Council debates adjustments to project budgets

Changes relate to pump station, road upgrades

While the metro councils west and east of the Sunshine Coast have been in the news for coming to blows, the Ndlambe Council has a reputation for civil and constructive engagement.

Speaker Andile Marasi made this point at the start of a special council meeting on Tuesday February 27. He also apologised unreservedly, taking “full responsibility” for failing to include a councillor’s question in the agenda. But it didn’t stop both the EFF and the DA from immediately calling him out for what they said was disrespect for the opposition.

With special visitor, EFF MP Paulnita Marais, observing in the gallery, councillor Xolisa Runeli was measured as he criticised Marasi for failing to include questions about Port Alfred’s water crisis. At the time, several areas had been without water for varying periods.

There were also concerns about the water quality.

In local government language, any member of the council “may submit a question requiring a written reply from any political office bearer, the municipal manager or senior manager of the municipality, concerning any matter related to the effective performance of the functions of the municipality and the exercise of its powers”.

A written notice of such a question has to be submitted to the speaker and municipal manager at least 10 days before the meeting.

“The municipal manager shall ensure that the member receive a written reply at the meeting,” according to the SA Local Government Association’s (SALGA’s) rules of order.

Runeli, supported by DA caucus leader Sikhumbuzo Venene, objected.

“I hate to agree, because both personally and politically, we are very different people,” Venene said. “But a fellow councillor has requested information from the municipality and it hasn’t been attended to. As speaker you must be fair.”

Marasi apologised and said he would organise an information-sharing meeting for councillors.

The main business of last week’s special council meeting was to table for approval the municipal infrastructure grant (MIG) adjustment budget for the 2023/20254 financial year of infrastructural development grant projects.

In the background notes to the agenda item, municipal manager Rolly Dumezweni said National Treasury had revised all the municipal allocations including to Ndlambe.

Ndlambe’s initial allocation was R30,5m and was revised by R737,000 to R29,8m.

Additionally, after the council approved the implementation plan, there had been various challenges, so the plan had to be revised.

The main challenge was that the Thornhill sewage pump station and pumping mains project was delayed because of the ground conditions where the pump station is located (it is a wetland).

It had been anticipated that this project would have been completed by the end of the financial year; because of the delays, the municipality asked that the funds intended for the sewage project be reallocated to the roads projects already registered and approved by National Treasury.

The roads projects that had already been registered and approved and were ready for implementation were the upgrading of Protea Crescent in Station Hill, and the upgrading of Mjuza Street in Marselle.

Other adjustments will see more funds made available for:

The upgrading of Zola Street, in Bathurst (from R1,5m to R2,2m);

The upgrading of the main road in Kwanonqubela, Alexandria (from R711,93 to R1,3m);

The upgrading of Xhanti Street, Bathurst (from R4,8m to R5m)

And less funds for:

The upgrading of Solomon Mahlangu Road phase two (from R2,8m to R2,4m);

The budget for the upgrading of MamityiGidana stadium remains at R10,9m.

Ward 10 councillor Nadine Haynes expressed concern that funds were being taken from the critical Wharf Street sewerage project because of fears that the municipality would not be able to spend them in time.

In response, infrastructure director Noluthando Vithi explained that their dilemma was whether to continue construction in the wetland and risk further delays or to change the plan.

“We are committed and there will be budget to complete the project,” Vithi said.

The EFF’s Mzwandile Mgweba expressed the concern that the changes to budgets were the results of poor planning, and incompetent project management.

Dumezweni responded, saying that the municipality was not “cushioning” contractors, as had been suggested by Mgweba.

“You [council] have mandated us to implement a transformational agenda. Are you now saying we must stop that and only hire the major contractors?

“We have terminated the contractors who failed. The contractor currently on site is the best in the province.”