MyPE

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

Dissolve the Makana Council and Keep the High Court in Makhanda

By

Dear Editor

In the Makana municipality sewage flows in pothole-ridden streets piled with refuse, while residents suffer job-shedding and daily water and electricity outages.

The biggest economic crisis facing residents is the government’s plan to move the Makhanda High Court to Bhisho, which will lead to the loss of nearly 10 000 direct jobs.

When a DA government takes over national government after the 29 May General Election we will put an immediate halt to this move. A vote for the DA is a vote to keep the High Court in Makhanda.

We will also enforce the dissolution of the council to have a new Makana government elected.

Today, 8 April 2024, I was joined by Frontier Constituency Leader, Kevin Mileham MP, and DA EC Shadow MEC for CoGTA, Dr Vicky Knoetze MPL, in conducting oversight inspections at sites of sewage and water leaks, as well as crumbling roads in Makhanda.

The municipality has failed to implement a financial turnaround strategy, despite being under administration

In November 2023, National Treasury demanded the repayment of R60 million in unspent Conditional Grants, and last year Makana received its 4th Disclaimed Audit Opinion in a row.

We have a local government Rescue Plan that will put Makana back on a pathway to prosperity.

The plan makes the following commitments:

Clean and accountable government

  • speedy disciplinary processes avoiding long suspensions.
  • reduce the bloated staff compliment.
  • end cadre deployment.
  • fill all vacant posts.
  • address high overtime costs.

Improved Road Infrastructure

  • annual road maintenance plan.
  • dialogue with rural communities to implement rural road maintenance.
  • 72-hour turnaround for pothole repairs.

Improved and safe water provision

  • monthly water quality testing with results to be made public.
  • comprehensive water communication strategy.
  • rainwater harvesting strategy for municipal buildings and RDP housing.
  • proper maintenance plan to address issues at pumpstations and water treatment works.
  • 24-hour water leak repair strategy

Improved municipal infrastructure investment

  • routine cleaning and maintenance of problem infrastructure.
  • dedicated streetlight maintenance team.
  • fully operational municipal fleet.
  • pavement repair and maintenance.
  • clamp down on cable theft.
  • electricity metre upgrade programme.

Improved Waste Management

  • regular refuse collection.
  • update and regularize landfill sites in Makhanda.
  • EPWP town cleanliness plan.
  • prioritize repairs to worst sewage leaks and a long-term plan to upgrade sewerage infrastructure.
  • upgrade sewage treatment plants to meet demand.
  • clamp down on illegal dumping.

Efficient revenue collection

  • address water and electricity losses.
  • accurate billing.
  • regular meter reading and the installation of smart meters.

Transparent budgeting and expenditure

  • open budget planning processes.
  • respond to all inputs by residents in the annual budget.
  • open bid evaluation and adjudication committees to the public.
  • monthly expenditure dashboard.

Environment that attracts investment and jobs

  • a well-run municipality enticing businesses to invest and stay in Makana.
  • partner with the windfarm and other IPPs to alleviate loadshedding and seek new opportunities for renewable energy.
  • skills development programme for unemployed youth in partnership with Rhodes University.

Regular input from and feedback to residents

  • regular listening forums in each ward.
  • quarterly feedback sessions in all wards.
  • lawful municipal public participation processes.

After the elections the DA will remove the ANC from government and Rescue Makana and South Africa.

Regards

Andrew Whitfield MP
DA EC Provincial 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.