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Tariff Increases

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As the mayor has said:

“On Friday, my office will meet with other parties to ensure we’re inclusive of everyone, and I want them to come with clear recommendations. Don’t say this and that must be changed, yet you do not come up with constructive ways and recommendations.”

To the Mayors office

All residents in P.E. are feeling the financial squeeze especially retired people who are on a fixed income. It is possible that a number of retired residents will be forced to sell their properties as they will be unable to afford the proposed increases. Many of these are residents who have contributed to the Municipality for many years. I urge you, Mr. Wayile, to take cognisance of this fact and not further burden the citizens and senior citizens of Port Elizabeth any further. I would appreciate it if you would, as the elected mayor, seriously consider the recommendations I have listed below.

  • A reduction in the number of staff in the various departments. (Mayoral Office / Office of the chief whip etc.)
  • The elimination of all bonuses paid to municipal staff unless agreed to by the Ratepayers and opposition parties.
  • The elimination of all overseas trips, conferences, xmas parties etc. funded by ratepayers money unless agreed to by the ratepayers and opposition parties.
  • Representation of the P.E. Ratepayers Association at all meetings affecting the Port Elizabeth Ratepayers.
  • Immediate suspension without pay of any municipal employee inciting violence and / or racial tension. Reappointment and back pay to be awarded if found innocent.
  • Control over the types of vehicles purchased with Rate Payers money. (No 4 by 4’s or luxury vehicles – a ceiling of a suitable maximum, as agreed by the Ratepayers and opposition parties, be imposed on All Public Servants.
  • Property values being calculated on a willing seller – willing buyer principle and not merely determined by the municipality.
  • Elimination of all “Dead wood” and unproductive staff.
  • Zero tolerance for Fraud and wasteful expenditure. (Prosecution and dismissal)
  • No payment of salaries for suspended employees. Reappointment and back pay to be awarded if found innocent.
  • A 66% majority being required in order to increase future rates.
  • Outsourcing of certain services to the public sector. (To be paid by the Municipality after satisfactory completion of the specified service and agreed by the ratepayers.)
  • The introduction / reintroduction of ward committees to work in consultation with the local Ward Counselor.
  • The introduction of a local independent “Ombudsman” to adjudicate in matters where Ratepayers cannot afford legal representation.
  • A Transparent tendering process administered by external auditors, the rate Payers Association and opposition parties.
  • A review of Municipal salaries and an average increase inline with inflation only.
  • Performance and salary reviews based on a Ratepayers satisfaction index.
  • Appointments to positions based on competency, not on jobs for friends and political alignment (Zero tolerance for nepotism)
  • A review of all positions. Competency matched to job description.
  • No appointments of staff in administrative positions without a qualification of matric or the equivalent.
  • No appointment of staff into management positions without a suitable post matric qualification.
  • A reduction in rate when there is no service delivery. (Garbage removal etc.)
  • Penalties for excessive use of water and electricity being based on household size, not per household. (Currently all households irrespective of size have the same limit, A one person household has the same limit as a four person household.) Hopefully the current rains will eliminate this problem)

Kind regards,

Keith Holland
A Concerned Cash Strapped P.E. Resident

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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.

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Comments

  1. Well written and concise Keith. I live in hope that all of our political masters will carry your suggestions on a small “cheat sheet” so that they can refer to it before making any decisions.