MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Clarity sought on community interventions in Buffalo City libraries

By

Dear MyPE

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) recently conducted oversight inspections at public libraries in the Municipality and found that residents in certain areas have taken over community service functions provided by libraries.

During oversight inspections at libraries in BCM wards 6 and 19 we noticed that community members had taken over, with the apparent sign-off from the Municipality.

This is being allowed without following the proper processes of public consultation, engagement with elected ward councillors and a resolution from the council.

Libraries are an integral part of our society and provide access to educational, cultural and recreational documents, programmes and other resources.

We welcome any interest that residents show in assisting with municipal facilities; however, the rule of law and legislative processes should not be flaunted in doing so.

Public libraries are a function of the provincial government and the DA, therefore, seeks clarity on the following:

  • Which public libraries were handed over to residents to operate in BCM, and what is the total number of libraries to go through this process?
  • Did the elected ward councillors form part of any deliberations in their respective wards regarding this matter?
  • Was this matter tabled before the municipal council?
  • Was there a public participation process before the libraries in wards 6 and 19 were handed over to community members?
  • Did BCM inform the provincial government of this decision?

I have requested that DA EC Shadow MEC Shadow MEC Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Nomvano Zibonda, MPL, submit these questions to the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) MEC, Fezeka Bayeni, for urgent feedback and intervention.

The DA will fight to ensure that the Municipality takes all reasonable steps to provide public library and information services in accordance with provincial legislation and the national norms and standards.

Regards

Chantel King, MP
BCM Coastal Constituency Leader

The following two tabs change content below.

Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.