It may have been the last Council meeting of the year, but there was hardly festive cheer in the Chamber last week.

A resolution was passed to ask local businesses to fund catering and the hiring of tents, generators, portable toilets and other infrastructure for traffic officers – local and provincial – and the SAPS – manning road blocks in Endumeni over the festive period.

A proposal strongly condemned by the DA’s Anthon Raubenheimer as a ‘threat to the integrity and independence of a law enforcement agency’  The IFP’s Bongiwe Mbatha said it was hard  for her party to support the resolution as the SAPS and RTI (Provincial Traffic Department) have their own budget and it is unclear as to what money was needed to fund the operation.

Acting municipal manager, T Makhoba, Corporate Services Manager, Martin Hlangani, Mayor Mahaye , Speaker Mdluli and Councillor Dlamini were all vocal in their support of the proposal which will see official letters from the Mayor’s office going out to local businesses in a bid to raise a proposed R62 000 for the ‘logistic arrangements’.

Over R85 000 has already been allocated for overtime for officers which is the norm at this time of the year.  Mayor Mahaye said it was ‘an excellent project’ as it united Endumeni with SAPS and the RTI to ensure Endumeni is a safer place for all over the festive season.

Acting municipal manager Makhoba said the thought was to work together with all law enforcement agencies and by offering more comfort to those on duty at roadblocks – through tents to protect them for the elements, portable toilets and food – this will ‘ensure that the operations continue without officers having to break for food and loo breaks’.

Mr Hlangani said the operations will continue to 2am and it was important to ensure that officers were looked after.  “We have already spoken to businesses who have indicated their willingness to support us.  They will make money deposits directly into the bank accounts of suppliers who will provide the needed logistical support.”

Speaker Mdluli said the proposal was similar to “Business Against Crime’ initiatives, “Residents are crying out against all the crime.  They want cameras in the CDB.  We need to be seen to be supporting safety and security and this is how we can combine with business to assist.”

Councillor Dlamini read out a document on PPP – private, public, partnerships – which he said this was.

“I mean, imagine we driving past a roadblock outside the testing ground where there is a banner saying ‘Proudly sponsored by Harcourts”

However, Councillor Raubenheimer was not convinced.  “Think carefully before passing this resolution.  It sends out the wrong signal.  We cannot illicit money from private businesses from whom we already tax through rates and service charges.  Our officers will be immediately compromised should a big donation be received from say a large transport company.

“I mean, imagine we driving past a roadblock outside the testing ground where there is a banner saying ‘Proudly sponsored by Harcourts’.  Do you really think those officers will give me a fine when the see my number plate – Harcourts?”

He slammed officials who ‘are incompetent and could not budget properly’, “We are not even half way through the financial year but there is not budget for this so we have to go to business and beg for money from the overburdened ratepayer  The proposal is over R9000 for sponsoring generators to be hired, We can buy a generator for less than half of that. In any case, the RTI and SAPS have that equipment.

“And catering for 40 officers at every roadblock at a cost of R5000. Yet it says on the planning two officers from Endumeni and two Dundee police members and one from Glencoe or Wasbank.  Where do the other 36 come from?”

He said roadblocks had always been held at this time of the year and ‘was nothing new’.

“Why now should these become a way of raising funds?”

It is also unclear if the local Justice Department has been informed of the planned roadblocks that will continue into the new year.  The Court will have to know in advance if there will be a flood of traffic offenders to deal with on Court mornings as Court rolls are already full and prepared a month in advance.

It is understood that the local Justice Department was not part of the joint operation planning process.  Sources told the Courier that because funds have been elicited from private business to help operate the roadblocks, the integrity of fines issued may be compromised.

Despite this, the resolution was passed.  The first  roadblock was held on Victoria Street last night and the aftermath this morning was a portable loo left in front of the municipality for every tourist and or visitor to see….