Rates boycotts are illegal

Japie Bosch

Our Times, 30 September 2011

Municipal taxpayers should forget about withholding their taxes. In terms of legislation they will not get away with it.

So says Len Dekker, a Pretoria based expert on municipal legislation.

He was approached because increasingly more and more taxpayers in Jeffreys Bay are threatening to withhold their rates.

"Some of the questions one may ask supporters of rates boycotts are: will you stop paying income tax, because the windows of your child's school are broken?"

“Have you ever threatened to withhold income tax because of corruption in the government?"

He pointed out that outstanding municipal taxes only lapse after 30 years.

People who pay their taxes into a trust account, remain liable for their debts, plus interest to the municipality.

Unpaid service-charges for water, electricity and sewerage lapse after three years. 

Prof. Chimpie Cawood, DA leader in Kouga, was quoted last week as saying threats of withholding are growing, because of corruption in the municipality, dissatisfaction with service delivery and incompetence.

Louis Geldenhuys, chairman of the Federation of Kouga Ratepayers and Residents' Association (FEKRRA) said he had noticed the same tendency (residents considering withholding taxes.).

"Withholding rates has always been a consideration for FEKRRA, but the practical implementation will have to be determined."

Cawood emphasised that the DA does not support withholding taxes.

Dekker said, in terms of article 102 of the Municipal Systems Act, a municipality may implement any credit control measures.

He explained a person may declare a dispute over his utility account. "If a person usually pays R1 000 per month, and suddenly receives an account of R10 000, there is a reason to declare a dispute. It's an obvious error. Until this problem is solved, he does not have to pay anything more than the usual R1 000, and his water and electricity may not be cut off."

Asked about Sannieshof where taxpayers paid their municipal taxes into a trust account, and provided some services themselves, Dekker said: "It happened because a useless municipality was in power. Any municipality with a little backbone would not allow this to happen. Compare it to the Springbok’s win of 87-0 against a team which did not offer any resistance, as opposed to a game against the All Blacks, who beat us regularly."

The best method of solving a problem remains negotiation, says Dekker. "A successful negotiated settlement is always better than a protracted and expensive lawsuit."

“If you go to a court of law, the law must be on your side. By refusing to pay taxes you are on the wrong side of the law."

Hoe op aarde kan gewone belastingbetalers dan teen swak dienslewering protes aanteken?

The Courier - Die Koerier wonder of oom Jaap (Our Times, 30 September 2011) nie 'n punt beet het nie as hy sê dat wittes moet leer om protesoptogte te hou.

"Die storie het niks met ras te doen nie," skryf oom Jaap. "Dit gaan oor wittes wat nog nie by swartes geleer het nie. Húlle stap met baniere en plakkate. Dan ontbied hulle 'n grootbaas en stel hulle eise."

"Wat weerhou Jeffreysbaaiers om die burgemeester ook sy fortuin op dié manier te vertel?" vra hy.

Inderdaad. 

Die eerste 25 dae

The Courier – Die Koerier het op 5 September 2011 afgeskop en kan daarop aanspraak maak hy die afgelope 25 dae 357 besoeke, oftewel pageviews, beleef het. Suid-Afrikaners het die meeste besoeke afgelê: 286. Maar wat nogal verrassend is, is dat 30 Duitsers, 29 Amerikaners, 6 Russe, 2 Kanadese, 2 Engelse, 1 Argentyn en, les bes, 1 persoon vanaf Venezuela die blog raakgekliek het – aspris of per abuis.

Dit is verblydend dat minstens 28 persone reeds op The Courier – Die Koerier ingeskryf het. Dis nou wel slegs ‘n handjievol as ‘n mens in aanmerking neem dat Wyk 3 meer as 2000 kiesers het, maar dis darem beter as niks.

Ons hoop dat die lesertal vorentoe sal toeneem – veral as gereelde lesers hulle kennisse aanmoedig om op die blog in te skryf. Die takbestuur beoog ook om binne die volgende drie weke of wat Wyk 3-kiesers per sms te laat weet van die bestaan van The Courier – Die Koerier.

DA moet slim dink by die kies van sy leiers

Beeld-hoofartikel, 28 September 2011

Alle oë is tans op die DA se parlementêre koukus en die interessante keuse wat die party se LP’s het tussen die kandidate wat hulle as parlementêre leier beskikbaar gestel het.

In die een hoek is mnr. Athol Trollip, wat geen groot foute begaan het in die tuig nie – die veiligheid van die bekende.

In die ander hoek is me. Lindiwe Mazibuko, ’n jong uitblinker in debatte met die ANC – die opwinding van die onbekende.

Teen Trollip kan ingebring word dat sy termyn nie deurgaans bo die middelmatige kon uitstyg nie.

Teen Mazibuko kan gelys word dat sy onervare en op 31 jaar baie jonk is vir die groot verantwoordelikheid.

Die kandidate verskil op baie maniere en oor baie dinge, maar oor een ding stem hulle saam: die keuse moet berus op meriete, nie ras nie. Hiermee is ons dit eens.

Tog kan ’n mens ook nie miskyk nie dat die DA en sy kritici besef dit is noodsaaklik dat die party geloofwaardige swart leiers kry as hy verder wil groei. En Suid-Afrika het sterk opposisiepartye nodig. Klik hier en lees verder.

The Municipal Systems Act - Part 4

As indicated previously (see http://thecourier-diekoerier.blogspot.com/2011/09/municipal-systems-act-part-3.html) The Courier/Die Koerier will post excerpts from a summary of the Municipal Systems Act over the next few weeks. Here is Part 4, which deals with the rights and duties of the members of the local community.

"Just like municipal councils have rights and duties, members of municipal communities also have rights and duties.

Members of the local community have the right to participate in the decision-making processes of the municipality. They have the right to use and enjoy public facilities, and the right to access to municipal services. They also have the right to submit recommendations, complaints or representations to the municipality, and to expect prompt responses from the municipality.

Members of the local community have the right to be informed of decisions of the municipal council, and to expect the council to disclose information about its business and finances. They have the right to attend meetings of the municipal council and its committees, and to demand that the council acts in a transparent and impartial way.

Members of local communities also have duties. In some instances, their rights are directly linked to their duties. For example, members of the local community have a duty to pay service fees, rates and taxes. Their right to access municipal services is linked to their duty to pay for those services. Similarly, members of the local community have a right to participate in municipal decision-making, linked to a duty to utilise the procedures and mechanisms established to enable participation.

Members of the local community have a duty to allow municipal officials reasonable access to their property for the performance of municipal functions, to comply with municipal by-laws, and to respect the municipal rights of other members of the local community."

The DA's parliamentary leadership contest

Jan-Jan Joubert, Politicsweb

7 July 2011

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is facing mid-term elections for its parliamentary leadership by October this year, and all indications are that incumbent Athol Trollip will be challenged. Whatever the outcome, the result will be important in determining the shape of South Africa's Ofiicial Opposition in the years to come. Read more ...

Why I'm standing for DA's parliamentary leadership - Lindiwe Mazibuko

Lindiwe Mazibuko

27 September 2011

On Sunday afternoon I called Athol Trollip to inform him that I intend putting myself forward as a candidate for the leadership of the DA Parliamentary caucus. I then emailed my caucus colleagues to inform them that I would be standing, and set out a framework for how I intend to take the caucus forward over the two and a half years until the 2014 General Election.

Today I am very pleased to formally announce that I have decided to stand as a candidate for the position of Parliamentary Leader in the mid-term caucus leadership elections, which are scheduled to take place on Thursday 27 October 2011 in Cape Town.

Read more ...

News from the DA Caucus in the Kouga Municipal Council – 26 September 2011

Inleiding

Die DA-koukus in die Kouga munisipale raad is voornemens om voortaan gereeld ‘n nuusbrief uit te gee. Die inligting in hierdie berig is aan die eerste nuusbrief ontleen.

The local DA caucus

The local DA caucus is made up of the 14 DA councillors who were elected during the May 2011 municipal election. Prof. Chimpie Cawood is the caucus leader, Jan Joy is the  caucus chairperson, and Danny Benson is the chief whip.

The caucus meets weekly for two-hour sessions. They are conducted as mini-council meetings. During these meetings new councillors are empowered and municipal queries and requests from the general public are discussed and solutions tabled.

Portefeuljekomitees

Die DA-raadslede word in alle portefeuljekomitees van die raad verteenwoordig. Die portefeuljekomitees besin oor finansies, infrastruktuur, sosiale ontwikkeling, ekonomiese ontwikkeling, toerisme/skeppende nywerhede en oorsig. Wyk 3 se raadslid, Henda Thiart, dien in die finansies- en oorsig-portefeuljekomitees

Die DA-koukus se aksie- en kommunikasie-plan

Alhoewel die besonderhede daarvan nog nie bekend is nie, het die koukus aan ‘n aksie- en kommunikasieplan gewerk. Beide planne beoog om die Kouga in 2014 vir die DA terug te wen en om in 2019 die bewind in Suid-Afrika met of sonder koalisies oor te neem.

The first 100 days since the May 2011 municipal election

The caucus has highlighted the ANC’s dismal performance during their first 100 days in control of the Kouga municipality. The bottom line is that Kouga is still in a disastrous financial position. The administrative nightmare has also become worse.

The lack of funds means that service delivery in the Kouga is compromised, and that the infrastructure is in very poor shape. These issues are compounded by the suspension of the chief financial officer. The fact that the municipal manager was recently released from his duties does not help either.

With a few exceptions the incumbents of upper administrative personnel structures fill their posts in a temporary capacity. Added to these woes is the fact that ward committees have been established only in a few wards. As soon as one thinks that the municipality has hit rock bottom, one hears that not a single ordinary council meeting has been held to date.

Die DA-koukus se samewerking met ander regeringsvlakke

‘n Baie groot voordeel wat die koukus het is om direk te kan skakel met provinsiale en nasionale regeringsvlakke. So, byvoorbeeld, is die Kouga bevoorreg om vir Elza van Lingen uit eie geledere as parlementslid te hê. Die koukus se daaglikse skakeling met haar is van onskatbare waarde.

Hierbenewens het die koukus direkte skakeling met Athol Trollip (provinsiale leier), Pine Pienaar (provinsiale voorsitter), Elmarie Botha (provinsiale direkteur) en Bobby Stevenson (DA-leier in die provinsiale wetgewer).

Hierdie waardevolle skakelingskanale na die parlement  en die provinsie is tot plaaslike kiesers se beskikking op voorwaarde dat dit deur die plaaslike DA-strukture plaasvind.  

Land ly terwyl ANC baklei

Uit: Rapport, 24 September 2011

Mnr. Gwede Mantashe se erkenning dat die regerende party inplof weens die magstryd in aanloop tot die leiersverkiesing in Mangaung is uiters slegte nuus vir die land.

Die faksiegevegte wat die regering feitlik verlam, kan kwalik op ’n slegter tyd kom, in ag genome die wêreldekonomie wat weer op die afgrond van ’n resessie staan.

Die ANC was ook in 2007 erg verdeel in aanloop tot die kongres in Polokwane waar pres. Jacob Zuma oudpres. Thabo Mbeki verslaan het, maar dit was binne ’n minder gevaarlike konteks. Lees verder ...

Heritage Day message from the DA

Lindiwe Mazibuko, DA National Spokesperson
23 September 2011

Tomorrow, South Africa celebrates Heritage Day – a commemoration and celebration of the cultural diversity that makes up the rich tapestry of South African society.

We have come a long way from our dark past as a nation dominated by racial and cultural intolerance and discrimination. Nevertheless, we still have a long way to go. Incidents such as the allegedly racially motivated attack on a Zambian student in Pietermaritzburg over the weekend cannot continue to take place; we must consistently fight for the creation of a truly non-racial, tolerant South Africa.

In his autobiography, former President Nelson Mandela said: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.”

Mandela’s legacy is one which teaches that our common humanity is more valuable to us than our differences. We must all take personal responsibility for advancing reconciliation, and respecting and protecting all South Africans in their racial and cultural diversity.

The Municipal Systems Act - Part 3

As indicated previously (see http://thecourier-diekoerier.blogspot.com/2011/09/municipal-systems-act-part-2.html) The Courier/Die Koerier will post excerpts from a summary of the Municipal Systems Act over the next few weeks. Here is Part 3, which deals with the rights and duties of municipal councils.

"The council of a municipality has the right to govern, on its own initiative, the local government affairs of the local community; and to exercise the municipality’s executive and legislative authority without interference. Municipal councils must respect the rights of citizens in the way in which they exercise their powers.

A municipal council may finance the affairs of the municipality by charging fees for services, imposing surcharges on fees or property rates, and (when allowed by national legislation) imposing surcharges on other taxes, levies and duties.

Municipal councils have duties as well as rights. These include the duties to

• exercise their powers and use their resources in the best interests of the local community;
• provide, without favour or prejudice, democratic and accountable government
• encourage the participation of the local community;
• ensure that municipal services are provided to the local community in an equitable, and financially and environmentally sustainable manner;
• promote development in the municipality;
• promote gender equity;
• promote a safe and healthy environment in the municipality; and
• contribute to the progressive realisation of the fundamental rights contained in the Constitution."

Government cracks the whip on corrupt officials

Government departments comprising the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster have declared war on corruption and have started the battle by weeding out corrupt elements within their own ranks.

"The Cluster has intensified its efforts to root out corruption within its own departments. As a result, a total of 362 cases were investigated and 291 arrests were made - 167 were public officials and 124 members of the public," said Justice Minister Jeff Radebe during a JCPS Cluster briefing on Tuesday. Those implicated in the investigations have appeared in court and 155 convictions have been secured so far, the minister added. Read more ...

From South Africa - The Good News.
Click on http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/this_week/index.html for more good news.

EC education department squanders billions

Statement issued by Edmund van Vuuren (MPL)

Provincial spokesperson on education

22 September 2011

The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape is stunned but not surprised by yet another irresponsible and senseless waste of funds by the provincial Department of Education.

The DA was reliably informed that the Department of Education is on track to overspend its 2011/2012 budget by almost R2,8 billion due to financial mismanagement and maladministration.

However, the Port Elizabeth district office has in its educational wisdom decided to have a Grade R-Indaba at the Eastern Cape Training Centre (ETC), on 21 and 22 September, at a cost of R180 000.

It really boggles the mind that although the district office has limited resources, it spends money on an “Indaba”, when a workshop for Grade R-practitioners could have been held after school hours, at no cost in the available hall at the district office.

It is incomprehensible, to say the least, that while Grade R-practitioners are not paid on a regular basis, money can be found to have an Indaba at the expense of procuring much needed resources for the district office that will enhance its service delivery to schools.

Schools have complained in the past that due to a lack of photostat machines and paper at the district office, important documents could not be copied for dissemination to schools.

This irresponsible management decision constitutes a complete waste of financial resources and this money could have been better utilised.

An anticipated 440 attendees were expected at this Indaba which included Grade R-practitioners, school principals where Early Childhood Development centres are attached, as well as chairpersons of governing bodies. This venture includes the hiring of the facilities at ETC, the hiring of equipment for presentation purposes and the provision of meals for the attendees.

The DA is deeply perturbed by this unnecessary spending of funds. The Superintendent- General, Advocate Modidima Mannya was informed of this ill decision.   In the light of the critical financial position of the Department of Education, I have asked him to thoroughly investigate why such a decision was taken when there are other viable options and to act decisively against those who have plunged this department deeper into a financial mess.

Irregular payments to top officials

Japie Bosch, Our Times, 22 September 2011

RECOMMENDATIONS that action be taken against Robbie Dennis, former mayor, and two top officials of Kouga is contained in a report compiled by the respected auditing firm, KPMG.

The report focuses on irregular payments made to senior officials of the municipality.

While the full content of the report is not yet in the public domain, the Our Times has seen the recommendations of the report.

It was also recommended   that action be taken against Dr. Eddie Rankwana, recently-fired municipal manager, and Ridwaan Abdullah, suspended chief financial officer.

The core of the matter, as exposed by the recommendations, is that Abdullah instructed and permitted “payments to himself and other officials”, that Rankwana was aware of these “payments to himself and other officials” and that Dennis approved them.

Wykskantore is wit olifante

Japie Bosch, Our Times, 22 September
Twee identiese huise wat as kantore vir Jeffreysbaai se raadslede gebou is, staan al 18 maande leeg, omdat die munisipaliteit weier om die sleutels vir die raadslede te gee.

Die een is bedoel vir Mercia Ungerer (wyk 11) en die ander een sal deur Dave Aldendorff (wyk 8) en Henda Thiart (wyk 3) gedeel word.

Dié huise is gebou ingevolge regeringbeleid sodat inwoners toegang tot wyksraadslede kan hê en sodat raadslede se wykskomitees daar kan vergader.  Ungerer se huis is in Dolly Vardonstraat, C-plek en Aldendorff en Thiart is in Maplestraat, Wavecrest.

Albei bestaan uit ‘n voorportaal, ‘n komiteekamer, twee kantore, ‘n klein kombuis en toiletgeriewe.

Intussen is die kantore aan die verniel.  Toe Our Times Vrydag die huis in Maplestraat, oorkant die ou begraafplaas, saam met Aldendorff besoek het, was die skade opmerklik.  Dakteëls het afgeval en lê op die grond, verf dop af, ‘n venster is oopgeforseer en ‘n daklig is weg.

Kouga-woordvoerder Laura-Leigh Randall het gesê:  “Daar is nie meubels en gordyne/blindings in die geboue nie, maar die wyksraadslede is welkom om hulle sleutels te kry en in te trek.

“Ons is nie bewus van skade nie, maar die betrokke amptenary sal more (Woensdag) ondersoek gaan instel. Die raadslede kan dan Donderdag hulle sleutels by die kantoor van die Direkteur: Korporatiewe Dienste kry.”

Die Our Times het ook Ungerer se huis besoek.  Daar is ook skade aan die dak.  Plek-plek is daar nog bougereedskap in die huis.  Albei erwe is met onkruid oorgroei.

Die munisipaliteit is traag om die kantore te  meubileer.  Sowel Aldendorff as Ungerer sê hulle is bereid om dit  op eie koste te doen.  Al wat hulle van die munisipaliteit verlang is dat die skade herstel word en dat die twee erwe skoongemaak word sodat hulle hul die kantore kan benut.  En die sleutels.

Ungerer het verduidelik dat Kouga in 2009/2010 ‘n bedrag van R150 000 aan elke wyk toegeken het wat raadslede na goeddunke in hul wyke kon aanwend.  Sy en dr Nico Botha, destyds raadslid vir Wavecrest, het versoek dat die geld aangewend word vir die bou van die kantore.

Volgens haar is geen soortgelyke toekennings vir 2010/2011 gedoen nie.

Thiart sê die afwerking binne is nie voltooi nie.  Die ligte en muurproppe is nooit volledig geïnstalleer nie en die elektriese aansluiting is nog nie gedoen nie. “Soos dit met ‘n onbewoonde struktuur gaan, is die kantore nou aan die verwaarloos.”

Intussen het Randall die volgende laat weet:  “Die amptenary was vanoggend by die wykskantore in wyk 3 en 8. Die slotte is redelik geroes en die munisipaliteit sou dit graag wou vervang voor die wyksraadslede intrek. Dit behoort dié week vervang te word. Die wyksraadslede kan met die Direkteur: Korporatiewe Dienste skakel om te reël vir die afhaal van hulle sleutels”.

Wyk 3 hou Algemene Jaarvergadering

Die Wyk 3-tak van die Demokratiese Alliansie in die Kouga het onlangs sy algemene jaarvergadering gehou.

Alhoewel die opkoms power was, het die toespraak van die koukusleier van die Demokratiese Alliansie in die Kouga, prof. Chimpie Cawood, heelwat pitkos verskaf.

Hy het gesê dat twee sake wat van groot belang is, is die sterk  groei van die DA se plaaslike ondersteunersbasis en die herskikking van die demografiese samestelling van die nasionale ondersteunersbasis.

Prof. Cawood het daarop gewys dat die Demokratiese Alliansie se steun gedurende die pasafgelope munisipale verkiesing met ‘n verstommende 136% gegroei het. Volgens hom dui dit op toenemende aanvaarding van die beginsels van die Demokratiese Alliansie – veral by die  bruin segment van die bevolking. Swart steun het ook beduidend toegeneem.

Hy het voorts gesê dat die Demokratiese Alliansie se doelwit om die politieke tuiste van alle Suid-Afrikaners te word, dus goed op dreef is. Trouens, die party beoog om teen 2019 die regering van die land oor te neem – sonder om samewerkingsooreenkomste met ander politieke partye te vorm.

Die Koerier sê: Die uitslag van die pasafgelope munisipale verkiesing dek gewis die tafel vir ’n grondliggende herskikking van die politieke landskap in die aanloop tot die volgende nasionale verkiesing in 2014. Klik hier en lees wat Dawie in Die Burger hiervan sê.

Die bestuurskomitee van die tak is ook tydens die vergadering verkies. Barry Vosloo is die nuwe voorsitter, Janus Davel, die nuwe ondervoorsitter en André Joubert, die nuwe sekretaris. Johan Thriart en Rina van Rensburg is as addisionele lede verkies.

Wykskomitee verkies

Wyk 3 het op 21 September sy Wykskomitee verkies ingevolge die bepalings van die Municipal Systems Act. Die komitee, wat onder die voorsitterskap van raadslid Thiart sal staan, bestaan uit die volgende persone:

Gina Davel

Annette Schubert

Rita Kruger

Willem Gertenbach

Jacques Labuscagne

Jacques du Plessis

Stian Knox

Gene Tesselaar

Barry Vosloo

André Joubert

Die Municipal Systems Act beskryf die een van die hooffunksies van wykskomitees soos volg: “To create formal unbiased communication channels as well as co-operative partnerships between the community and the council.” Dit beteken onder andere dat die wet vereis dat ons Wykskomitee in die belang van al die inwoners van Wyk 3 optree, ongeag politieke affiliasie. Die komitee moet ten minste een keer per maand vergader.

Inwoners word aangeraai om hulle navrae en probleme onder die aandag van die Wykskomitee te bring. Die komitee sal hierdie kwessies dan aan raadslid Henda Thiart oordra. Sy sal vervolgens met die munisipaliteit daaroor in gesprek tree en aan die gemeenskap terugvoering gee.

Die wykskomitee moet ook betrokke te raak by en kommentaar lewer oor formele munisipale aangeleenthede sake soos die Geïntegreerde Ontwikkelingsplan, die Munisipale Begroting en munisipale dienslewering.

Wykskomiteelede ontvang nie ‘n salaris nie, maar kan vergoed word vir hulle uitgawes. Die sentrale regering verskaf gratis opleiding vir wykskomiteelede en verskaf fondse vir die uitvoering van hul pligte.

Die Jeffreysbaai Inwonersvereniging (http://www.jbayra.com/) wys daarop dat Wykskomitees nie met die hulle organisasie verwar moet word nie. Dieselfde geld vir die DA-tak van Wyk 3. Hierdie organisasies is afsonderlike entiteite. Dit is egter moontlik dat individue tegelykertyd in die bestuur van al drie kan dien.

New Kouga Municipality phone numbers

Click on http://www.jbayra.com/news/newkougamunicipalityphonenumbers

to access the new Kouga Municipality telephone numbers.

Apparently the switchboard operators are still getting to grips with the new system, so you may expect confusion at times. Hopefully, the direct numbers will help in the interim.

(Information kindly provided by the Jeffreys Bay Residents’ Association. Their web address is http://www.jbayra.com/home)

Die verskil tussen kwetsende uitlatings en haatspraak - Helen Zille

Ek wil dit onomwonde stel: kragtens Artikel 16 van die Grondwet is die frase “Skiet die Boer”, wat só sterk in Julius Malema se gunstelingliedjie na vore kom, wel haatspraak.

Dit word dus nie deur die reg tot vryheid van spraak beskerm nie. Hierdie reg, wat enige demokrasie ten grondslag lê, omvat nie die “verkondiging van haat wat op ras, etnisiteit of godsdiens gegrond is en wat aanhitsing om leed te veroorsaak, uitmaak” nie (my klem).

As woorde hoegenaamd iets beteken, kweek “Skiet die Boer” in dié lied (en veral in die verband waarin die ANC-jeugliga dit sing) haat op grond van etnisiteit, en hits dit leed aan.

Waarom is daar dan berig dat die DA regter Colin Lamont se onlangse uitspraak in die Gelykheidshof, waarin hy bevind het dat dié woorde in elke verband “haatspraak” is,  bevraagteken?

Dene Smuts, die DA se woordvoerder oor Justisie en Grondwetlike Ontwikkeling , het die uitspraak as “opreg interessant en nuttig” beskryf.

“In die eerste plek dien dit as ’n goed gemikte hou wat ’n onverantwoordelike jong opsweper op sy plek sal sit. Niemand wat by sy volle positiewe is sal glo dat die jeugleier slegs nostalgies voel oor sy struggle-liedjies nie”, het sy gesê. “Geen uitlating wat tot volksmoord kan lei (soos in Rwanda), of  vrees en angs kan inboesem (soos die lied Ama ’Ndiya) behoort kragtens die Grondwet se vryheid van spraak beskerming te geniet nie.”

Dit is die DA se standpunt in kort.

Water Boards: Municipal debt continues to grow

Statement issued by Gareth Morgan, DA Spokesperson on Water and Environmental Affairs, 19 September 2011

The debt owed by municipalities to water boards continues to grow. In reply to a parliamentary question to the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs it has emerged that, as of 30 June 2011, municipalities owed water boards R1.89bn, of which R1.13bn is debt in arrears.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has been tracking this debt for more than two years now, and the trajectory is heading one way: upwards. Over the same period the DA has been calling for action to be taken by National Treasury to ensure municipalities pay their debt in arrears. However, there has been no overall improvement. These debts are compromising the financial sustainability of many of the water boards, and this could potentially affect the future provision of clean water to the public as well as the ability of water boards to expand water infrastructure to areas where there is currently no access to running water. Read more ...

The Courier - Die Koerier wonders how much the Kouga Municipality owes the local water board.

The Municipal Systems Act - Part 2

As indicated previously (see http://thecourier-diekoerier.blogspot.com/2011/09/municipal-systems-act-part-1.html ) The Courier/Die Koerier will post excerpts from a summary of the Municipal Systems Act over the next few weeks. Here is Part 2, which deals with the municipality as an organ of state.

"The municipal institution is an organ of state, which exercises legislative and executive powers. Municipal powers are exercised in a system of co-operative government which allows the three spheres of government to work together effectively. To enable co-operative government, municipalities are consulted on a range of national and provincial issues. However, it is not always practical to consult hundreds of municipalities on an individual basis. Municipalities are therefore represented in national processes through organised local government.

Municipalities should participate in organised local government structures so that their views are represented in national processes. Participation in organised local government also allows municipalities to draw on each other’s experiences and develop common approaches and find solutions to common problems."

Part 3 will deal with the rights and duties of municipal councils. 

Malema hate speech case has ripened the Equality Act for higher scrutiny as the ANC falls foul of its own law

Judge Colin Lamont’s judgment in the Julius Malema hate speech case is genuinely interesting and useful.

In the first place, it administers a well-aimed rebuke to an irresponsible young rabble-rouser (see postscript below) who no one in their right mind believes was nostalgically intoning struggle songs. The advocacy of hatred on the basis of (inter alia) race and ethnicity constituting incitement to cause harm is immunised from the protection of the free speech right in section 16 of the Constitution precisely because no utterance that could result in genocide (as in Rwanda) or in the instilling of fear and apprehension (as with the song Ama ’Ndiya) should be protected speech under the Constitution.  The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA limited (but did not ban) the broadcast of the song on the grounds that Indian South Africans in KZN would feel fear given a past history of violence in that province. Read more ...

Dene Smuts, DA Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development
13 September 2011

Postscript

The Courier - Die Koerier is reminded of a passage in Whispers of betrayal by Michael Dobbs: “Democracy is based on a number of fallacies, the grandest of which is to believe that public opinion is the sum of all individual wisdom. It assumes that individuals are capable of arriving at informed and balanced opinions, which may be true, but completely ignores the fact that when those same informed and balanced individuals come together in large numbers, logic and reason are often cast aside and any gaps left in the framework of opinion are filled with raw, undisciplined emotion.”

’n Onafhanklike regbank vereis ’n onafhanklike RDK - Helen Zille

Die land se aandag was die afgelope week sterk gevestig op iemand waarvan baie min mense al tevore gehoor het. Nou is regter Mogoeng Mogoeng se naam op almal se lippe, en hy is boonop ons nuwe Hoofregter. In dié hoedanigheid beklee hy een van die belangrikste poste in ons grondwetlike demokrasie. Die aanstelling van regter Mogoeng was omstrede omdat uitsprake en verklarings wat hy in die verlede gemaak het, ernstige kommer oor sy verbintenis tot die verdediging van die Grondwet en die onafhanklikheid van die regbank wek. Meer onlangs het hy selfs méér kommer gewek deur die regbank as ’n  “tak” van die regering te beskryf, en homself as ’n werknemer van die regering.

Ons het raad ingewin oor die kwessie of ons ’n regterlike hersiening van Mogoeng se aanstelling moet versoek, maar het daarteen besluit. Hy is nou ons Hoofregter, primus inter pares in die Grondwetlike Hof, wat met die interpretasie en beskerming van ons Grondwet toevertrou word. Ons respekteer sy amp en wens hom alles van die beste toe. Bowenal hoop ons dat hy sy kritici verkeerd sal bewys.

The Municipal Systems Act - Part 1

Over the next few weeks The Courier/Die Koerier will post excerpts from a summary of the Municipal Systems Act. Here is Part 1.


"The Constitution of South Africa envisages a robust local government system, which can provide democratic and accountable government for local communities; ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner; promote social and economic development; promote a safe and healthy living environment; and encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in the matters of local government.


The Municipal Systems Act is part of a series of legislation which aims to empower local government to fulfil its Constitutional objects. In 1998 the government issued a Local Government White Paper, which outlined a policy framework for local government. Later that year government passed the Municipal Demarcation Act, which enabled the re-demarcation of municipal boundaries; and the Municipal Structures Act, which defined the structures of local government. The Municipal Systems Act will complement these pieces of legislation, by regulating key municipal organisational, planning, participatory and service delivery systems. National government has also prepared the Municipal Financial Management Act 56 of 2003, which regulates municipal financial matters. Together, these pieces of legislation provide a framework for a democratic, accountable and developmental local government system, as envisaged by the Constitution."


Part 2 will deal with the municipality as an organ of state.

Education fraud and corruption: mandate of SIU must be strengthened

The mandate of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) currently investigating corruption in the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape should be strengthened in order to summons any official, any time, to provide them with the necessary information and relevant documentation.  The unit needs clout to do its job.

The department has no fraud prevention plan in place and the Risk Management Unit is almost non-existent.  This needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency if the looting is to stop. What is needed is the political will from the ANC-led provincial administration to ensure that this department is placed back on track.  The problems have been identified, so please, do something!

The more cases are dragged out due to uncooperative officials, the more these corrupt officials entrench themselves in illegal activities.

It has been alleged that 90% of officials at Head Office are doing business with the department. 

Ward committee elections

Ward committee elections continue to take place in municipalities without the processes as set out in the Municipal Structures Act being followed.  To date the MEC for Local Government, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, has ignored requests from the DA to address the matter.

The lack of action by Qoboshiyane in not stopping illegal ward committee elections from taking place shows a crisis of weak leadership and an endorsement of illegal ward committee election practices.

Every municipal council must make rules regulating how ward committee elections will be run in their areas.

Presidency’s Annual Report shows greater oversight essential

The Presidency’s 2010/11 Annual Report, released today, indicates that this department has excelled at increasing the size of its budget, but not the quality of its performance. Between 2009/10 and 2010/11, the Presidency’s expenditure increased by 74%. However,  according to the Auditor General’s report, even the most basic regulatory processes are still not being followed. Click here to read more

Athol Trollip, Leader of the Democratic Alliance
1 September 2011

Where has all the money gone?

The Department of Roads and Public Works could not account for monies paid to contractors during the last financial year.

In response to a parliamentary question by me to the MEC for Transport it was revealed that due to the transition of moving roads from the Department of Transport to the Department of Public Works “there was a non invoice tracking tool for contractors”.  

So in effect the province has no idea of what expenditure it paid to road contractors.

This casual response is unacceptable and I will be following up with the Auditor-General to investigate this matter further.