Dropping the ball
Makana Municipality doesn’t seem to be any closer to getting itself out of the mess it is in. It emerged this week that the cash-strapped municipality was on the verge of a complete power shutdown after failing to keep up with payment agreements with power utility Eskom.
A total power outage would have a far reaching impact on the ailing economy of Makana, particularly for the business community and other revenue generating institutions. If claims by the DA that the municipality didn’t double check whether the municipality was under billed by Eskom are true, then it means we have a serious leadership crisis in Makana. Simple things like that cannot be allowed to merely slip through the cracks in an institution where there is a dedicated finance and legal division.
The people who have the most to lose should such blunders be allowed to continue unguarded are the residents of Makana who have placed their faith in what they assume are competent officials and trusted public representatives.
Meanwhile the unexpected postponement of the annual Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meetings left many Makana residents in the dark about the municipality’s plans after the embattled institution failed to publish a revised schedule of the meetings.
The IDPs, also known as mayoral imbizos, came to an end this week, with the last one held at the oval. The meetings were initially scheduled to run from 9 to 16 November, but they were postponed. The municipality did not, however, as required by law re-advertise a revised schedule.
Once every year, the mayor convenes the imbizos to allow different communities to raise key priority areas before the municipality adjusts its budget and reviews its IDP.
The IDP is a key strategic planning tool for the municipality, in which it is required by law to get public participation.
The key purpose of the IDP is to ensure forward planning of projects and programmes, the alignment of sector plans and the integration of projects within the municipality and other spheres of government. It is a five-year planning tool, which is revised annually.
Grahamstown-born Allister ‘Toetie’ Coetzee, 53, is a South African rugby union coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the South African national team, after being appointed in April.
Things haven’t looked good for Coetzee since assuming his position as the coach of the Springboks, however, this has seen some call for his axing with some supporters on social media going as far as burning their Springbok jerseys in protest of what they see as a quota selection.
Since taking charge of the team seven months ago Coetzee has played 12 games, won four of them and lost eight. Coetzee enjoyed a lot of success as coach of the Stormers before taking over the Springboks.
Next week Grocott’s Mail gives you the best selection of the year’s photos taken between January and November. Don’t forget to grab a copy of the paper to see some of the best photos taken in and around Grahamstown by our team.