What will the DA do for Ladysmith?

MP Alf Lees of the DA was asked: “If the DA comes into power, what can it do for the people of Ladysmith, and Ladysmith as a town?” Here is his response:

There are many issues in Ladysmith/Uthukela that would need to be tackled by a DA government;

2.1 The high levels of wasteful expenditure would be stopped forthwith;

a. There can be no justification for any councillor other than the mayor to be full-time.

b. Mayoral vehicles would be disposed of and a modest vehicle would be made available for mayoral use on official council business ONLY. The mayoral vehicle would not be used by the mayor to attend party events or by-elections the way that the ANC allows the present mayors to do.

c. There would be no bodyguards for councillors (such as Cllr Makaza and the mayor) appointed by the municipalities.

d. The municipal Toyota Fortuner NKR 44292 that is apparently used to transport Cllr Makaza, apparently including daily to and from his home some 20km outside of Ladysmith, would be disposed of.

e. There would be no security guards employed exclusively to guard the homes of select councillors such as Cllr Makaza.

2.2 Instead of wasting money as per above – as well as many other wasteful expenditure such as building fancy office blocks, building bridges that virtually no one uses, building pavements that virtually no one uses, providing street lights in Roosboom when Roosboom has no water, and many others – the DA would spend money on:

– Providing water for communities such as Roosboom, Burford and so many others in Uthukela.

– Ensuring that Eskom completes electrification projects such as Burford.

– Maintaining infrastructure such as streets, water and electrical. Ensure that newly rebuilt streets are not torn apart to repair burst pipes by ensuring that water pipes form part of street rebuilding.

2.3 Encourage industrial investors to invest by ensuring that:

a. Ladysmith is serviced by facilities such as sports club facilities.

b. Electricity security by upgrading old equipment and increasing capacity.

c. Low costs of utilities such as water and electricity.

d. Lowest possible property rates.

e. Water security by upgrading bulk water supplies.

f. Adequate and properly maintained waste/sewerage infrastructure using competent staff and contractors.

· Upgrade sewerage plants to meet the increased demands of additional consumers.

· Stop raw sewage overflows in the Poort Road and numerous other parts of Ladysmith running into the river.

· Stop raw sewage running straight through the sewerage plant in Bergville and into the Thukela river.

· Rehabilitate sewerage lines from Khethani to Winterton sewerage plant.

g. High priority crime prevention with excellent policing and police reaction.

h. Good roads with reasonable traffic calming methods.

i. Strict control of property usage and the prevention of usage for which they are not zoned such as so-called B&B’s that are used illegally for functions and illegal alcohol trading and that cause distress in the neighbourhood. Or rezoning of properties in residential areas for commercial or State use where the residents are opposed.

j. Work with employers and education department to ensure that the FET college provides relevant skills training.

2.4 Ensure staff structures are streamlined to provide the best possible services with the least number of employees.

2.5 Ensure that the municipal staff employed are competent and efficient and are not simply ANC cadres being rewarded for services to the ANC.

2.6 Ensure that municipal staff understand that they are employed to provide excellent service to all citizens and they owe their jobs to our people. Rude, inefficient behaviour will not be tolerated.

2.7 Municipal facilities throughout the municipality will be properly maintained and made available to all our people and not just to well-connected ANC councillors and cadres.

2.8 Employment of officials and EPWP workers will be done professionally by competent staff and not by councillors and other politicians. Employment will not depend on the applicant being a member of any political party, as is apparently the case at present where membership of the ANC apparently stands you a very much better chance of being employed.

2.9 Reducing excessive powers and functions currently delegated to the mayor, speaker, municipal manager and municipal management committee/officials.

2.10 Municipal management to be open and transparent, with council holding the executive and officials to account.

2.11 And much more.