling begroet.

Mnr Robbie Dennis

• Eers is die aanvang van die vergaderting vertraag, omdat mnr Robbie Dennis, die uitvoerende burgemeester, laat was. Die Minister moes hom bel om te hoor waar hy is. Sowat 25 minute later eers het hy opgedaag.

• Nie ‘n enkele amptenaar, die munisipale bestuurder ingesluit, het opgedaag nie.

• Me Magdalene Dlomo, die speaker, het bykans ‘n uur laat opgedaag en langs die Minister gaan sit.

Mnr Dennis het verduidelik dat ander verpligtinge hom besig gehou het en dat sy amptenare ander vergaderings het om by te woon.

Dit het mnr Gqobana erg ontstig. Hy het mnr Dennis se redes as “disrespekvol” bestempel.

“Hierdie vergadering was geskeduleer. Ek en top-amptenare van my department het van Bisho af hierheen gekom. Almal het ‘n dag afgeneem om hier te wees. Die munisipale bestuurder (dr Eddie Rankwana) en die hooffinansiële beampte (mnr Ridwaan Abdullah) moes hier gewees het. Die burgemeester moes hulle so beveel het. Per slot van sake is hy die uitvoerende burgemeester. Dit is ‘n ernstige belediging wat ek vandag ervaar het. Dit het nog nooit tevore gebeur dat ‘n munisipale bestuurder nie opdaag by ‘n vergadering van hierdie aard nie. Ons sal verder hieraan aandag gee.”

Die teenwoordige belastingbetaler- en inwonersverenigings het hulle ook teen hierdie “minagting” uitgespreek.

Klagtes

Die Minister het gesê dat inwoners alle reg het om oor swak munisipale diens te kla.

“Enige persoon met ‘n klagte is geregtig op ‘n antwoord.”

As belastingbetaler- en inwonersverenigings nie bevredigende antwoorde kry nie, moet hulle dit by die adjunk-direkteur-generaal van sy department aanmeld.

Voorts het hy voorgestel dat die munisipaliteit ‘n “kliënte-dienskantoor” of ‘n “direktoraat van klagtes” open.

Inligtingspamflette behoort ook meer gereeld by die maandelikse munisipale rekeninge ingesluit te word om inwoners van inligting te voorsien.

Besoeke aan  Blanke-gebiede

Mnr Gqobana het gesê dat hy uitvoerende burgemeesters in die Oos-Kaap al gevra het waarom hulle versuim om Blanke-gebiede besoek. “Julle faal daarin om na die burgers uit te reik. Dis waarom hulle belastingbetalersverenigings stig en hulle probleme konsolideer.”

Rassisme

Aan die einde van ‘n suksesvolle vergadering het mnr Gqobana self vir ‘n onaangenaamheid gesorg tot hy gesê het dat hy ‘n “ondertoon van rassisme” bespeur het. Hy is verseker dit is nie so nie, maar dat die klagtes by die vergadering gegaan het oor onbekwaamhede in die munisipaliteit.

Werwingsvergadering

Die Jeffreysbaai-belastingbetalersvereniging hou op 20 Desember 2010 ‘n werwingsvergadering vir vakansiegangers wat eiendom in die dorp besit.

Die doel is om hierdie mense as lede van die vereniging te werf sodat hulle ‘n verbintenis het met ‘n organisasie wat ‘n oog oor munisipale sake in die dorp hou.  

Die vergadering begin om 19:00 by die Jeffreysbaai-tennisklub.
Inwoners kan gerus hul vriende met vakansiehuise solank hieroor inlig.

Lede van die vereniging is uiteraard welkom. So ook inwoners wat nie-lede is nie en wil aansluit.

Municipal "Roadshow": ask your questions

The Association welcomes the Mayor’s announcement that the municipality’s political and administrative leaders will be undertaking a trip in the Kouga region in order to “listen and respond to residents’ queries and complaints”.

This will provide our members with an excellent opportunity to declare their views about municipal issues that affect them and to ask the questions they have always wanted to ask (and hopefully receive honest answers!).

The meeting closest to home will be held on Tuesday, 30 November 2010, at the Newton Hall, Jeffreys Bay.

The stakeholder meeting will start at 14:00 and the public meeting at 18:00.

Resolutions to take note of

Selected approved items from the minutes of 
mayoral committee meetings, 

prepared by dr Barry Vosloo, chairperson.

29 April 2010
• [The Executive Mayor] tabled the certificate which Council received from the Department of Water Affairs for a “Blue Drop Excellence Award” for outstanding performance in 2010 for Water Safety Excellence in small/medium size municipalities.
• [The Executive Mayor] said that at a meeting held with the MEC for Finance in the Eastern Cape this morning, the MEC said that if each civil servant performs only one day with excellence it would make a huge improvement in service delivery. The Executive Mayor then said that the same principle should be implemented at the Kouga Municipality.
• [It is resolved] that an undertaking be entered into with the KDA [Kouga Development Agency] regarding the upgrading by them of Da Gama Road, Jeffreys Bay, which is a Provincial Road.
• Pre-paid electricity: The amount of 40% is recovered from purchases and is credited against the arrears. The total debt outstanding amounts to
R1 363 623.09.
• The balance as per the bank statements as at 28 February 2010 is a favourable balance of R4 167 106.55.
• The Kouga Local Tourism Organization [in collaboration] with Ultimate Cut and the LED Department has produced a marketing DVD that will be distributed nationally and internationally.

25 May 2010
• The ‘car guards’, vagrants and street children in Jeffreys Bay pose a problem to both residents and tourists. The SAPS recommended a skills training program for these people but require premises for training and selling of crafts to realize the program. The recommended space for training is at the new buildings at the taxi rank at Ocean View.
• [It is resolved] that Council considers the approval of a consultant to draw up a Coastal Management Plan for the Kouga Municipality.
• [It is resolved] that the Municipal Turnaround Strategy for Kouga Municipality for 2010/11 as documented … be approved.

10 August 2010
• The Municipal Finance Management Act requires that the budget compilation process of the municipality should commence at least 10 months before the start of a new financial year.
• [It is resolved] that the Council, having fully considered the 2008/09 Annual Report of the Municipality and representations made thereon, approves the 2008/09 Oversight Report on the Annual Report without reservations and refer it to the to the Council for adoption purposes.

31 August 2010
• In terms of the Skills Development Act and Employment Equity Act Regulations, every organisation with more than 50 employees must establish a Training Committee or Skills Development Committee. The training committee is a workplace consultative forum which needs to be consulted on both the compilation of the workplace skills plan and be involved in the monitoring of training …
• An investigation into the qualification of [Kouga Municipality] Senior Managers revealed that some do not have the minimum qualifications attached to these positions.
• [It is resolved] that all Senior Managers be required to obtain the minimum CPMD qualifications by 2011/2012.
• The Department of Water Affairs issued Kouga Municipality with a notice of non-compliance relating to all seven wastewater treatment works [including Jeffreys Bay] operated by the Kouga Municipality.

8 October 2010
• The application by the NSRI to lease the MTN life saving tower … seems to be an ideal opportunity to prevent the re-occurrence of the disasters which shocked the local and visiting Communities during the Festive Season of 2009/2010.
• [It is resolved] that the [application] of the NSRI to enter into a partnership with the Municipality to utilize the MTN Life Saving Tower and the Public Open Space between the Jeffreys Bay Ski-boat Club and the Pellsrus Day Camping Area be supported.

Carlien Burger se eerste sukses

Carlien Burger wat vroeër vanjaar as risiko- en voldoeningsbestuurder (risk and compliance) by die Kouga-munisipaliteit aangestel is, het haar eerste sukses behaal.

Maandag het ‘n voormalige toesighouer van die munisipaliteit in die Port Elizabethse handelshof verskyn op aanklagte van diefstal by die munisipaliteit. Die bedrag beloop nagenoeg R863 400. (Berig heronder.)

Carlien het vanoggend bevestig dat dit die eerste hofsaak is wat voortspruit uit haar kantoor se werk.

Meer wou sy nie sê nie, omdat die saak sub judice is.

“Ons het al die prosesse gevolg. Daarna is dit aan die polisie oorhandig.

‘n Vroeëre berig oor Carlien se werk is te lees deur HIER te klik.

Oud-toesighouer van Kouga in hof ná bedrog

’n Voormalige toesighouer van die Kouga-munisipaliteit in Jeffreysbaai het op aanklagte van diefstal wat nagenoeg R863 400 beloop, in die hof verskyn.

Me. Janice Jolinda Savage (49) van Duineweg in die Pellsrus-woonbuurt het gister (15 Novembner 2010) vir die eerste keer in die Baaise handelshof verskyn, berig Clarissa Venter, Die Burger.

Adv. Ulrieke de Klerk, staatsaanklaer, het gesê die saak is tot 15 Desember uitgestel sodat Savage ’n regsverteenwoordiger kan raadpleeg. Savage is vroeër op waarskuwing vrygelaat.

Volgens die klagstaat het Savage dié geld na bewering binne ’n week, tussen 15 en 23 April vanjaar, gesteel.

Sy was die toesighouer oor die finansiële departement by dié munisipaliteit en moes toesien dat wagte van die Coin-sekerheidsmaatskappy banksakke met kontant en tjeks daarin na die FNB-bank op die dorp neem.
Maar vir dié spesifieke week in April het die Coin-wagte glo geen banksakke ontvang nie en gevolglik is die geld nie gebank nie.

Tjeks vir R599 360 en R264 030 kontant was ook nie in die munisipaliteit se kluis te vinde nie.

Die klagstaat wys daarop dat Savage verantwoordelik was om die munisipale kassiere se daaglikse inkomste na te gaan en toe te sien dat geen foute begaan is nie.

Savage het ’n handgeskrewe opsomming van die daaglikse inkomste van elke kassier voltooi wat dan deur haar én die betrokke kassier onderteken is.

Voorts was dit haar plig om ’n bank-depositostrokie – wat deur ’n kassier voltooi is – saam met kontant, tjeks en die handgeskrewe opsomming in ’n Coin-banksak te plaas. Hierop het sy die Coin-sakke verseël en in ’n kluis op die perseel gebêre. Sy was glo die enigste een in besit van dié kluissleutel.

Die Coin-sekerheidsmaatskappy het die sakke dan by haar kom afhaal en na die bank geneem.

Me. Laura-Leigh Randall, munisipale woordvoerder van Kouga, het bevestig Savage het bedank kort nadat die diefstal aan die lig gekom het.

Da Gama het weer strepe

Da Gamaweg se verkeerstrepe is opnuut duidelik wit geverf.  Nou nie oral van die mees professionele werk nie, seker omdat die pad ook juis die beste oppervlakte op aarde het nie.

Of dit gedoen is omdat die vakansiegangers haas op pad is of nie, maak nie saak nie.  Dit is gedoen.  Dankie.

Tenders approved

Below are details about some of the tenders that were approved at an ordinary council meeting of the Kouga Local Municipality on 11 November 2010. The total cost of these tenders amount to R51 146 121.38.

• Preparation of the 2009/2010 Annual Financial Statements, awarded to Ducharme Consulting (Pty (Ltd) – R902 880.
• Enhancement of the WSDP for Kouga Local Municipality, awarded to UWP Consultants – R199 990.
• Sewer reticulation in Patensie Ramaphosa Phase 1, awarded to CCST –  R3 097 771.12.
• Jeffreys Bay waste water treatment works awarded to Tecroveer (Pty) Ltd – R37 722 173.
• Rectification of 157 state-funded low cost housing units in Sea Vista, awarded to Impelelo Construction – R9 223 307.26.

On the face of it, the JBRPA thinks that the R37.7 million ear-marked for Jeffreys Bay waste water treatment, is money well spent.

Minimum competency levels

All local governments have until January 2013 to comply with instructions by the central government to put into practice regulations with regard to minimum competency levels for municipal employees. These regulations are described as “crucial for the successful implementation of the Local Government Turn-around Strategy” to improve service delivery.

The Kouga Municipality has resolved to integrate the policy with their human resource practices, particularly with regard to the advertisement of posts, retention policies, training, and performance management. This clearly spells out their intention to appoint suitably qualified personnel in future.

The JBRPA welcomes these developments and hopes that it will lead to improved service delivery in our town. The present practice of deploying political cadres is simply not working.

The vagaries of the municipal mentality

In a tender report by the Bid Adjudication Committee to the Kouga Municipal Council on 11 November 2010, it was recommended that the contract for the restoration of 157 state-funded low cost housing units in Sea Vista to the value of some R9,25 million be awarded to Impelelo Construction of East London. The Bid Adjudication Committee consists of six municipal officials under the chairmanship of Ms. Linda Simanga, Director of Corporate Services.

The Bid Adjudication Committee was advised by a firm of consultants called Aurecon who describe themselves as “a global company which is focused on the technical, asset management and operational issues” that their clients face every day. They also state that their “world class specialists are abreast of key market developments and best practice technical and management solutions.”

According to the tender report, Impelelo Construction was “the 5th highest in terms of scoring.” One of the Councillors was perplexed. “Why,” he asked “was Impelelo not placed at the top of the list if they were the favoured bidder?”

It would also be fair to ask why the tender was not awarded to the business “highest in terms of scoring”.

But wait, there’s more to come. Aurecon recommended that Impelelo should provide a letter of good standing. Still mystified, the Councillor wondered why they were not asked to provide such a letter before it was decided to give them the job.

In view of the KM’s iffy track record of acting above board, the JBRPA is tempted to paraphrase Marcellus (in Hamlet): is there something rotten in the Bid Adjudication Committee?

Investigation into Kouga corruption

The MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Sicelo Gqobana, recently held talks with Kouga residents’ and ratepayers’ associations about a long list of grievances against the Kouga Municipality.  It ranged from poor service delivery to corruption, the Our Times of 5 November 2010 reported.

Gqobana instructed various members of his staff to investigate these allegations and to provide reports by 25 November 2010. It was also reported that concerns about corruption in the municipality are currently being looked into by a special investigation unit.

• The JBRPA is pleased to learn about these developments. This enquiry will hopefully dispel many ratepayers’ fears that local municipal officials do not have the will to deal with wrongdoing in their ranks.

Die grootste misdaad in SA is kragdiefstal

Die diefstal van elektrisiteit is in geldterme die grootste vorm van misdaad in die land.

Hoewel Suid-Afrika in die afgelope jaar R4,4 miljard as gevolg van die diefstal van elektrisiteit gely het, is nie een enkele persoon in hegtenis geneem of verantwoordelik gehou vir die misdaad nie.

Diefstal van elektrisiteit word nie beskou as ’n misdaad nie. Niemand kan dus in hegtenis geneem word nie. Daarom buit mense en besighede dié swakpunt in die wetgewing goed uit.

Eskom se uitvoerende hoof, mnr. Brian Dames, sê van die verlies van R4,4 miljard is Eskom se verlies R1,2 miljard en die oorblywende bedrag (R3,2 miljard) die van die munisipaliteite.

•  R1 miljard = R1 000 000 000 (Een duisend miljoen)
• R4,4 miljard = R4 400 000 000 (Vier duisend vier honderd miljoen)

Dames sê nuwe, beter wetgewing met tande is dringend nodig om die diefstal van elektrisiteit ’n strafregtelike oortreding te maak.

As jy elektrisiteit steel is dit soortgelyk aan sabotasie. Jy saboteer die land se ekonomiese vooruitsigte.

In 1994 het 30% van residensiële verbruikers in Suid-Afrika elektrisiteit gehad. Vandag is dit 70%. Die probleem is egter dat baie van die nuwe verbruikers glo die elektrisiteit is verniet (as gevolg van politieke beloftes).

Politici moet op voetsoolvlak met gemeenskapsleiers praat en hulle daarvan oortuig dat elektrisiteit nie gratis is nie.

Eskom het verlede week ’n nuwe inisiatief, Operasie Khanyisa, begin om dié soort diefstal hok te slaan. Toe dit bekendgestel is, was daar niemand van die drie alliansievennote, die ANC, Cosatu of die SAKP teenwoordig nie.

Daar word verwag dat beurtkrag weer volgende jaar toegepas gaan word tensy buitengewone stappe gedoen word.

Klik HIER vir die volledige berig in SAKE24.  Klik HIER vir 'n vroeëre berig oor kragdiefstal in die sakesektor.  Click HERE for an English report.

Gratis lidmaatskap en baie meer lede

Gratis lidmaatskap en baie meer lede. Dis die hoofoogmerk van die bestuur van die Jeffreysbaaise belastingbetalersvereniging in 2011. ‘n Voorstel hieroor gaan by die volgende algemene van die vereniging in Februarie 2011 ingedien word.

Die bestuur se visie is om die vereniging se ledetal met honderde lede uit te brei. Die hoofrede is om sy bedingingsmag te verhoog.

Tans beloop die ledegeld R40 per kalenderjaar. Elke jaar is dit ‘n ergernis om dit in te vorder. Gevolglik het dit ‘n negatiewe uitwerking op die ledetal. Dié probleem sal hopelik met gratis lidmaatskap omgesit word in ‘n deurlopende positiewe groei in die ledetal.

As die voorstel aanvaar word, sal nuwe lede aanstaande jaar steeds ‘n aansoekvorm moet voltooi. Die vereniging moet ‘n bewys van sy ledetal hê om sy spiere te kan wys.

Dr Barry Vosloo, die voorsitter van die vereniging, sê dit is noodsaaklik dat die vereniging uit ‘n posisie van krag moet kan praat. Die enigste manier om dit te doen, is dat inwoners in groot getalle by die vereniging aansluit. ‘n Duisend of twee duisend lede is nie vergesog nie, sê hy.

“Die tyd het aangebreek dat Jeffreysbaai se mense eienaarskap van die vereniging neem. Dit kan net bereik word as hulle in groot getalle hulle agter die vereniging skaar. Die dorp het baie talent en werkservaring uit menige sektor in sy midde. Dink net waartoe is ons staat as dit kollektief aangewend word.”

‘n Staande komitee insaake ledesake is geskep om onder meer na voorgaande om te sien. Die voorsitter is Jakkie Pieters. Hy is pas op die bestuurskomitee gekoöpteer. Barry Vosloo, die voorsitter van die bestuurskomitee en Japie Bosch, die sekretaris, sal ex officio op Jakkie se komitee dien. Laasgenoemde sal drie ander lede op sy komitee kan koöpteer.

Waar gaan die vereniging geld vandaan kry as ledegeld wegval? Die antwoord hierop is:

• Lede kan gevra word om ‘n vrywillige bydrae tot die vereniging se geldkas te maak: R5, R10, R20, R50 – dis jou keuse.
• Borge kan bekom word, indien nodig.
• Voorts: uitgawes kan aansienlik besnoei word deur meer van rekenaar-tegnologie gebruik te maak. Die vereniging se grootste uitgawe is vir die kopieëring van kennisgewings en nuusbriewe en posgeld. Deur meer van epos gebruik te maak, kan dié uitgawe aansienlik ingekort word. ‘n Grootse grootse poging is nodig om inwoners se epos-adresse te bekom. ‘n Lid wat toegang tot die internet het, kos die vereniging feitlik niks.

Diegene sonder ‘n epos-gerief, kan alle inligting oor die vereniging op hierdie blog kry. Internet-toegang is gratis by die openbare biblioteek in Da Gamaweg beskikbaar. Daar is agt rekenaars vir dié doel beskikbaar.

Die voorwaardes om dié gerief te gebruik, is:

• ‘n Persoon moet ‘n lid van die biblioteek wees (dis gratis vir permanente inwoners);
• Toegang is beperk tot 45 minute per dag en
• Die 45 minute moet aaneenlopend wees.

Die gebied wat die Jeffreysbaai-belastingbetalersvereniging bedien, het na raming 6 000 inwoners. Daar is dus ruim geleentheid om die lidmaatskap aansienlik uit te brei. Inwoners kan hulle gerus vergewis van die waarde van lidmaatskap tot die vereniging en waar hy in die munisipale opset inpas. Klik HIER vir ‘n volledige verduideliking in Afrikaans en klik HIER vir ‘n volledige verduideliking in Engels.

Is dit wettig of nie?

Belastingweerhouding is tans in Kouga in die nuus.  Is dit wettig of is dit nie?  Klaarblyklik is daar geen sekerheid hieroor nie.  Regslui en kenners in plaaslike owerheidsaangeleetnthede verskil hieroor.

Vroeër vanjaar het 'n berig oor dié kwessie op dié blog verskyn.  Klik HIER om daarheen te gaan.  Dáár is 'n skakel na 'n berig in Rapport daaroor.  Die kommentare daar bied interesante leesstof.

Oorlog verklaar teen korrupsie

Daar behoort in die volgende drie tot vier maande vaste planne te wees vir die regering se hernieude geveg teen korrupsie.

Mnr. Pravin Gordhan, minister van finansies, het Vrydag aan Sake24 gesê daar is reeds aankondigings gedoen en dat planne vir die vervolging van oortreders en boetes vir amptenare en sakelui binnekort gereed sal wees, berig Sake24.

Gordhan het Woensdag in sy mediumtermyn-begrotingsraamwerk skerp teen bedrog, korrupsie en wanadministrasie uitgevaar en vyf inisiatiewe vir die geveg teen bedrog en korrupsie aangekondig.

“Ons praat darem openlik daaroor. Ons erken dit is ’n uitdaging en ons wil eerlik wees met die publiek. Die belangrike ding is dat ons nie met ons arms gevou sit nie en dat ons daadwerklike stappe doen om die maatreëls wat ons teen korrupsie kan gebruik, te verbeter.”

Hoop Kouga-munisipaliteit se arms is ook nie gevou nie en dat hy ook daadwerklike stappe doen om die maatreëls wat hy teen korrupsie kan gebruik, verbeter.

Bhisho steps in to fight rates boycotts

LOCAL Government and Traditional Affairs MEC Sicelo Gqobana of the Eastern Cape (left) this week said his department would rescue municipalities facing rates boycotts by disgruntled ratepayers .

“We have no choice but to assist (these) municipalities ,” Gqobana told the local government portfolio committee in the Bhisho Legislature on Tuesday.

He made the statement when his department was presenting its annual report, including the Auditor-General’s report, for the 2009-10 financial year.

According to Gqobana, there was a need for an “appropriate” political response to the rates and tax boycott by ratepayers’ associations, to stop the shrinking of municipal finances.  Click HERE to read the full report in the Daily Dispatch Online.

Fight electricity theft - Zuma

Onwettige elektrisiteitsaansluitings in sekere woongebiede is ‘n groot probleem. “Amptenare ontkoppel vandag ‘n onwettige aansluiting net om more ‘n nuwe een elders te sien. Hulle word dikwels met vyandigheid begroet as hulle dié aansluitings verwyder. -- dr Eddie Rankwana, munisipale bestuurder van Kouga-munisipaliteit op 12 Oktober 2010 in 'n onderhoud met 'n afvaardiging van die Jeffreysbaai-belastingbetalersvereniging.

President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday (26 October 2010) urged all South Africans to fight electricity theft and promote legal connections.

"We urge all South Africans to support this important campaign and fight the criminal behaviour of those who continue with illegal connections, and those who consume electricity illegally, he said in a statement issued by the presidency reports SAPA, via News24.

This was his message at the launch of Eskom's Operation Khanyisa, intended to curb the crime, in Newtown, Johannesburg.

He said electricity theft affects everyone.

"In the long term, it is detrimental to our economy and can contribute to job losses at a time when we must protect every job in our country.

"The power is in the hands of each and every citizen and resident of this country. Let us respect the laws of the land and (...) build a movement for legal power use," said Zuma.

Important municipal telephone numbers

The following listing of important telephone numbers was received from the municipality.  (Updated: 26 October 2010.)

To enlarge: click anywhere on the listing once and thereafter once again.

Klagtes oor swak dienste ‘oordryf’

Kaapstad. – Plaaslike regerings val nie uitmekaar nie en munisipaliteite werk, het mnr. Sicelo Shiceka, minister van samewerkende regering en tradisionele sake, gister in die parlement gesê.

Hy het hom bloedig vererg vir opposisiepartye se uitlatings dat dienslewering “skrikwekkend swak” is en het gesê hulle “oordryf”, berig Beeld.

Volgens hom en mnr. Elroy Africa, direkteur-generaal, het dorpe en stede oor die land heen water in hul krane, daar is paaie en elektrisiteit én die verkeersligte werk.

Boonop is dit danksy funksionerende munisipaliteite dat buitelandse besoekers tydens WB 2010 die land se lof besing het, het Shiceka gesê.

“Om bloot ’n paar plekke uit te sonder en te wil voorgee daar is ’n krisis, is onakkuraat, ’n oordrywing en ’n wanvoorstelling van die feite.

“Daar is probleme, maar munisipaliteite wérk,” het Shiceka aan die portefeulje­komitee oor samewerkende regering gesê.

Shiceka se ontkenning het gevolg op die bedenkings van mnre. James Lorimer, DA-LP, en Peter Smith, IVP-LP, oor Africa se uitlatings dat “plaaslike regerings werk” en die departement die “boot op koers hou ten spyte van verskeie uitdagings”.

“Dít is nuus vir inwoners van Sannieshof (waar inwoners hul dienstegeld uit protes weerhou) en belastingbetalers in Johannesburg,” het Lorimer teruggekap.

“Dink jy waarlik jou verklaring is korrek ... terwyl plaaslike regerings op verskeie vlakke klaaglik misluk?” het hy aan Africa gevra.

Ook Smith het aannames dat die departement goeie vordering maak, bevraagteken.

“Ons hoor van ’n waterkrisis en onverwerkte rioolafval. Dienslewering is nie naastenby wat dit moet wees nie.

“Dis skrikwekkend wat op grondvlak aangaan.”


Die departement het ’n ongekwalifiseerde ouditverslag vir die 2009-’10-boekjaar gekry – ’n verbetering op die vorige jaar se gekwalifiseerde oudit.

Africa het dít, asook hul opname van die stand van plaaslike regering en die nasionale regrukplan vir munisipaliteite, as suksesse uitgesonder.

Die departement het in dieselfde tydperk tot R49,6 miljoen (bykans R136 000 per dag) aan reis- en verblyfkoste bestee. Volgens Africa spruit dit uit die besoeke wat staatsamptenare by munisipaliteite afgelê het om met die regrukstrategie te help.

Africa het toegegee dit is ’n probleem dat munisipaliteite die afgelope boekjaar nagelaat het om byna R2,2 miljard aan infrastruktuur vir basiese dienste te bestee.

Munisipaliteite het weens ’n gebrek aan professionele vaardighede nie behoorlike verkrygingsprosedures of finansiële stelsels om hul begrotings vir infrastruktuurontwikkeling te bestee nie.

Maar volgens Shiceka sal die Wysigingswetsontwerp op Munisipale Stelsels munisipaliteite in professionele werkomgewings verander.

Dit sal ’n minimum peil vir die vaardighede, ervaring en kwalifikasies van munisipale en senior bestuurders afdwing, munisipaliteite depolitiseer en verhinder dat dienslewering weens politieke binnegevegte verlam word.

- Intussen het dit aan die lig gekom inwoners, staatsdepartemente en openbare staatsondernemings skuld R56 miljard aan diens­tegeld.

Die bedrag is gelykstaande aan die polisie se hele begroting vir die huidige boekjaar.

Shiceka het agterna gesê sy departement oorweeg dit om diensteskuld namens munisipaliteite in te vorder omdat die kapasiteit op plaaslike regeringsvlak ontbreek.

Dank hom af, sê AfriForum op 20 Oktober 2010 in antwoord of minister Shiceka

Die minister van samewerkende regering en tradisionele sake moet in die pad gesteek word omdat hy oogklappe aan het oor die stand van munisipaliteite, het Afriforum Woensdag gesê.

Minister Sicelo Shiceka is "ver verwyder" van die diensleweringskrisis in die land, het mnr. Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg Woensdag gesê, berig SAPA, via Beeld.

Shiceka het gister in die parlement gesê plaaslike regerings val nie uitmekaar nie en munisipaliteite funksioneer. Sy mening is dat die opposisie se mening dat dienslewering "skrikwekkend swak" is, 'n oordrywing van die situasie is.

In dorpe soos Dealesville en Winburg het mense nie eens water nie, het Jansen van Rensburg gesê.

"As die minister die feite in twyfel trek, sal AfriForum hom gaan wys."

Waar was die minister in Junie toe Eskom die krag na meer as 50 dorpe in die Vrystaat wou afsny.

"Die feit dat die minister dink dienslewering is aanvaarbaar en dat dit relatief goed funksioneer is 'n aanduiding van sy onbevoegdheid en hy behoort afgedank te word," het Jansen van Rensburg gesê.

Municipal funding flawed - Shiceka

Cape Town - The current municipal funding formula is flawed, unsustainable, and requires immediate review if developmental imperatives are to be met, Parliament's co-operative governance and traditional affairs portfolio committee heard on Tuesday.

There is a need to review the entire fiscal support system provided to municipalities, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka told the committee, reports SAPA, via News24.

There was also a need for members of Parliament to engage more robustly with the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC), he said.

The formula currently being used to fund municipalities was limited and narrow, taking into account only population numbers, while ignoring other critical issues, such as the topography of the area.

This often impacted negatively on the development programmes within municipalities, Shiceka said.

He was speaking during a briefing on the department's latest annual report.

Shiceka said significant progress had been made by the department, in that it had been able to move from a qualified audit to an unqualified audit report from the auditor general in the 2009/10 financial year.

Turnaround strategy

"We want to assure the committee and the country at large that we will move even further during this financial year (to improve financial accounting)."

Other progress made during the year, included effective disaster management during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Through implementing the local government turnaround strategy (LGTAS), service delivery had started to show improvements with regard to water, sanitation, electricity, roads and community lighting.

But, the ability of provinces to monitor the capacity of municipalities to deliver was still a major priority challenge receiving urgent attention.

One of the focal points of assisting municipalities from this year up to 2014, would be to ensure that co-operation between national, provincial and local government was strengthened, he said.

Department director general Elroy Africa indicated that systems had been put in place to ensure matters identified as irregular by the AG were dealt with decisively, including taking disciplinary action, as well as putting in place forensic audits.

Significant improvement had been made in spending the municipal infrastructure grants (MIGs), as 89% of the R11bn allocated had been spent.

Of the R36.5bn allocated for disaster management, 98% was spent.

However, there was still room for improvement and more work to be done, and this was being given priority attention, Africa said.

The effect of poor service delivery

Predictably the shocking lack of municipal service delivery has been blamed on a short of artisans in South Africa. John Botha, general manager of the Production Management Institute claims the reason that municipalities cannot do their jobs is because they don’t have qualified people, writes Property24.com.

At least R2-billion allocated to local government remained unspent last year even though many municipalities around the country are battling to overcome infrastructure problems or maintain essential assets such as water purification works.

Frustrated property owners throughout South Africa have increasingly complained about a lack of service delivery in almost every one of the 283 local authorities in the country and there appears to be little hope on the horizon that efficiency levels in municipalities will improve.

Botha says that the main reason for the poor levels of service delivery is that councils do not have properly qualified people to do the essential maintenance work needed to keep the local authorities running smoothly.

South Africa currently produces about 5 600 qualified artisans a year across all disciplines compared with a target of about 12 500 set by the Department of Higher Education and Training. The country apparently needs between 50 000 and 80 000 artisans at the moment.

“Artisans are urgently needed to keep our lights on, keep our water flowing and drinkable and ensure that our basic infrastructure such as sewage systems and storm water drains are kept in working order,” says Botha.

Laksheid en kansvatters word vasgevat

Lakse personeel en kansvatters in die Kouga-munisipaliteit se sake word geroer.  Verhoogde produktiwiteit en die uitskakeling van bate-wanaanwending is die mikpunt.

Dít blyk uit ‘n onderhoud met dr. Eddie Rankwana, die munisipale bestuurder.  Dr Barry Vosloo, voorsitter, van die Jeffreysbaai-belastingbetalersvereniging, en Japie Bosch, sekretaris, het vroeër dié week met hom gesels.

Dr Rankwana het onder meer na die volgende twee ontwikkelings in die munisipaliteit verwys:

• Die aanstelling van me Carlien Burger as risiko- en voldoeningsbestuurder (risk and compliance manager). “Haar aanstelling was een van die beste skuiwe wat ons in die munisipaliteit gemaak het. Die werk wat sy tot onderneem het, hou baie waarde vir die munisipaliteit en die inwoners in.  Van haar ondersoeke en die bevindings daarvan is in ‘n sensitiewe stadium. Dit sal metteryd geopenbaar word”.

Me Burger, BCom (Hons) (Rekeningkunde), is in Februarie 2010 aangestel. Samevattend behels haar werk die identifisering van finansiële risiko’s in die munisipaliteit en toesig dat voldoen word aan maatreëls om die risiko’s te elimineer. Sy rapporteer regstreeks aan dr Rankwana. (Klik hier om ‘n vroeëre berig oor haar werk te lees.)

• ‘n Organsiasie- en metodestudie (O+M-studie) van alle afdelings van die munisipaliteit sal binne enkele weke begin. Dit sal daarop gemik wees om produktiwiteit te verbeter.

‘n Private maatskappy sal die studie onderneem. Dit sal deur die Ontwikkelingbank van Suidelike Afrika (DBSA) befonds word. Volgens dr Rankwana het die projekbestuurder van die studie hom verlede week besoek.

By www. businessdictionary.com word ‘n O+M-studie soos volg gedefinieer: systematic examination of an organization's structure, procedures and methods, and management and control, from the lowest (clerical or shop-floor) level to the highest (CEO, president, managing director). Its objective is to assess their comparative efficiency in achieving defined organizational aims. O&M concerns itself mainly with administrative procedures (not manufacturing operations) and employs techniques such as operations research, work-study, and systems analysis.

Een van die grootste klagtes van die publiek oor munisipale amptenare is hul traagheid. Dr Rankwana bevestig dat dit ‘n teleurstellende toedrag van sake is. “Ons wil dit regstel. Die O+M-studie sal hopelik uitwys waar die probleme lê en aanbevelings maak oor hoe ons dit moet aanpak.”

Dr Rankwana het gesê dat die munisipaliteit desperaat is om grootmaatdienste in Kouga wat water, riool en paaie insluit, uit te brei. Hiervoor is minstens R50 miljoen nodig. ‘n Besigheidsplan hieroor is reeds saamgestel. Die geld om die werk te doen, moet nou gevind word.

Die munisipaliteit is deeglik bewus van waterlekkasies in die munisipale gebied. Dit geniet ‘n hoë prioriteit. Onwettige elektrisiteitsaansluitings en watervermorsing in sekere woongebiede is eweneens ‘n groot probleem.

“Amptenare ontkoppel vandag ‘n onwettige aansluiting net om more ‘n nuwe een elders te sien. Hulle word dikwels met vyandigheid begroet as hulle dié aansluitings verwyder. Watervermorsing, veral by openbare krane, is ‘n gesindheidsprobleem.

Die redes vir die hoër riooltariewe

Die nuwe riooltariewe in Jeffreysbaai het niks te make met die huidige droogte waaronder Kouga gebuk gaan nie.

Die rede vir die verhoging is dat die ou riooltariewe nie die ware koste van rioolverwydering gedek het nie. Die munisipaliteit moes dus hierdie diens uit ander fondse subsideer. Geld vir die instandhouding en verbetering van die rioolinfrastruktuur moes ook van elders verkry word. Die hoër tariewe stel dié probleem nou reg.

Dít is die verduideliking wat die munisipaliteit gee op kritiek dat die hoër tariewe nie die waterskaartse gaan verlig nie. Die nuwe tarewe word aan 'n huishouding se waterverbruik gekoppel.  Hoe meer water gebruik word (om welke rede ookal), hoe meer betaal 'n mens vir rioolverwydering.

Linda Wiese, ‘n inwoner van die dorp, het onlangs op dié blog geskryf dat die verhoogde tariewe nie die watervoorraad kan vermeerder nie. “Dit kan my nie oorreed om water te bespaar nie, want ek doen dit reeds," skryf sy.

In reaksie daarop sê Laura-Leigh Randall, munisipale woordvoerder: “Volgens wetgewing, moet ‘n diens vir homself betaal. Met ander woorde, die inkomste wat ‘n munisipaliteit vir rioolverwydering ontvang, moet voldoende wees om die diens volhoudbaar te verskaf.

“Die nuwe riooltarief voldoen aan hierdie wetlike vereiste. Wat die munisipaliteit nou vir rioolverwydering ontvang, sal die koste om die diens te lewer, dek.

“Die feit dat die riooltarief ook waterbesparing aanmoedig omdat dit aan waterverbruik gekoppel is, is ‘n byvoordeel.

“Hier gaan dit oor LANGTERMYN waterbesparing of daar nou “amptelik” ‘n droogte is of nie.

“Ander munisipaliteite, soos ons bure, die Nelson Mandela Metro, het reeds jare gelede hierdie soort riooltarief begin implementeer.”

Me Randall het ander vrae van Linda soos volg beantwoord:

Waarvoor gaan die geld gebruik word?

Vir die verskaffing van die RIOOL-diens, instandhouding en verbetering van die RIOOL-infrastruktuur.

Is die tarief grondwetlik?

Dis wetlik.

Wat het die munisipaliteit al van sy kant gedoen om water vermorsing te keer? Is al die openbare instansies, veral skole al besoek, mense opgevoed en die toilette, krane en pype nagegaan vir lekke - en herstel?

Ja, die munisipaliteit is deurlopend besig om waterverliese te verlaag deur lekplekke te identifiseer en reg te maak. Hoe dit basies gedoen word, is deur watermeterlesings vir spesifieke areas te vergelyk met die volumes water wat verskaf is. As daar 'n groot verskil is, is dit baie moontlik dat daar lekplekke in die pype is. Die lekplekke word dan opgespoor en reggemaak.

'n Onderneming om te ondersoek

“Die bestuurder Parke en Reiniging het onderneem om dit te ondersoek.”

Dit was die antwoord wat Laura-Leigh Randall, woordvoerder van die Kouga-munisipaliteit, gister gegee het na aanleiding van ‘n klagte van ‘n anonieme blogleser oor die lang tyd wat dit skoonmakers neem om twee openbare toilette elke dag in Kabeljous skoon te maak.

Dit klagte was aan die einde van Augustus 2010 aan haar gestuur.

Anoniem het die volgende in "Sê u Sê" op hierdie blog geskryf:

Hier in Kabeljous is twee openbare toiletgeboue wat baie verouderd en in 'n werklike vieslike stadium van verval is.

Albei toilette se vloeroppervlakte is ongeveer 12 vierkante meter elk. Die twee toilette word 7 dae per week deur 'n munisipale "werker" (een "werker" elk per toilet) skoongemaak. Die skoonmaaktakie kan maksimum 30 minute se produktiwiteit verg.

Die "werkers" word daagliks om ongeveer 08:30 daar afgelaai en smiddae om 15:30 weer opgelaai. Die toilette word om 15:30 gesluit.

In opvolging het me Randall gister laat weet die saak geniet nou aandag.

• Ons sal haar oor twee weke weer hieroor kontak.

Stilte is dié probleem

Stilte.

Dit is een van die grootste klagtes van die inwoners van Jeffreysbaai teen die munisipaliteit. Navrae word eenvoudig nie beantwoord nie en klagtes en versoeke kry nie aandag nie.

Dit het Woensdagaand, 29 September 2010, duidelik geblyk by ‘n algemene vergadering van die Jeffreysbaaise Belastingbetalersvereniging by die tennisklub. Sowat 60 mense was teenwoordig.

Mense is kwaad

Dr Barry Vosloo

Ná die vergadering het dr Barry Vosloo, die voorsitter, gesê: “Die mense is kwaad. Hulle is keelvol vir die swak diens wat hulle van sekere amptenare van die Kouga munisipaliteit ontvang. Wat hulle irritasie vergerger is die feit dat húlle daardie einste munisipale amptenare se buitensporige salarisse betaal.

Uitnodiging 1

“Lede is veral vies omdat hulle dikwels 'n paar keer met die amptenare in verbinding moet tree en dat hulle navrae/versoeke dan óf geïgnoreer word óf dat dit té lank duur voordat daarop gereageer word.”

Dr Vosloo het inwoners genooi om hul klagtes aan hom te stuur sodat die vereniging dit met die munisipale bestuurder kan opneem. Hy kan per epos bereik word by vosloobj@telkomsa.net of by Posbus 436, Jeffreysbaai 6330.

Geen belastingweerhouding

Desondanks het dr Vosloo in sy voorsittersverslag beklemtoon dat die vereniging nie ten gunste van konfrontasie met die munisipaliteit is nie en ook nie belastingweerhouding bepleit nie. Meer sal met goeie verhoudinge en onderhandeling bereik word.

Munisipale bestuurder

In dié opsig het hy na die samewerking met dr Eddie Rankwana, die munisipale bestuurder, verwys.

“Ek is van oordeel dat die munisipale bestuurder 'n toeganklike man is wat homself moet handhaaf in ‘n werksomgewing wat die meeste van ons ons nie kan voorstel nie. Tog het hy twee keer uit sy pad gegaan om aan ons antwoorde te verskaf op 'n aantal moeilike vrae. Een van sy belangrikste krukke is wetgewing, wat hy nougeset toepas.”

Uitnodiging 2

Dr Vosloo het ‘n beroep op kundiges gedoen om hulself vir die bestuur van die vereniging beskikbaar te stel, Die bestuur word jaarliks by sy algemene jaarvergadering (AJV), normaalweg in Februarie, gehou. Hy het belangstellendes genooi om hom hieroor te kontak.

Pollie Marx en Jakkie Pieters

Twee nuwe bestuurslede is onlangs gekoöpteer. Hulle is mnr Pollie Marx, ‘n voormalige stadsraadlid van Barberton en nou ‘n sakeman en mnr Jakkie Pieters, ‘n man met wye ervaring in onder meer projekbestuur. As ‘n kwadropleeg dien hy in verskeie instansies wat na die belange van kwadropleë omsien.

Hersiening van die grondwet

Dr Vosloo het ook aangekondig dat die bestuur by die AJV voorstelle oor die hersiening van die grondwet gaan maak. Een daarvan is om die naam na die “Jeffreysbaaise Inwonersvereniging” te verander. Dit dui op die deelname van almal in die dorp aan die vereniging.

Die voorstelle sal binne enkele weke ter insae by die openbare biblioteek, die BP-garage in Da Gamaweg en op die vereniging se blog (www.jbayratepayers.com) beskikbaar wees.

"Waar was julle?"

Raadslid Nico Botha

Verwysend na klagtes oor infra-struktuur het raadslid Nico Botha gesê dat Jeffreysbaai se inwoners nie voldoende gebruik van openbare munisipale vergaderings om insette oor die dorp se jaarlikse begroting te lewer nie. Dit skep die wanindruk dat hulle tevrede is met hoe die stadsraad daarmee te werk gaan.

“By sulke vergaderings daag soms net drie of vier mense op. Dan is dit maklik vir die stadsraad om te beweer die inwoners is tevrede met wat opgedis word.” het hy gesê.