In our capacity as the official opposition in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipal Council, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has compiled a report focusing on the first 100 days of office.
This report provides an overview of the ANC’s governance since the local government elections on 18 May 2011. It also highlights the positive impact that the DA has made during the same period.
Council Meetings
The ANC’s current schedule of council meetings on a quarterly basis is counter-productive to service delivery. For example, the delay in the approval of development and planning issues seriously slows down economic development and job creation.
The DA has proposed that Council convene bi-monthly meetings. More frequent Council meetings will significantly improve debate, service delivery and oversight of the municipality’s administration.
To date, BCMM has not responded to our proposition.
Council Standing Committee Portfolios
To date, not one Portfolio Committee has convened. The composition of said committees was finalized in late June. The DA has written to the Speaker enquiring when committee work will commence, and are left wondering how decisions are being made in the absence of regular meetings.
Allocation of Councillors to Committees, Boards and Other Roles
On several occasions, the Mayor and/or the Speaker has unilaterally appointed DA councillors to committees, hospital boards and the like, without consulting the DA caucus leadership. Recently Executive Mayor Zukiswa Ncita instructed a DA councillor to report to, and attend a board meeting for the Frere Hospital without discussing the matter with either the councillor concerned or the DA caucus leader. The Democratic Alliance objects strongly to this practice, as we are best placed to determine the suitability of a particular councillor for a specific role. We have written to both the Speaker and the Mayor in this regard, and will continue to demand the right to select our own representatives to committees, boards etc.
Corruption & Maladministration
The delayed interrogation and response to the controversial Ernst & Young report, which investigated corruption and mismanagement in the previous Council’s term of office has left a dark cloud hanging over the heads of a number of officials and ANC councillors.
The Democratic Alliance was instrumental in ensuring that the MEC for Local Government returned the report to Council, and has played a leading role in bringing those accountable to book. We anticipate releasing a comprehensive statement on this matter in the very near future.
The poor controls (especially in Supply Chain Management) highlighted by the Oversight Committee and the Audit Committee have been confirmed by the latest Auditor-General’s report.
The DA has submitted motions to the Speaker for debate at the next Council meeting calling for a thorough review of both the Supply Chain Management policy and the operation of the Supply Chain Unit. Transparency of the tender process is a critical element in the success of this Unit and the DA will call for such during the debate.
Service Delivery Issues
Despite Council’s approval of the annual Budget and Integrated Development Plan at the end of May, it comes as something of a shock when senior municipal officials advise that there are no funds available for pothole repairs. On investigation by the DA, it appears that this is an excuse to avoid having to address the countless problems caused by the recent rains.
DA councillors are currently inspecting the state of roads, ward by ward and are assessing the needs for repairs to roads, storm water drainage, sidewalks, street signage and road markings.
Refuse remains a major issue, both from a collection and general cleanliness perspective. The Democratic Alliance is concerned that Buffalo City must rate as one of the dirtiest in South Africa. In addition, our landfill management leaves much to be desired. The Roundhill and Stoneydrift landfill sites have both caught fire recently, causing distress and health problems for nearby residents. Poor refuse collection/street cleaning has also resulted in a number of stormwater drains becoming blocked during the heavy downpours experienced in June and July. This has had catastrophic consequences for residents, particularly those in informal settlements.
The DA proposed that council should consider outsourcing this function to private contractors. The proposal was met with antipathy from the ruling party, who stated that outsourcing is not the policy of the ANC.
The maintenance and ongoing improvement of public facilities and open spaces is another area in which Buffalo City is short changing its residents. The degree of infrastructural decay is affecting all segments of our society. The DA has initiated an audit of parks, clinics, cemeteries, libraries, sports facilities and other public amenities to determine their status and needs, and to identify priorities requiring urgent attention and remedy.
Economic Development and Tourism
The abrupt termination of funding for Tourism Buffalo City (TBC) has far-reaching consequences. The DA has requested an urgent Special Council Meeting for the Executive Mayor to present her proposals for filling this void. Tourism is part of the economic lifeblood for the region, and a failure to address this issue will negatively impact on our economy for years to come.
The DA proposes that a properly funded, well-run public-private partnership between the municipality and tourism roleplayers be established as a matter of urgency to promote the region and coordinate conferences, events, sports tourism under one umbrella.
Appointment of Municipal Officials
In stark contrast to most other municipalities, Buffalo City has been decidedly slow in filling critical gaps in its organizational structure. At this point, a large number of senior officials are operating in an “acting” capacity, with no certainty as to their long term prospects. The failure to appoint permanent senior managers has an enormous impact on service delivery. The Democratic Alliance has grave concerns about the delays, and has written to the Speaker and the Mayor to enquire when the posts will be advertised and/or filled. To date, no response has been forthcoming.
In addition, the lack of certainty has resulted in a great deal of fluidity in the organization, and staff members appear to change roles on a daily basis. The municipality has failed to provide all councilors with a proper directory and organizational chart of various departments’ directors and general managers, despite repeated requests. This has seriously hampered enquiries, complaints and suggestions by the public and councillors.
Acting Municipal Manager’s Security Detail
Mr. Andile Fani was deployed to BCMM as the acting municipal manager by the Department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs without a proper performance contract, or clarity as to where the funding for the deployment would be sourced. Mr. Fani’s commendable attitude towards corruption has allegedly resulted in threats being made against him and his family, thereby requiring a sizeable (and costly!) security detail. No threat analysis or other tangible proof of risk has been presented to either the current or previous Council. The DA has written a letter enquiring about the cost of this security detail, without a response to date.
Establishment of Ward Committees
The demarcation of wards and the date of the election were known well in advance. It is therefore completely unacceptable that no provision was made for the establishment of new ward committees immediately after the elections. This means that the city is still without ward committees. Buffalo City Municipality hopes to have these established by the end of October. This has reduced the public’s participation in the governance of our city to that of mere bystanders.
Since the induction of the new council, the DA has been instrumental in influencing the terms of reference for the establishment and operation of ward committees, to ensure fairness, representation and good governance.
Metro Law Enforcement
The establishment of Buffalo City as a metropolitan municipality has not resulted in the amalgamation of City Traffic and Law Enforcement into an integrated entity (e.g. Metropolitan Police). This has resulted in a failure to enforce by-laws and a lack of 24 hour law enforcement/ control. The allocation of resources to this vital function appears to be misdirected and lacks proper planning and forethought.
The Democratic Alliance has previously questioned the mandate of BCM law enforcement, and the efficient use of manpower. More recently, questions have been raised over the purchase of BMWs for traffic and other law enforcement functions, and it appears that style has taken precedence over function and value for money.
Political Friction
Political tension in Ward 10, Egoli, between DA Ward Councillor Irene Brauns and the ANC’s ex-councillor Antonio Carels persists, and the ANC’s failure to intervene and bring its members to order appears to lack political will. Mr. Carels continues to foment tension in this ward. The DA has written various letters to the ANC Whip and the Chief Whip of council without any concrete results or feedback.
Public Participation
The 2011/12 council IDP & Budget road shows were conducted in a very unprofessional manner, as timeframes were extremely tight and, as a result, no real meaningful input was received from the broader public. The DA believes that the role of public participation in government cannot be underestimated, and that strong, vibrant societies are created when government and the people work together in partnership. Independent civil society must be appreciated as they work for best-practice governance, social justice and environmental protection in the City of Buffalo City. The DA will be calling for a comprehensive roll-out plan for public participation prior to the next Budget and IDP process commencing.
Preparedness for Industrial Action
It is clear that the lack of proper planning during the recent strike action rendered the municipality unable to deliver essential services. In particular, the city was awash with refuse, and collections were sporadic. The collection of business refuse was an issue of major concern, and many organizations reported that their refuse was not collected for almost two weeks. Additionally, in King Williamstown, striking workers allegedly shut off water mains leaving much of the town dry. No security personnel were on hand to prevent looting, rioting, sabotage or other actions on the part of striking workers.
The DA will be investigating the city’s contingency plans to ensure that we are better prepared for future strike action. A specific area of concern is the municipality’s failure to engage third party contractors to deliver the services it was unable to provide.
Conduct of Municipal Workers during Recent Strike Action
The trashing of Buffalo City, burning of tyres and general lawlessness of the South African Municipal Workers Union members without any form of accountability is the type of behaviour that hardens attitudes against their demands. Instead of demonstrating why they deserve the increases, SAMWU’s members resort to violence and looting (as evidenced in the City of Cape Town) to pressurize municipalities into surrender.
The Democratic Alliance has, through its national spokesperson on labour issues, Ian Ollis MP, proposed that unions and union leaders be held responsible for any damage, injury and illegal acts proved to have been committed by their members while on strike.
It is time the unions and their members learned that they are employed at the employer’s pleasure. The right to strike does not imply the right to destroy property or intimidate and assault those who do not share their views.
The DA respects the rights of workers, but such respect is a two-way street, and we cannot, under any circumstances, condone the behaviour of union officials and striking workers.
In Conclusion
The ANC has become apathetic to the point of paralysis in responding to the needs of the citizens of Buffalo City. Our metro readiness was shambolic, and the situation, three months later, is little better. The Democratic Alliance has repeatedly shown that it has the interests of all the people of Buffalo City at heart, and has demonstrated that it has the capacity to govern better.
In light of the above, we call on the African National Congress in Buffalo City to explain publicly, fully and fairly, how they intend to improve the lives of our people.
From press statement released on 5 September 2011 by the Democratic Alliance’s Buffalo City Caucus
No comments:
Post a Comment