Mossel Bay MUNICIPALITY

To constantly improve service delivery to all communities, the Mossel Bay Municipality has introduced another first.

At the monthly municipal council meeting on Thursday, 28 July, a sign language interpreter was present for the convenience of the hearing impaired.

Here are the highlights of the meeting:

■ Cash management, investment policy

The council approved that the Cash Management and Investment Policy for the 2022/23 financial year be adjusted to not more than 50%.

Formerly, the diversification threshold was that not more than 30% may be invested with one investment institution.

The change was suggested with the Draft Budget input and it was decided in a Budget Steering Committee meeting to keep the diversification threshold at 50%.

This was suggested due to the operational restrictions that the 30% may cause for investment opportunities.

■ Closure of pedestrian access

In the interest of community safety, the Council approved a recommendation that the access lane between Geelhout Avenue and Kieriehout Street in Hartenbos Heuwels be closed.

The Da Gamaskop Community Police Forum raised the issue of closure due to a number of criminal incidents taking place in this alleyway. Alternative access is still available into the area via Waboom Street.

■ Stand-alone telecommunication tower

The council approved the construction of a stand-alone telecommunication tower at the Joint Operation Centre situated on the Mossel Bay Golf Course premises.

The tower is a necessity to make the JOC fully operational. The cost of construction is an estimated R600 000.

■ Alma Park: alienation of Erf 20739 for social upliftment only

The council accepted the recommendation, after reconsidering the need of the community, that Erf 20739 be alienated, only to be used for the construction of a formal structure with proper facilities for providing social upliftment programmes and not for group housing or a town housing development.

The alienation of Erf 20739 will take place by means of the tender process.

■ Demolishment at Seeumeeuvlug

The council granted approval to settle the current litigation in the High Court Case regarding the demolishment of the affected unsafe units on 11 erven at Seeumeeuvlug. According to the approval, this will be done at the municipality’s cost, but not exceeding the amount of R450 000 (VAT inclusive).

The building rubble will be placed at the toe of the slip to help prevent further soil movement. Should the settlement be accepted, the procurement of services will be done through the municipality’s Supply Chain Process. Should the amount of demolishment exceed R450 000, the matter will be referred to Council for reconsideration.

■ The future of Toekoms

A recommendation was approved by council to proceed with a proposed housing project on Erf 2667, 686 and 2693 Great Brak River and the further formalisation of the Toekoms Settlement.

The erven will be transferred from the Toekoms Communal Property Association to the Mossel Bay Municipality.

■ Municipal honours

During the National Nipper Lifesaving Championships, hosted in Gqberha from 21 to 23 March, Quewin Pieterse received a gold medal for the U14 beach flags event. Jonah Bush, Jordan Kannemeyer, Je-Olynne Walters and Quewin Pieterse received silver medals for the U14 beach relay.

They are deserving of the council’s commendation for their exemplary achievement.

■ Community Safety Forum

The council approved the recommendation for the establishment of a Community Safety Forum (CSF) for the Mossel Bay Municipal area. This will fall under the Directorate: Community Safety.

It was explained that CSFs have the purpose of harnessing the development of communities where residents live in safe environments and have access to high quality services at the local government level.

The Mossel Bay Municipality CSF will consist of representatives from all three spheres of governmental departments, nongovernmental organisations, communitybased organisations, and stakeholders whose primary roles and responsibilities include addressing the safety and security of the Mossel Bay Municipality.