Last Saturday marked 100 days in office for the new Makana council. Last week ward councillors spoke about their activities, challenges, successes and what their constituencies could expect from them. This week the Mayor, the Speaker and Proportional Representation tell us how they're doing.
Last Saturday marked 100 days in office for the new Makana council. Last week ward councillors spoke about their activities, challenges, successes and what their constituencies could expect from them. This week the Mayor, the Speaker and Proportional Representation tell us how they're doing.
Executive Mayor Councillor Zamuxolo Peter
Finance management is my priority because we have to get it right. For quite some time, for more than two, three years, this institution has been getting a very bad Auditor General's report, so we need to turn things around. We want to make sure we get bank reconciliations and asset management right, but my priority is also generally setting up the right systems in terms of financial management. We want ratepayers to be confident that their funds are in the right hands. Once we get this right, some people who [currently don't]pay their bills, will automatically come and pay their monies, knowing that they are in good hands.
Second, you see, the infrastructure – it’s really in a bad state. If you talk of roads, if you talk of storm water drainage in Makana it’s in a bad state. If I can get that right, that would definitely be something good. In town we have to make sure we at least maintain the infrastructure in a good state. We need to ensure that each and every financial year there is sufficient budget for maintenance. So that must happen in town and also in the townships. If you go to Joza, Extension 6, Extension 7, Fingo Village or Vukani, our roads are dirt roads. So if we can make sure that we can get the streets and roads in at least some of these areas tarred – if you go to Joza and pave all the sidewalks – that is my priority.
Third – and this can't happen overnight – people need to understand their role when it comes to cleanliness of the town. I'd like to get this right. Because now if you visit the skips, you clean them today, tomorrow they are back to square one. So there has to be some education with the community, with the public – people have to understand that we can’t do it alone.
There has to be a partnership approach , the community and business sector. Unfortunately, for now, you see it is not yet there. Everyone thinks it is the role only of Makana, of local government to get the town clean. Everyone complains that town is dirty, and all that. But what are other people doing? What is the private sector doing?
The ordinary person on the street – you can’t just have a drink and throw that can away. We have to take responsibility, all of us. So if we can get that right, I will be happy. Another serious problem is as you can see, there are a lot of flats mushrooming in the town, CBD area. We must find a way to control this. And again the aesthetics of the town. Some of the buildings are falling apart, some painting needs to be attended to.
PR Councillor / Speaker Rachel Misiwe Madinda
Activities performed since the inauguration of council:
1) Home visits
2) Problems identified include a woman who had been recorded as having died, and so had difficulty getting an identity document – she now has a new ID; and children who had no birth certificates. That case is still in progress and Home Affairs is being really helpful.
3) During the [flooding]disaster on 19-24 June, I made home visits. It was terrible and even the fire department machines could not help [with the flooding]. The South African Social Security Agency and Makana Social Development helped with food parcels.
4) On [Mandela] Day, we went to Alicedale to clean the playground. Plans for the constituencies: * More visits so as to hear from each household what are the problems that face our communities; * Community-based plans; * Work hand-in-hand with the ward councillor; * Working together with people to have a way of keeping our ward clean; * Establishment of street committees to curb the high rate of crime; * Working together to form co-ops, so as to put a dent in the high unemployment rate; * Help women and children to know their rights by working with relevant departments; * Revive sport in the ward; * Work with the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence to help our youth [in combating]drug abuse; * Plead with churches to play their role in talking about moral regeneration.
Executive PR Councillor Mtutuzeli Matyhumza
The municipality's three legs are the politicians, the community and the administration. The face of the municipality throughout is the executive mayor, who is the accountable political officer. We are elected to be an extension of the executive mayor. I am chairperson of the Social Development Portfolio Committee, which oversees the following departments: fire, traffic, parks and reaction, environment and cleansing and libraries. The social development directorate is led by Director Planga. My responsibility is political oversight.
This is a challenging department because it has a lot components. So far we have employed more than 40 people, working to clean the town, while responding to the call to create jobs. This is the second heart of service delivery. I say this because [only]if we make sure the whole of Makana is clean will we attract investors to the town. We also have to deal with law-enforcement. We are appointing peace officers and traffic warders because we want to focus on law enforcement, particularly those doing illegal dumping in town and in the location.
What we want to achieve: In the Traffic department, I am focusing on awareness campaigns, targeting those that are in and outside schools. For instance, we recently bought a Kombi because we wanted to use the junior traffic programme in Joza effectively. We are going to bus the children from schools to teach them about road signs. We have advertised for more traffic officers – as you can see, currently, traffic officers [are thin on the ground], because we have lost so many. Some have resigned and some, such as Terrance Bafo, are away on courses.
Library is one of the best departments. We have a structure called Friends of the Library and a number of programmes. For example, on 8 September, we had a Literacy Day celebration in Alicedale, together with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture. We intend to have a library in every area, including in Riebeeck East, because libraries are pillars of information. Education is a transfer of ideology and skill. In libraries, you target both those in school and out of school. It empowers people. I am managing the library department. If there are any complaints, I am there.
The Fire Department responds to so many things. We are looking to have more awareness campaigns. With Parks and Recreation we are looking at also focusing in the location [in terms of planting greenery]. We are responsible, as well, for Makana to have sports and fields. The biggest challenge in that department is illegal dumping throughout the location. We will advocate the by-laws actually fining people caught dumping. People need to take ownership of their environment. Social development department is also responsible in establishing street committees as a way of trying to close the big gap between people.
Executive P.R Councillor Piryawaden Pierre Ranchhod
Executive P.R Councillor Activities performed since inauguration of council: Attending various Portfolio meetings and chairing my FAME [Finance Administration Management] Committee and Budget Steering Committee meetings, as well as various workshops. Interacting with audit committee, visiting various departments to interact with staff members and gain insight into working conditions.
With the Mayor, attending to the water crisis in Makana. Involved with the successful awarding of the Freedom of the City to President Jacob Zuma. Involved with the government department to reduce debt (accounts). Involved in moves to fast-track service delivery in Makana. Involved in renewing various policy formulation and ensuring policies are implemented according to legislation. To improve debt collection and putting systems into place.
Plans for the constituencies: Fast-track service delivery; Try to rehabilitate infrastructure in Makana; Create better working conditions for staff; Improve the image of the municipality; Stimulate job creation for the unemployed; Try to restore ratepayers' confidence in the municipality; Work towards getting a clean audit; Create a better, cleaner living environment for the ratepayers; Interact with the ratepayers on a more regular basis; Better partnerships with other government departments; Implement future planning for Makana Municipality.
I would like to see ratepayers more involved with the municipality. I want ratepayers to observe and report to the municipality on staff behaviour. Long term plans: To be an effective councillor to the citizens of Makana and to try and make Makana a great place to be for its citizens to live in.
PR Councillor Julia Wells
As a PR Councillor, one attends all Council meetings and contributes to the overall operations of the institution. As a former portfolio committee chairperson, I have spent some time orienting the new chairperson of the Social Development Committee and keep in touch with him on the implementation of numerous projects and initiatives.
As a member of the Tourism and Cultural Industries Portfolio Committee, I have been participating in discussions for the further advancement of both the Egazini national heritage site and the development of Dakawa. The municipality is trying to get both to become Declared Cultural Institutions, which would bring in sustained support for them from the national Department of Arts and Culture. This was one of the main targets of the President’s visit to Makana, and I was called on to explain it all to him.
I also represent Makana at the Cacadu District Municipality, so attend their meetings and training sessions, as needed. As a member of the ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee, I also attend provincial lekgotlas and planning meetings, so can plough back information from that sphere of government.
For example, I am assisting with the roll-down of the National Planning Commission’s call for responses to their excellent Diagnostic Report. I hope to continue with various initiatives that draw in high levels of community participation so that everyone can see local government as a sphere that listens and is responsive to their visions and dreams. I am 100% committed to the fact that "working together we can do more".
PR Councillor (DA) Les Reynolds
As leader of the DA in Makana, a large amount of my time has been taken up with setting up procedures and inducting new councillors. For example, finding offices for councillors and equipping them. Setting up ward committees is a difficult task. I attended the visit of President Zuma. The DA spent the 18 July – Mandela Day cleaning up areas in Grahamstown North. I have attended three councillors' meetings and also a number of portfolio committee meetings, such as the Local Labour Forum, Local Economic Development, Tourism, Social Services, Finance and Land, Housing and Infrastructural Development.
I helped inform residents about the water outage which lasted for a week just before Festival. Talking to very angry people took up lots of time. Doing research into outstanding issues is on-going, this includes water and sewerage issues in Alicedale and also the issue of the Mantis Group owing Makana money. I have spent time working in the finance directorate on debt control.
Being a councillor is now a full-time job. It is seeing to it that the municipality delivers on its mandate to the residents in the municipal area. This has to be done within the budget constraints. As a PR councillor my responsibility is basically the whole Makana area, assisted by the ward councillors. It is unfortunate that the service delivery of our municipality is often not what it should be. Our constituencies rely on councillors to be the watchdogs and to follow up on all issues, both infrastructural and financial. This I personally strive to do and also see to it that the other DA councillors do their constituency work.
It is a councillor's job to see it that the constituency receives value for the money they pay in rates and taxes. It is also my job as a councillor to assist people with their interaction with municipal officials and to help resolve problems they may experience. An example is the passing of building plans. I am on the Rural Roads Committee and spend time talking to people, especially farmers in rural areas.
I am also a district municipal councillor and a fair amount of time is spent on Cacadu District work in Port Elizabeth. The new term of office for councillors has only really just begun and I must also, besides all the work mentioned above, makes personal contact with constituencies and always maintain a visible presence.
PR Councillor (DA) Xolani Madyo
I'm assisting Councillor Marcelle Booysen in her ward when it is necessary. I was deployed by the Speaker of the Council to preside over the nomination of the Ward Committee in Ward 5. When there is no water in my area, I'm the first person to inform the council and also report water leakages and toilet problems. As the councillor deployed by my party [DA] in the township areas, I can handle queries and complaints, in consultation with the ward councillor. I can help with the implementation of projects.
My wish is to improve the lives of the poor people and keep our youth busy doing something, for example, learning skills so they can employ themselves. Crime is escalating in our areas – we need to establish street committees in each and every street in Makana. Kwam eMakana B&Bs must benefit throughout the year and not only during the National Arts Festival. Makana Municipality must employ officials and other staff members on merit.
PR Councillor (Cope) Nozipo Plaatjie
Activities since inauguration of council include establishing a soup kitchen at Ethembeni Community Centre and the formation of a Women's Forum. What the constituencies can expect: * More visibility; * Information on service delivery; * Listening to problems and reporting them to municipality; * Sharing with the community what the council has done so far, and what the new developments are; * Educate them and empower them about their rights and responsibilities.
PR Councillor (Mind) Devon Lloyd Waldick
As a PR Councillor, I've been involved in doing house visits with Councillor Booysen, after Grahamstown's [recent flooding disaster]. I have discovered in what disastrous situations people are living, and therefore we have compiled the necessary reports and documents to ensure we serve the people's needs. I've also supplied my fellow community members with the required forms to complete, since their living situations do qualify them to apply for [assistance].
I would like to see our youth engaged in productive activities in order to cut crime in our communities. In order to achieve this vision of mine, I have decided to work close with councillors Booysen and May to brainstorm ways to start a youth development centre with our community. Many of the youth are currently unemployed and I strongly believe that we should equip them with basic skills in beading, sewing, etc. We can make a huge difference in their lives.
Ward 10 Councillor Vuyani Christopher Kolisi
The first test was a disaster which happened in Ward 10. I managed to visit the houses that were affected by the [severe flooding]. It was terrible to see people [trying to get]the water out of their houses. I managed to interact with the crèches for good relations. I managed to solve some of the problem of the community e.g water problems, housing problems, civil cases and electricity. I managed to establish a ward committee to get more information.
In my ward I managed to host many events for the community, e.g a meeting with the social development department to establish the community's needs; distribution of food parcel by social development; an accountability meeting in Tantyi and BB Zondani by the Department of Safety and Liaison and South African Police Service. I will make sure youth are getting jobs in the coming project. Youth development is also a milestone that is closest to my heart as it is an important landmark and a monument of human spirit and achievement as enshrined in the Freedom Charter.
I will set up street committees in my ward to filter down information from our government and also to address the crime that is happening in our streets and houses. I will make sure that sector crime forums are active in terms of responding to the concerns of the community. My intention is to achieve economic development through expanded public works programme projects and align my planning to the job-creation initiatives of provincial and national government, in order to alleviate and reduce the high unemployment rate.
They [constituencies]expect and hope for clean, drinkable water, removal of their refuse, a clean environment, service delivery and accountability. Programmes that I am intending to do: Youth development Safer school Visiting schools Constituency visits on Fridays
