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ARE WE DELIVERING ON OUR MANDATE? As the sphere of government closest to the people, local government is also the most visible sphere of government. As such it is, to some extent, the training ground for democratic government. Municipalities across the length and breadth of the country are charged with the sole responsibility to provide household infrastructure and other services such as water and sanitation, roads, stormwater drainage, refuse removal and electricity. Maletswai Local Municipality has passionately provided for these essential services in the past. The question whether we, as a municipality, are delivering on our constitutional mandate becomes very much essential especially in the wake of widespread violence by community members crying foul and lack of service delivery in many parts of the country. As much as we have not experienced any such actions means we are in the right direction. But this will not cause us to be complacent with our success to the neglect of our people's needs. We have successfully managed to do a positive impact in respect of the provision of refuse removal, the laying of roads infrastructure, etc. We have also registered a huge success in the provision of 50 kilowatts free electricity to more than 4300 of our poor households. We are aware that the more we provide a need that has been sought by our community the more other needs are needed by residents, and the more we have to increase our efforts. The bottom line is that these needs vary from one community to another. One important reality is that over the past years we were able to rise above some of the pressing challenges that threatened our advancement to deliver quality services to the community of Maletswai.Our determined zeal and stern leadership kept the ship together and we managed to sail through rough seas, we managed to surge ahead whilst facing a series of tidal waves and a string of torrents. Nonetheless,w were able to make significant milestones in process, among which nailed the colours of Maletswai not only in the provincial but the national mast. In spite of the achievements elaborated above, there are areas of our work in which we have not performed well thus requiring our individual attention. That we have not been able to achieve unqualified audit opinion to date remains a major concern. However, it is important to point out that significant progress has been made to date to improve the municipality's audit outcome. The qualifications affecting the audit opinion, over the years, were reduced from 18 in the 2008/09 to just 8 in the 20111/12 financial year in spite of the new and complex accounting standards that came into operation in the latter financial year. We have not yet mastered the art of transforming our entire staff compliment into true agents of excellence, capable of serving our communities with respect, humility, enthusiasm and passion. In some of the municipal units, the staff output is disproportional to the value by the Council in them. Even though the high mast lights were installed in Jamestown, they are not yet fully functional as a result of lukewarm cooperation we are receiving from ESKOM. There is still room for improvement in the area of strengthening partnership with the private sector and other state institutions to provide a coherent and coordinated approach to address complex challenges confronting our communities. The Council will continue to strenrgthening its oversight over the administration to execute their duties diligently and to the best of their abilities inspired by the appreciation of the fact that "it is a privilege to be afforded an opportunity to serve our community and that none of our employees is indispensable". The council has yet taken another strategic decision to avail or dispose off land for the development of a shopping mall and construction of a private hospital to spur the local economy and create job opportunities. The shopping mall will be built at the Show Grounds near Joe Gqabi. The project will bolster economic development and increase job creation opportunities as there will be a number of stores opened that will operate from that facility. We are confident that such a facility has the capacity to employ more than 3 000 people and thereby reduce the unemployment rate that is currently lingering at 26.7%. On the other hand, on key project that is thought can boost the local economy is the construction of a private hospital in Aliwal North. Ofcourse, this would be the first of its kind in the entire Joe Gqabi district. We are optimistic that such initiatives will enable our municipality to maintain the recognition of Maletswai as the economic hub of the district. The cherry on top would be the commencement of the Joe Gqabi Extension, wherein 4000 housing units will be built. This number will be inclusive of a mixture of RDP and middle income houses. We are of the view that this project will also lead to supplementary business opportunities in that area and around Aliwal North. Business minded people can even explore a whole range of more opportunities. We can never rule out the possibility of of bringing in a larger petrol filling station that can accommodate trucks and other motorists that usually drive past Aliwal North without a stop to refuel or get some refreshments. Issued by: The Communications & marketing Unit Bishop George - Head of Communications Contact details: 0516338309 / 0828257029 Tuesday, 11 June 2013 |