Finances are focus of new council

THE leadership of the new Dr Beyers Naude Municipality is on a fact-finding mission to get to the root cause of its financial woes inherited from the newly merged municipalities.

While the municipality prides itself on economic drivers such as the mohair industry, the majority of its residents are poor.

The ANC-led municipality, a merger of the Ikwezi, Baviaans and Camdeboo municipalities, was officially formed after the August 3 elections.

Beyers Naude covers Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen, Nieu-Bethesda, Jansenville, Rietbron, Willowmore, Steytlerville, Klipplaat and Waterford.

Geographically it is one of the biggest municipalities in the country.

New mayor Deon De Vos said he had noticed, during the amalgamation process, that residents were not paying for services and the municipalities owed millions of rands to service providers.

“We need to find the root cause of this problem.”

He said once they had a clear picture of what was needed, they would turn to the provincial government for help.

Acting municipal manager Noel Pietersen said the three municipalities owed a combined R60-million.

“We have money to pay creditors for this month and in September,” he said.

“We are also waiting for the transitional grant from the government. That will be used to pay some of the creditors.”

De Vos said he had also met with the municipal unions.

Last year, Baviaans municipal workers brought service delivery to a halt, protesting over pay parities, while Ikwezi struggled to pay workers’ salaries.

DA caucus leader Samantha Jankovich said she hoped they would work well as councillors.

“We are used to working as a joint government like we did in Camdeboo, but the mayor’s speech was a bit divisive.

“We need to be a unified council and not be antagonistic,” Jankovich said.

Graaff-Reinet Residents’ Association chairwoman Liz Buisman said: “We want transparency, honesty and that the law must be followed all the time.”

SA Municipal Workers’ Union deputy chairman, Gerhard Davids, said: “We are happy with the mayor’s commitment to solve labour issues.”