MOSSEL BAY NEWS - "Not meeting the urgent needs of the poor is inhumane and irresponsible, as further protests and vandalism will cost ratepayers millions.
"While the budget is informed by the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and the administration, it is largely a political document that expresses the governing party's will and intention," says Councillor Jeanette Gouws in response to the municipal budget that the Mossel Bay Municipality recently adopted.
She added that a constitutional instruction to municipalities was to prioritise the needs of the poor.
"The ACDP understands that essential maintenance needs to be prioritised, infrastructure maintained and basic services delivered.
"Vital services such as electricity, sanitation, and access to water in homes should be prioritised as many people have no electricity or access to water and sanitation in their homes.
"While strides have been made in addressing this, far more needs to be and can be done. The more than R4 million budgeted to upgrade The Point, some sidewalks in town, and the parking lot at the golf club which is essentially a private club, could be spent on projects that have been deferred to the 2018/9 year:
2. Replacement of electrical plant and equipment at Lodewyks Tenk; R200 000
3. New reservoir for Great Brak River; R250 000
4. Electricity infrastructure for middle income housing project; R560 000
5. New street lights for Great Brak River; R200 000
6. Replacement of overhead lines with underground cables in ward 13; R500 000
7. Upgrading of Sandhoogte overhead line; R500 000
8. Upgrade Herbertsdale water reticulation; R1 929 825."
Urgent attention
"Money spent for social development is a waste of resources unless people's self worth is affirmed through their environment.
Greening areas, play parks, lighting and clean living areas are the simple desires expressed by the people of all the disadvantaged areas and can be achieved at minimal cost. Urgent attention should be given to the removal of refuse in the poorer areas.
"The R104 million surplus in the last three years that is contributed to the CRR (capital replacement reserve) fund can be spent more circumspectly and more compassionately. Priorities should be revised urgently.
"This said, we acknowledge that compiling this budget and attempting to manage all the different considerations and legal requirements cannot be an easy task.
"The ACDP would have liked to present an alternative budget. Unfortunately, without access to necessary information it would not have been a credible one.
Denying the ACDP free access to information was a Democratic Alliance (DA) political decision and not an administrative one.
"As an ACDP councillor, I would like to thank the directors of departments who have at all times been friendly, kind and helpful," Gouws said.
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
