Tough going in Kouga
Van Lingen lists challenges facing municipality in ‘100 days’ mayoral review
KOUGA mayor Elza van Lingen’s first 100 days in office were a rude awakening to the number of challenges besieging the municipality. Her promises to improve service delivery, upgrade the beachfront in time for the summer season and fix the crumbling roads have proved to be a nightmare.
“In the eyes of the public, potholes must be repaired, sewerage spills should be prevented and water and electricity supply should be guaranteed,” she said in her ‘100 days’ progress report.
“On the inside of the administration, we have to deliver [based] on the functions and financial viability of the municipality.
“This is where a lot of hard work has gone in, but it is unfortunately not so visible to the public.”
Van Lingen said one of the biggest headaches which directly affected the municipality’s ability to deliver services was that there were only eight municipal vehicles in working condition out of a fleet of 220.
Of these, 72 had to be written off. The vehicles that could be repaired, had been repaired.
“The municipality has hired vehicles to ensure that the refuse removal and sewer services will be delivered smoothly,” she said.
The upgrading of Dolphin Beach in Jeffreys Bay was complete, with Van Lingen saying the town was ready for the influx of holidaymakers.
“Dolphin Beach got a facelift with five new wooden huts to sell the shell crafts,” she said.
“The lifesaver’s tower was completed and painted, and the ablution facilities were upgraded.
“This all contributed to the 12th year of Blue Flag status for Dolphin Beach.”
Another achievement was signing agreements with various civic organisations.
“The long outstanding memorandum [of agreement] between Kouga and the Kromme Joint River Committee [KRJC] was signed,” she said.
“This will allow the KJRC to manage the Kromme River on behalf of the Kouga Municipality.”
The MoA between Kouga and St Francis Property Owners was also signed.
This will allow them to manage the repairs of the rock revetments along the beach and spit/dune.
Van Lingen said houses were being built in Kruisfontein and Pellsrus.
The Donkerhoek informal settlement was surveyed and services would be installed there.
She said they were disappointed that the provincial Department of Roads and Public Works had redirected R10-million meant for road maintenance in Kouga to other municipalities.
“This left us with major arterial streets like Da Gama and St Francis in Jeffreys Bay not being maintained,” Van Lingen said.
“We had to intervene and repair the potholes and paint the lines in these streets because it is our image at stake.”
But provincial roads and public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile has denied Van Lingen’s claim.
“The department budgeted for maintenance of our roads in Kouga. They must stop giving false information to the media.
“Just eight months ago we repaired Da Gama Road with a R1.5-million budget,” Zuzile said.
Kouga ANC caucus leader Malibongwe Dayimani could not comment yesterday, saying they have not seen Van Lingen’s report.