Officials fail to turn up for meeting
THE department supposed to ensure quality service delivery in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) was named the worst performing for the quarter ending March in a special council meeting last week.
The basic service delivery and infrastructure development department comprises four sub-departments – technical services, community services, human settlements and land development.
The performance report revealed the basic service delivery department only achieved six of its 22 targets.
EFF councillor Luthando Amos said the under-performance of the department revealed the municipality's failure to provide services to towns under its jurisdiction and said it was visible in Komani.
Former mayor Lindiwe Gunuza-Nkwentsha told council the report must be looked at closely before the heads of departments which under-performed were scrutinised.
“It could be that one department could not complete all their targets due to another department that failed to do what is was supposed to. The departments are inter-linked. Some tasks need one department to complete its work so that the other can do its job.”
EMLM mayor Sisisi Tolashe said each councillor would have an opportunity to scrutinise the report and come up with ways to assist in improved service delivery.
“This report will also go to the public through the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) so that communities can have input in what must be done to improve towns under EMLM, and highlight concerns.”
Chris de Wet of the DA inquired about an IDP meeting which was to take place last week, but the mayor and other municipal officials did not show up.
“An amount of R8000 was spent to advertise an IDP and the town hall was full of people, but none of you were there. You speak about how the municipality does not have money yet it is wasted unnecessarily.
“No one bothered to inform the people that the meeting was postponed.”
Tolashe offered sincere apologies to the public and councillors and said she had planned to attend but more pressing issues like the pending power interruptions had prevented her.