Getting the basics right

All Grahamstown residents are welcome to attend our Annual General Meeting at 6pm on Wednesday 29 March 2017 at the City Hall.

Doors will open at 5.30pm and young local musicians will be playing to you as you arrive before 6pm.

The ‘Business of the meeting’ will be a brief report back on our activities, finances and elections. We then have two guest speakers; • Nicci Hayes, Principal at Nombulelo High School • Tony Lankester, CEO National Arts Festival

The business part of the meeting will finish at 6.50pm when the guest speakers will present their perspectives and take questions until 7.50pm. If transport is an issue, you can contact us (SMS or ring 076 289 5122) and we will look at arranging transport for you.

Holding thumbs

Last week Makana Finance Department held a meeting with local real estate agents, arranged by Richard Gaybba. If you’ve had problems with your billing you can probably imagine the havoc and unnecessary cost it can cause everyone involved in buying and selling property if transactions are delayed.

The first positive outcome is that such a meeting has taken place. It was a constructive and problem-solving session, with the Chief Finance Officer, Nontobeko Siwahla, listening to serious and legitimate complaints raised by estate agents and lawyers.

The four main reasons given for the problems are indicative of the problems you may also being experiencing. • Teething issues with the new billing system procedures; • Skills, commitment and responsibility of meter readers; • Finance staff re-organisation (so there is individual responsibility for particular aspects of work); • Need for other departments to raise their game and respond to Finance Department requirements.

It was clear from listening to the CFO and her staff that they are addressing known