AbaQulusi sets the record straight

Acting Municipal Manager, Ms AB Mnikathi writes:

The Vryheid Herald reportage on their issue dated 26 February 2016 titled: “AbaQulusi Municipality a no show at water crisis meeting” is ill-advised. This article presents yet another flagrant misrepresentation of facts by the Vryheid Herald.

The Vryheid Herald reporter appears to hold a view that AbaQulusi Municipality did not attend the meeting and therefore we lost out on receiving 3.5million, another miscalculation, in fact the figure should be R3 million, on drought relief funding, is a clear indication of poor journalism.

For the record, whether the municipality attended the meeting or not, AbaQulusi municipality received R3 million for drought relief and is currently preparing a business plan the expenditure of the said funds. The reason for our Director of Technical Services, Vasan Chetty not attending the said meeting was because of work stoppage by water services workers which would have resulted in a crisis, however Mr Chetty advised the chairperson of the meeting of the situation and requested the meeting to afford him the time to deal with the situation, which was clearly understandable. For the Vryheid Herald to choose to report that AbaQulusi municipality failed to attend the meeting because Vassan Chetty was late, projecting the municipality as the most poorly managed, is regrettable.

We would like to put it on record that the water situation is no longer a municipal matter but it is a national crisis. The whole country is faced with a crisis, everybody must contribute and pull together to try and minimize the catastrophe rather than pointing fingers and cast aspersions on the municipality. The municipality would like to commend the contributions made by worthy organizations such as the Gift of the Givers and Operation Hydrate in the midst of the crisis the whole country is faced with.

Dear Ms Mnikathi

Thank you for finally engaging with the Vryheid Herald. Herald reporters regularly request comment from the municipality on various community issues, only to be ignored. We also seek clarity on technical matters, and we look forward to attending meetings ourselves so that we are in a position to obtain first-hand information, but thanks to the uneasiness of certain municipal officials, this is not always possible.

The last meeting in Ulundi is not the first incident in which AbaQulusi municipality has not pitched for a meeting. We have observed time and again, instances in which officials or councillors either arrive late or fail to arrive at all. For instance, at the previous meeting, Wandile Dlamini arrived so late the Department of Water and Sanitation representatives believed he wasn’t going to arrive at all. At the compulsory council meeting to discuss the adjustment meeting last week, it was a struggle to reach a quorum and the meeting started an hour and 15 minutes late.

We take our responsibility as the watchdog for the community very seriously and we strive to bring the community news and information that is current, relevant and impactful. I believe, despite everything, that there are still officials and councillors at the municipality who, like us, have the community’s interest at heart and want to make a positive impact in the lives of others. It is with this belief at heart, that we invite you to engage with us more regularly. Let’s get together and help each other help the community. And… if you invite us to a meeting, we promise we won’t be late.

Another article you might want to read: Abaqulusi Municipality a no show at water crisis meeting.

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