Council must learn to be lean

I MUST support Kevin Smallwood, Greg Botha and Terry Cawood in their comments on current municipal tariffs, and perhaps it might be well to review and add to their observations.

In addition to power and water tariff increases and a new totally unjustifiable sewerage availability charge (plus VAT), the homeowners of PE are shortly to be smacked with a massive rates increase.

Property valuations have been upped by between 20% and 130%, and on top of this the actual rate in the rand is to be increased by about 10% from July – a double whammy!

Our so-called brilliant constitution provides no protection against such abuse, confining itself to limits on the tariff rate only, and specifically disallowing any class action on these matters.

And all of this while power theft is still rampant – just drive around the perimeter of any settlement.

Water waste remains high and we have no feedback on steps that have been taken or planned to reduce unnecessary employment costs and other waste.

As usual, “authorities” (they used to be civil servants) lack the imagination to do anything but take the easy route of stealing from those who are committed to paying their way for a properly managed city. Has anyone ever experienced a reduction in these theft levels when circumstances change?

But maybe the council needs the kind of change in direction that only non-politicians can bring. Empire-building is the career path of the weak while the strong prefer a lean, effective machine.

At the same time, one must agree with Alan Wilson to give the new council a chance.

We perceive or like to believe that what we have now is better than before, but the coalition hasn’t had enough time to get organised while disruptive forces have been at work.

It’s obvious some partners have not yet learned to work with others to serve the people rather than themselves.

And that’s the problem with the perversion that passes for democracy today, where the elected are not accountable to the electorate and egos or trough position are so important to many.

But good luck to the new team – and may they learn to become lean.

Valdy Jensen, Port Elizabeth