A hastily convened meeting to discuss and receive feedback from the public about the proposed West Rand Metro did not take place.
The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) did not even attend the meeting which was scheduled for 3 June at 3pm and there was no sign of the Mogale City Mayor or any other party politician from the ruling party.
The meeting was called off to the disgust of the approximately 150 people who attended.
The following questions were prepared by Democratic Alliance caucus leader of the West Rand District Municipality, Councillor Dennis Pretorius and they now remain unanswered:
1. Why was this meeting called without sufficient public notice and without adequate time to provide comments?
2. What were the technical reasons given by the MDB for refusing the previous request by the West Rand to form a Category A Municipality (Metro)?
3. What has changed in respect of the technical reasons that has now caused the MDB to reconsider the request and change their previous decision? Is it only because the Minister Gordhan (and Lithuli House) dictated that the matter be reconsidered?
Related article: No show for public participation videos
4. Since the previous decision in 2010 to apply for Metro, what has the constituent municipalities done to prepare for a Metro? Have any shared services projects been undertaken? Has a study been done to determine the staff component of a new municipality and has a study been done to normalise rates and tariff policies?
5.The answer to the previous question must clearly be nothing. What is being planned to ensure that what the current regime failed to do in five years they will now manage to do in the next 12 months.
6. Has anybody developed a feasibility study to determine the staff structure and deployment of resources and how the Category A Municipality (Metro) will balance its budget without increasing tariffs and rates?
Pretorius commented that if the current regime is unable to even plan a public participation meeting, how would it plan a large Metro structure?
Want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us an SMS/ WhatsApp message with your name and cellphone number to 079 435 3799.
Familiarise yourself with our WhatsApp service disclaimer.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites Randfontein Herald, Roodepoort Record and Get It Joburg West Magazine
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
