Mossel Bay grave site costs soar by 500%

“The notion that the mayor does not have support is simply untrue.

“There are many who now support her after the court case because many saw what was really going on,” a source said.

Councillor Marian Nieuwoudt, one of the senior councillors, submitted a motion on behalf of the DA for the motion.

Niewoudt’s request was supported by Kraaifontein councillor Brenda Hansen.

“A crucial test of any leader is the confidence their followers have in their leadership. No person can lead an institution without the support of its membership.

“Ms De Lille over the past year has been mired in controversy.

“This coupled with various instances of intimidating, belittling, condescending, demeaning, intolerant and unbecoming behaviour towards fellow councillors and other officials is a clear testament of her weak leadership.”

There is however confusion around the De Lille-motion, as it needs to be discussed and voted on in the DA’s caucus before going to council.

De Lille would not be drawn on the motion.

“I will not be providing any comment at this stage. I will wait for the DA Caucus meeting on Monday,” she said.

JP Smith, deputy DA caucus leader did not reply to messages sent to him.

The DA’s caucus is set to go ahead today . MUNICIPAL grave sites in Mossel Bay now cost 500% more - increasing from R873 to R5 278 in a bid to cover the costs of a new cemetery.

With no comments received on its annual budget and municipal tariff increases for 2019/2020 financial year, the municipality went ahead with the increases.

Colin Puren, spokesperson for the Mossel Bay Municipality, said it had hoped a private entrepreneur would build a crematorium at the new cemetery.

“We hoped there would be a crematorium, given the drastic increases of grave site costs from July 1.

“These had to increase substantially to cover the capital costs to develop the grave sites. The increased costs are a representation of the actual costs the municipality has to cough up to make the grave sites available,” he said.

Puren said the increases took effect from July 1. “These costs refer to grave sites that were pre-booked and paid for.

“As with all tariffs, grave site tariffs are adjusted every year,” he said.

But Puren said for indigent consumers, there was only a marginal increase. “The gravesite cost for one person who is a registered indigent customer goes up to R249. It previously cost R237.

“The 2018/19 budget was for several months open for public participation at libraries and the municipal offices, but the municipality received no comments, and soon thereafter it was accepted by the council,” he said.