‘Don’t get involved’ - Memory

The first council meeting of the year at the Garden Route District Municipality started on a light note last Friday with colleagues joking around, Speaker Barnie Groenewald addressing Council in Xhosa and several attempts to rig a faulty video presentation of an American preacher.

On a more serious note Mayor Memory Booysen asked councillors during his address to refrain from getting involved with matters at the B-municipalities.

"There are various things we read in the papers and on social media that are happening, especially with the B-municipalities in our district. Our prayers are with our colleagues and we pray at the same time that whatever we see and whatever we read, we as Garden Route Municipal councillors should not get involved if you are not privy to some of the issues that we read on social media. We also say at the same time that whatever is happening, let the law take its course."

Booysen was applauded for his speech, but got some flack from the ANC and

PBI during their reply to his address, for laying the blame of a missed investment opportunity at the door of opposition parties at an Integrated Development Planning Representative Forum held by the district municipality last Thursday.

ANC Councillor Piet van der

Hoven said it is unfortunate that the mayor utilised a public space to nail the opposition for jeopardising the Calitzdorp Spa investment contract of R500-million.

"Speaker, the mayor needs to blame himself. We as opposition play an oversight role, what we say is not law. You must take responsibility. The investment would not have come off in any case."

From the agenda: Council approved a request from Kannaland Municipality for support and technical assistance relating to internal audit and risk management. Kannaland has been experiencing severe challenges, which has a negative impact on its financial governance.

We also say at the same time that whatever is happening, let the law take its course.