Minister applauds ‘mature’ leadership
This week, 20 out of 25 councillors endorsed Gordhan’s proposals
THE Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs has welcomed the initiative taken by political parties of the Oudtshoorn municipality to endorse the proposed “Back to Basics Support and Good Governance Package” offered by the national and provincial departments.
In a statement released by the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department, it said Minister Pravin Gordhan appreciates the “maturity” of political leadership displayed by the political parties in rising above their political differences to find lasting solutions in the interest of the Oudtshoorn community.
“The minister and MEC will be visiting Oudtshoorn to engage with the key stakeholders and councillors to discuss the implementation of the proposed package,” it said.
This week, 20 out of 25 councillors in the Oudtshoorn municipality endorsed Gordhan’s proposed package for the municipality.
This came after Gordhan and MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell said last week that urgent intervention was required.
Controversy has continued to engulf the municipality, with ANC and DA members locked in battle for control over the council.
In a joint statement last week, Gordhan and Bredell said the decision to intervene follows the failure of the municipality to approve a budget for 2015/16; the failure to adopt a supplementary budget for 2014/15; allegations of serious financial mismanagement; and service delivery challenges.
After an unannounced visit to it earlier this year, Gordhan proposed a support and good governance package with expert assistance – which the municipality also did not adopt. The intervention would be used to address political and administrative instability; non-functional council structures; irregular appointment of service providers and procurement processes; poor communication with communities; Eskom debt and decline of the tourism industry; and racial polarisation in the municipality and communities of Oudtshoorn.
The entire DA caucus as well as seven of the 10 ANC councillors signed a letter to Gordhan and Bredell where they threw their support behind the proposed package.
The letter says the Oudtshoorn councillors are concerned about the deteriorating state of good governance, financial management and service delivery in the municipality.
“The people of Oudtshoorn have suffered for too long. It is time they get the government they deserve. We therefore call for the adoption of the Support and Good Governance Package suggested by Gordhan and Bredell,” the councillors said in a statement.
They added that their concern about the state of the municipality transcends party affiliation.
“We commit to work together to create a functional and responsive municipality. We distance ourselves unequivocally from any attempt to stop the national or the provincial government from supporting the municipality or intervening in terms of the constitution.”