Die “ hou jou mond “-vergadering

Ludwig Vorster van Jeffreysbaai skryf soos volg

“Tydens die openbare draft budget-vergadering op 11 April in die Newtonsaal, is ‘n lid van die publiek deur die voorsitter, burgermeester Booi Koerat  die woorde “hou jou mond” toegesnou. Dis duidelik dat dié uitdrukking deel van sy algemene gebruikswoordeskat is wanneer hy met die publiek of met jou kinders of met gewone mense praat wat ‘n vergadering bywoon.

Volgens mnr. Koerat en ene mnr. Stuurman was dit nie vir hom nodig om verskoning te vra vir sy woordkeuse nie.

Toe is die rassekaart ook nog gespeel. Koerat het beweer dat witmense neersien op die huidige party wat die meerderheid in die Kouga-raad vorm.

Die persoon wat sy “ mond moet hou “  het toe ook summier die saal verlaat.

Die voorsitter van die Jeffreysbaai-inwonersvereniging, Paul Hjul, het ook beswaar gemaak omdat Koerat se adjudant die vergadering wou oorneem en namens die voorsitter praat. Hy het ook uitgevaar oor die swak organisasie van die vergadering gekenmerk het.

Hierop het die voorsitter hom (Hjul) die leviete voorgelees en mooi laat verstaan hoe sy gedrag op ‘n vergadering behoort te wees. Die voorsitter het beswaar gemaak oor Hjul se “hoë” Engels en die feit dat hy só vinnig praat dat niemand hom kon verstaan nie. Vervolgens het die voorsitter weer eens die rassekaart gespeel.

Myns insiens het die voorsitter en sy adjudant hulle onwaardig en aggressief gedra. Dit was galbrakery op sy beste.

Dit is jammer dat  diegene wat die vergadering bygewoon het nie ‘n mosie van wantroue in die voorsitter ingestel het nie. Jeffreysbaaiers verwag beter gedrag van diegene wie se salarisse hulle betaal.

Dit was ‘n karige, onbevredigende en swakbeplande IDP en Begroting wat ter tafel gelê is, vol wensdenkery en grootdoenerigheid. Dit sal baie interessant wees om te sien wat die Ouditeur-Generaal met sy volgende jaarverslag bevind.”

Councillors don't read newspapers

Cindy Liebenberg

Our Times, 4 April 2012

DEAR Reader,

It might come as a shock to you, but it has become clear that your elected councillors do not read newspapers.

This became evident during last week’s tabling of the draft annual budget when Kouga executive mayor Booi Koerat delivered an open and frank speech.

Although it was heart-warming and encouraging to hear the mayor so gallantly acknowledging the calamitous state of the municipality’s finances, it was also extremely worrying – because all the wrong-doings Our Times has reported on the past couple of years are only now being acknowledged by the present council.

Our Times was often, and is still being accused of being negative, and has been threatened with court action as we relentlessly exposed poor management within the municipality, warned of their extensive wage bill and informed our readers of the exorbitant debt to Eskom and the Nelson Mandela Metro.

Surprisingly the mayor claims the present council did not realise the dire financial situation facing this municipality when they came into power last year May.

This newspaper has been shouting about poor management, nepotism, and downright theft and fraud from the roof tops – yet no one has heard!

However, what never fails to amaze is how all the institution’s financial woes are still blamed on the past. They claim ignorance (where were they these past four years?). It might well be so in the case of the mayor and the newly-elected councillors but what about the mayoral committee and the returning councillors?

The present finance portfolio committee is made up of nine old school councillors, 5 from the ANC and 4 from the DA.

So why were these nine councilors (out of the current 29) so shocked to realise that the municipality was in deep financial trouble?

Some of the above-mentioned councillors occupied key positions in the previous council and still do. So why the sudden pleas of ignorance?

It is now common knowledge that the three Rs – Robbie (previous mayor), Ridwaan (sacked chief financial officer) and Rankwana (sacked municipal manager) had ruled the municipality with an iron fist and did not take advice from anyone.

Be that as it may, the dismal state of the municipality cannot be ignored, and hopefully those who had no say in the past will now be heard. So let us give the current council the benefit of the doubt as the mayor believes they are making inroads in returning the Kouga to the once vibrant and well-managed place it used to be.

Council approves policies

Barry Vosloo

On 28 March 2012, the Kouga Municipal Council approved a number of policy documents that are to be put into operation by the municipality. These vary from a succession and career pathing policy to a code of conduct.

The Courier – Die Koerier was particularly interested in the overtime policy. Local ratepayers have been concerned about this issue for a long time.

According to the policy, municipal employees are required to work 40 hours per week, excluding lunch breaks.

The policy further stipulates that “line managers should try at all costs to avoid overtime.”

Nonetheless, during e.g. the festive and Easter periods, employees will be allowed to work a maximum of 3 hours of overtime per day, but not more than 40 hours per month. Overtime will be paid at 1.5 times the normal wage.

It is worth noting that overtime will be closely monitored. Employees will be required to sign attendance registers when arriving for work and again when departing.

Munisipaliteit wil vasstel of inwoners met dienslewering tevrede is.

Barry Vosloo

Die Kouga-raad het ingevolge wetgewing aan die einde van verlede jaar goedkeuring aan die munisipaliteit verleen om maatreëls te tref ten einde vas te stel of inwoners en belastingbetalers tevrede is met die gehalte van die diens wat hulle ontvang.

Die raad het terselfdertyd ‘n vraelys goedgekeur wat vir daardie doel gebruik sou word.

Die Direktoraat: Administrasie, Monitering en Evaluering sou die peiling vanaf middel-November 2011 tot middel-Januarie 2012 van stapel stuur.

Tensy The Courier – Die Koerier siende blind en horende doof is, het die peiling nie binne die vasgestelde tyd plaasgevind nie.

DA pulls out of the MPAC

Barry Vosloo

Last year The Courier – Die Koerier reported that the Kouga Municipal Council had earlier approved the formation of a Municipal Public Action Committee (MPAC). Click here to read the report.

In the event of irregular or wasteful expenditure incurred by the municipality, the MPAC is empowered to request the accounting officer of the municipality and other officials to appear before it to explain their actions.

The committee was made up of nine councillors, five from the DA and four from the ANC. Councillor Chimpie Cawood was appointed as chairman.

However, at a recent Council meeting the previous resolution was overturned by arguing that most of the members of the MPAC should come from the ANC because of its majority in Council. They were happy to accept Councillor Cawood as chairman of the committee.

The DA declined. Councillor Cawood resigned as chairman and was followed by the rest of the DA members.

The Council subsequently resolved that five ANC councillors will now make up the MPAC. Councillor Earl Hill is the new chairman.

Council approves draft budget

Monique Basson

Kouga Express, 29 March 2012-03-30

THE Council yesterday approved a draft operating budget of just more than R517 million for 2012/2013 at a meeting in Jeffreys Bay.

This is R48,5-million or 10% more than the 2011/2012 adjustment bud-get of R468,5-million. The new financial year starts in July.

Kouga Executive Mayor Booi Koerat was applauded by the Council for giving a frank account of the municipality’s financial position before tabling the draft budget.

“When we came into Council last year, I don’t believe any of us had an idea of the dire financial situation facing the municipality. There were serious cash-flow problems due to, among other things, declining collection rates and historic expenditure patterns,” he reported to Council,” said Koerat.

“Over the past ten months we have started doing things smarter. A full financial recovery plan is in place and we are already seeing positive results.” Click here to read more.

Lees as jy wil saampraat

Japie Bosch

‘n Munisipale raadslid se werk is meer kompleks as wat dit op die oog af voorkom.  Dit verg heelwat leeswerk en begrip om te weet wat hulle moet doen, nie alleen deur die raadslede nie, maar ook deur diegene wat oor munisipale sake wil saampraat.

Ludwig Vorster vra vroeër op hierdie blog:  “Is daar ‘n pligstaat wat bepaal wat raadslede se werklike pligte is en hoeveel tyd is hul veronderstel om te wy aan die kiesers/inwoners in hul betrokke wyke om werklik sy aanstelling en salaris  te regverdig?”

As ‘n mens ‘n bietjie hier en daar Google (Fanus het gepraat van “Goegeloer”) blyk dit dat die antwoord nie eenvoudig is nie.  Hoeveel tyd hulle aan wat moet bestee, sal deur diskresie bepaal word.

Raadslede se funksies word bepaal deur die Wet op Munisipale Strukture. Klik hier.

Hierdie wet maak vir ‘n gedragskode voorsiening. Klik hier.

Die South African Local Government Association (SALGA) het’n Handbook for Municipal Coucillors saamgestel. Klik hier.  (As jou rekenaar vra in watter program hy dit moet oopmaak, klik op Adobe Reader.)

Daar is ook ‘n (ou) Handbook for Ward Committees. Klik hier.

Daarby het die DA se eie pligstaat vir raadslede. Klik hier.

Uit voorgaande is dit duidelik dat  heelwat vereistes aan raadslede gestel word.  In die praktyk kom dit daarop neer dat hulle drie base het – wetgewing (alias die regering), die kiesers en hul politieke party.

Besonderhede oor plaaslike raadslede se verdienstepakkete het op 11 Januarie op hierdie blog verskyn.  Klik hier.

Op die vraag of raadslede dit werklik verdien, is my mening ongetwyfeld “ja, selfs meer”, op voorwaarde dat hulle bekwaam genoeg is en hul pligte uitvoer, soos voorgeskryf.  Indien nie, is die antwoord vanselfsprekend.  In Kouga sal min raadslede my “ja” kry.

Inwoners, wykskomiteelede, inwoners- en belastingbetalerverenigings het, nes raadslede, ‘n plig om hulle van die inhoud van voorgaande te vergewis.  Dit sal hulle in staat stel om realistiese eise aan hul raadslede te stel en ‘n bepaling te maak of hulle hul geld verdien.  Soos ‘n vriend sê:  “gooi hulle met die boek”. 

Red nou ‘n nasie …

Atri Carstens

Tydens die Munisipale raadsvergadering van 30 Januarie 2012, het enkele ontstellende sake aan die lig gekom.

Raadslid Vernon Stuurman het gesê dat die ANC geen begeerte het "to continue denying our financial situation". ‘n Welkome erkenning van die realiteit.

Heelwat nuwe raadslede het niks te doen gehad met die klaaglike finansiële posisie waarin die Kouga Munisipaliteit hom bevind nie, maar mnr. Stuurman wél. Hy, onder andere, was op die vorige Burgemeesterskomitee (volgens my die stert wat die hond swaai), die komitee onder wie se waak ons in hierdie gemors beland het.

Mnr. Stuurman sê sy volle ondersteuning aan die voorgelegde aangepaste begroting toe en ‘n debat volg.

Dr. Nico Botha (DA) vra wat gaan aan met die R26 miljoen se "land sales" wat nie gerealiseer het nie. Reeds in die verlede is daarop gewys dat moontlike inkomste uit die verkoop van grond nie beskou kan word as ‘n gegewe met die opstel van ‘n begroting nie.

En wat antwoord Stuurman? "It was a wish list. It [die inkomste uit grondverkope] did not realise." Hoe op aarde kan ‘n begroting opgestel word op grond van ‘n "wish list"?

Die opposisie teken beswaar aan teen die aangepaste begroting se sny van 48% (!) op instandhouding van infrastruktuur en wil hê die item moet terugverwys word na die Uitvoerende Burgemeester. Dit word geweier en gesê dat daar gevra sal word vir provinsiale en nasionale "intervention" as ‘n projek van die president onder sy eie voorsitterskap.

In dieselfde vergadering word ‘n verslag van die ouditeur-generaal voorgelê met verdoemende syfers oor onreëlmatige, vrugtelose en verkwiste uitgawes van miljoene der miljoene rand. Dus: daar is (weer eens) nie voldoende geld vir infrastuktuurinstandhouding nie, maar oor die wanbesteding van miljoene rande heers ‘n grafstilte.

Gepraat van infrastruktuur: volgens die munisipale woordvoerder is ons water veilig om te drink, maar ek sien telkemale rooi [lees modder] as my bondel wit wasgoed met bruin vlekke uit die wasmasjien kom!

Dr. Botha lewer kommentaar op "councillor allowances", waarop mnr. Stuurman wil weet waarom Botha dit uitsonder aangesien dit net ‘n klein deeltjie van die begroting uitmaak. Daarmee was die bespreking "finish en klaar".

En aan mnr. Phumzile Oliphant (ANC) vra ek: Wat het u bedoel toe u gesê het dat die "poorest of the poor" gewillig is "to sacrifice projects in their own wards" ter wille van die breër prentjie? Weet die armstes van die armes dat daar namens hulle gesê is dat projekte in hulle wyke opgeoffer sal word?

Dus: ‘n tekort van R26 miljoen word ligtelik afgemaak, miljoene rand is wanbestee, vrae oor raadslede se salarisse is ongewens, maar die armste van armes moet klaarblyklik projekte in hulle wyke opoffer om die Kouga Munisipaliteit uit die finansiële verknorsing te kry waarvoor die armes beslis nie verantwoordelik was nie.

Skande.

Pligte van raadslede

Ludwig Vorster van Jeffreysbaai, skryf soos volg:

(1)       Is daar ‘n pligstaat wat bepaal wat Raadslede se werklike pligte is en hoeveel tyd is hul veronderstel om te wy aan die  kiesers/inwooners in hul  betrokke wyke om werklik sy aanstelling en salaris  te regverdig ?

(2)       Watter insae het die Raadslede om in die Munsipaliteit se bedrywighede op die grond prakties  te gaan ondersoek doen in die voorsiening van water, elektrieseteit, rioelwerke, vullisverwydering, omgewingsbeheer, stortings tereine ens. as daar klagtes van swak dienste van die wyks kiesers/inwooners  afkomstig is?

(3)       Wat word van Raadslede wat nie hul Wyks Kommitees gestig het nie, is dit nie ‘n wetlike verpligting nie?

(4)       Wanneer ‘n probleem/griewe  gerig word aan ‘n Raadslid , wat is hy veronderstel om te doen,moet hy/sy  net die Munisipaliteit te bel en navraag te doen en hul antwoord te aanvaar of is die Raadslid veronderstel om die oorsprong van die probleem/grief  te gaan ondersoek .?

(5)       Sal daar iemand so gaaf wees wat al die vrae volledig kan beantwoord?

(6)       Die gerugte wat rondloop oor die opsigters werk by die golfbaan kan name nie genoem word nie dan behoort daar nie bespiegelinge te wees wie die persoon is nie?

[As daar iemand (‘n raadslid?) is wat antwoorde op Ludwig se antwoorde kan verskaf, skryf asseblief aan ons – The Courier – Die Koerier] 

A day at the zoo

Cindy Liebenberg
Our Times, 16 December 2011

WHAT a joke last week’s Kouga council meeting turned out to be.

Firstly, it started 15 minutes late. However, as we are on Africa time it was probably not so bad. With only two apologies in hand, the errant councillors who had not bothered to inform the Speaker, Magdalene Dlomo, they were not going to be present, drew her ire.

Then in sauntered Councillor Vernon Stuurman, only 30 minutes late. One wonders if he and the absent ones will be taken to task as Dlomo did, after all, make a big song and dance about written apologies even if they were just going to be late.

Even before the meeting could get under way DA Councillor Ben Rheeder questioned why a motion he had asked to be tabled at the meeting, was not on the agenda.

The Speaker’s reply that it was an administrative issue and she did not warrant it important enough to be placed on the agenda, infuriated the entire DA caucus so much they staged a walk-out.

Of course Dlomo had to call a 10 minute (which turned into a 30 minute) break, for the ANC councillors to regroup and strategise on what should be done. With the DA and three ANC councillors absent, they did not have a quorum anymore and could therefore not rubber-stamp all decisions made by Mayor Booi Koerat and his executive committee.

Stomping back into the council chambers, Stuurman valiantly declared the meeting must continue as they “cannot allow the tail to wag the dog,” prompting Councillor Phumzile Oliphant into a long impassioned speech of how the DA was undermining the Speaker’s position while hijacking her meeting.

Dlomo agreed the meeting should be adjourned to a later date and definitely not cancelled. During all this time acting municipal manager, Sydney Fadie, could not contain his giggling as I am sure he also found the proceedings a big joke.

The DA councilors, in the meantime, were hanging round outside the council chamber and were hungry. As the complimentary lunch was for the taking they were not going to lose out so they promptly sat down to enjoy the sausages and mash. This prompted mayor Koerat to draw the media’s attention to the audacity of the opposition party.

And there you are dear resident – yet another working day wasted by people we are supposed to trust to look after our interests. The oversight report and all the other important issues that were supposed to have been decided on, swept away to who knows when and who knows where.

Yes, it was just another day at the zoo – sorry office.

Kouga-raadslid in hof oor klag van bedrog

Richard Roberts
Die Burger, 16 November 2011

'n Kouga-raadslid verskyn binnekort weer in die hof op 'n aanklag van bedrog.

Mnr. Vernon Stuurman is verlede Donderdag reeds in hegtenis geneem en het Vrydag in die hof verskyn. Sy saak is uitgestel en hy is op waarskuwing vrygelaat, het ao. Marianette Olivier, polisiewoordvoerder, gesê.

Stuurman (42) het na bewering skenkings aanvaar vir 'n kollega se siek vrou. Die bedrag van R10 000 het na bewering nooit by die vrou uitgekom nie.

Die geld is glo deur 'n sakeman van Jeffreysbaai aan die vrou geskenk. Stuurman het glo die skenking namens die familie ingevorder.

"Die sakeman het die saak teen Stuurman aanhangig gemaak," het Olivier gesê.

"Die munisipaliteit is nie bewus van raadslid Stuurman se inhegtenisneming nie. Ons kan nie kommentaar lewer alvorens ons die besonderhede het nie," het me. Laura-Leigh Randall, woordvoerder van die munisipaliteit, gisteraand gesê.

Council forms a Municipal Public Accounts Committee

The Kouga Municipal Council approved the formation of a Municipal Public Action Committee (MPAC) at an ordinary council meeting on 31 October 2011.

The committee is made up of nine councillors. Five are from the DA and four from the ANC. The DA members are Councillors Chimpie Cawood (chairman), Ben Rheeder, Henda Thiart, Danny Benson and Nico Botha.

The MPAC will do the same work in the municipality as the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in the national and provincial legislatures.

In the event of irregular or wasteful expenditure incurred by the municipality, the MPAC will be entitled to request the accounting officer of the municipality and other officials to appear before it to explain their actions.

The committee is also empowered to engage directly with the community and its representatives such as residents’ and ratepayers’ associations.

There can be little doubt that the MPAC will enable council to hold municipal officials to account, and to ensure the efficient and effective use of municipal resources.

Local residents to pay more for waste management services

The Kouga Municipal Council approved a draft waste tariff structure for the Kouga Municipality at an ordinary council meeting on 31 October 2011.

The proposed new tariffs will be advertised in the media soon to enable the general public to comment on the increases.

In the past, adding a mere 6% (approximately) annually to current tariffs without considering other important aspects, has become an inefficient way of costing waste management services. Moreover, there was a need to benchmark the Kouga Municipality waste tariffs with similar municipalities.

A scientific waste tariff study was therefore undertaken on behalf of the Kouga Municipality.

The study has recommended that charges for the environmental management fund and domestic refuse removal in Jeffreys Bay (including Ward 3) should be increased by 23.1% over a three-year period.

Ethics committee established for local councillors

The Kouga Municipal Council approved the establishment of an ethics committee at an ordinary council meeting on 31 October 2011.

The committee will be made up of three ANC and 2 DA councillors. Councillors Frances Baxter and Juline Prinsloo will represent the DA.

The functions of the ethics committee include articulation of acceptable ethics and values expected of local councillors, and making sure that they abide by them.

Politics or jobs, teachers told

Werner Swart 

TimesLIVE, 16 October, 2011 

Gauteng teachers who double as municipal councillors are being asked to choose between the chalkboard and a career in politics.

The principal of a top school in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, was told by the Gauteng Department of Education that he could not serve as a ward councillor and remain at the school, prompting his resignation from the council. Read more ...

The Courier - Die Koerier finds this situation intriguing. Will the same ruling apply in the Eastern Cape Department of Education? If so, what will the position of Earl Hill be? He is the ANC councillor in Ward 2 and teaches at Pellsrus Primary School in Jeffreys Bay. 

Councillors demand huge salary hikes

Sipho Masondo 

Times LIVE, 7 October 2011

Municipal councillors have asked parliament to increase their salaries and benefits to R815000 a year - the same as members of provincial legislatures.

The SA Local Government Association has also recommended that councillors be paid by the national Treasury, like all other politicians.

If the association has its way, the wage bill for South Africa's 9000 councillors will cost taxpayers an extra R7-billion a year.

During a presentation to parliament's select committee on finance last month, the association called for an "urgent" review of how councillors are remunerated to bring them into line with the pay packages of politicians in provincial and national government.

Excluding car allowances, full-time councillors earn an annual package of between R280000 and R542000, depending on the type of municipality they serve.

Their part-time counterparts earn between R119000 and R253000 a year, excluding car allowances. Read more ...