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OPEN REPORT TO THE PUBLIC BY EXECUTIVE MAYOR, DR RUBEN RICHARDS ON OUTCOMES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING,

HELD 31 JANUARY 2024

CLANWILLIAM

Dear Residents of Cederberg

PLEASE NOTE:  All council meetings are open to the public.  Therefore, all residents and visitors are welcome to attend council meetings. We encourage all residents to attend said council meetings, because it is important that residents to participate in promoting responsive and accountable local government.

On Wednesday 31st January 2024, the quarterly council meeting of the municipality was held at Council Chambers in Clanwilliam. It was the first scheduled council meeting of 2024. Urgent matters affecting all residents were considered, which includes:

MAYORAL SPEECH

The Mayor delivered a speech entitled 2024 - THE YEAR OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN THE CEDERBERG: Service delivery protests, Ministerial protests and the quest for clean water. 

The Mayor wished everyone a happy new year and proceeded to summarise events which took place over the festive season. The Mayor thanked all staff for their cooperation and hard work to deliver a peaceful festive season.

The Mayor also pointed out that the focus of 2024 will be on providing water security to residents, good governance and consequence management. Council remains under the constraints of what is called a 154 Budget Funding Plan, due to weak governance from their predecessors. 

The financial and governance rescue plan was imposed on the municipality by the MEC of Local Government because of the “bankrupt” status of the municipality. The Mayor reported that under the leadership of the new council the finances and governance have improved dramatically. We anticipate that Council will have a funded budget soon.
 

COUNCILLOR MAXWELL HEINS RESIGNS AS A MEMBER OF THE ANC

The Speaker of Council announced that an official letter of resignation was received from ANC Cllr Maxwell Heins, Ward 3 councillor.  This letter was read into the record and it triggers a Ward 3 By-election which the IEC announced will take place on 24 April 2024.

WATER SECURITY - RAISING OF CLANWILLIAM DAM WALL

A delegation from Water and Sanitation, led by Ms Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa (Western Cape Provincial Head) provided a comprehensive in-person report on progress achieved regarding the dam wall project.  In short, the project is now in full swing.  Almost all contractors and subcontractors have been appointed.  The chief engineer informed us that the project is scheduled to take 54 months.

WATER SECURITY - WATER PURIFICATION PLANT FOR CLANWILLIAM

Council identified and approved the location of the planned new water purification plant, namely, next to the existing water reservoirs in Clanwilliam.

WATER SECURITY – WATER LICENCE

Council resolved that it will oppose the legal challenge (i.e. Notice of Motion) to its water licence for Lamberts Bay. 

WATER SECURITY – HYDRO POWER

Council takes note the raising of the Dam Wall requires that the current Hydro Plant which is connected to the wall must be relocated.  The Department of Water and Sanitation is in discussion with the service provider in this regard.

GOVERNANCE - SUBMISSION AND TABLING OF ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023 

Council approved the Annual Report in principle, and as tabled noting that council still awaits the financial audit report from the Office of the Auditor General whose report is still outstanding.  The annual report provides a record of the activities of Cederberg Municipality during the 2022/2023 financial year.  The report takes account of the performance in service delivery and budget implementation for the financial year.

GOVERNANCE - ADOPTION OF CHARTER AND WORK PLAN FOR  MPAC (MUNICIPAL PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE)

Council approved the Cederberg Municipal Public Accounts Committee Charter and annual work plan.

GOVERNANCE - MID-YEAR BUDGET & PERFORMANCE REPORT (SECTION 72) 2023/2024 

Council approved the performance report which assesses service delivery covering the first semester/ first half of the year.  Such a report must be tabled by January each year.

GOVERNANCE - TABLING OF THE BI-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS FOR THE PERIOD: 01/07/2023 – 31/12/2023 

In terms of the Service Delivery Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP), KPI IIA453, it is required that a Bi-annual report be submitted to Council on progress made with the implementation of council resolutions. Directors of each department must report bi-annually to Council on the progress made in completion / finalisation of Council Resolutions.  Council approved the report requesting that the review dates include a previous period. 

GOVERNANCE - ACCOUNTABILITY OF COUNCILLORS 

Council approved an independent investigation to establish the facts of alleged misconducted by a certain councillor during the holiday season. As public servants Council promotes the highest standard or professional ethics and conduct and we regret that this action is unavoidable.

GOVERNANCE - LEGAL MATTERS 

Council resolved that it will oppose the legal claim for payment of services rendered. We believe that we should provide prudent and accountable government to all our residents. Service providers who breach provisions of contracts with impunity cannot expect Council to waste the taxpayers money by paying for services which were not rendered.

GOVERNANCE - SALE OF OBSOLETE ASSETS BY PUBLIC AUCTION 

Council approved the sale of old and obsolete assets in terms of an open and transparent process. The date of the auction will soon be announced, once an auctioneer has been appointed.

GOVERNANCE - ANIMAL HOSPITAL TO BE ESTABLISHED IN LAMBERTS BAY ON ERF 168

Council has decided to establish an animal hospital in Lamberts Bay for the benefit of the greater community of the Cederberg.  Council thus resolved to rescind a 2020 decision to sell portions of Erf 168,  which has fell into disuse due to mismanagement.  Council therefore resolved i.t.o.  section 14 of the Local Government : Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003) to revoke all prior approvals and make the said property available for use as a public animal hospital facility. 

SERVICE DELIVERY MATTERS - REGIONAL LANDFILL SITE (VREDENDAL)

In the next few years, the existing Cederberg refuse disposal sites (i.e. dumpsites) will be decommissioned because they are full and, in some instances, non-compliant with environmental laws.  A feasible and economic solution being introduced is the establishment of a regional dumpsite which will be shared by various municipalities.  Such a site is being built in Vredendal and will be completed by November 2024 in partnership with the West Coast District Municipality, and the Matzikama municipality.

SERVICE DELIVERY MATTERS - RENTING OF MUNICIPAL OFFICE SPACE

Council approved that the administration enter into a lease agreement for the rental of municipal office space in Clanwilliam Main Street and 1 Plein Street Clanwilliam. This will allow better access to residents when enquiring about accounts and making payments.

SERVICE DELIVERY MATTERS - REVISION EVENTS POLICY AND EVENTS BY-LAW

A few minor amendments were made to the existing events policy approved by council.  A new Events by-law is also introduced to promote regulation of events within Cederberg Municipal area. This is one of several initiatives introduced to stimulate the local economy.

CONCLUSION

The council agenda of 31 January 2024 contained a total of 14 items (9 items for discussion and decision-making, 2 urgent matters tabled by the MM as well as 3 confidential In-Committee matters for consideration.  Furthermore, the Department of Water and Sanitation delivered a presentation directly to council, updating us on the Raising of the Clanwilliam Dam Wall project. 

With this open report back to residents of Cederberg, as indicated above, I hope your feel informed about the outcomes of the council meeting.  

I am excited about the future and am grateful for the commitment and positive energy we are enjoying from our administration.  Let’s continue to holds hands as we rebuild the Cederberg to become the best performing municipality in South Africa.  It is possible.

Blessings

Executive Mayor

Dr Ruben Richards

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