Muni holds virtual council meeting, budget passed

On Tuesday 25 August, the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality held a virtual special council meeting, due to lockdown regulations preventing gatherings of more than 50 people.

“We remain tasked to utilise the technological route,” read a statement by the office of Mayor Deon de Vos. Municipal spokesperson, Edwardine Abader, said items tabled before the Council included the IDP and Budget Process plan, Fourth Quarter and Draft Annual Performance Report 2019/2020, and the Service Delivery and the Budget Implementation Plan 2020/2021. Abader also said that exemption from provisions of the Municipal Finance Management was given for the Annual Financial Statements for 2019/2020, Annual Performance Management Report 2019/2020 (predetermined objectives) , and

The Draft Annual Report 2019/2020. The Draft Annual Report 2019/2020, dated 5 August 2020, was to be submitted to the Auditor General’s Office by the 31 October 2020.

According to Abader, all proposals were adopted by council. Readers will remember that over 3 600 residents of Graaff-Reinet and surrounds signed a petition against tariff and municipal salary increases implemented by the municipality.

“During these uncertain times, the Covid-19 virus has presented many challenges to the operations and processes within the Municipality,” their statement added. “Strategic planning and budgetary processes have to move into unfamiliar territory”. De Vos said communities must actively participate in all municipal processes “to ensure that [they] as a municipality uphold the national priority of improving the quality of lives for all [their] people.”