He who pays the piper…
Doug Grewar, ex-Secretary of the ARA, writes:- ABAQULUSI Local Municipality (ALM) normally operates under a cloak of secrecy keeping the people who pay their wages in the dark. For example, we do not know what the municipal workers demands are or what the ALM has done to solve them. In contravention of the Public Access …
Doug Grewar, ex-Secretary of the ARA, writes:-
ABAQULUSI Local Municipality (ALM) normally operates under a cloak of secrecy keeping the people who pay their wages in the dark. For example, we do not know what the municipal workers demands are or what the ALM has done to solve them.
In contravention of the Public Access to Information Act, the ALM has refused to supply the AbaQulusi Residents Association (ARA) with copies of all municipal contracts. It is a shame that the people of Vryheid have failed to give mass support to the AbaQulusi Residents Association that was fighting for their right against these abuses.
The ALM has now found a way by stealth to meet the requirements of the municipal law concerning the presentation of the new draft budget to the residents. They held a meeting in King Zwelithini Stadium in Bhekuzulu to present the draft budget there. Only a very small portion of the ALM’s income derives from Bhekuzulu.
Why was the meeting not held in Cecil Emmet Hall where the people from Ward 8 and 9 could attend?
Ward 8 and 9 pay over 90% of the rates collected by the ALM but are ignored by the ALM. I say by stealth because I did not see any adverts for this meeting in the Vryheid Herald. Was the AbaQulusi Residents Association invited? Why was money wasted supplying refreshments to those who attended the meeting and hiring a master of ceremonies? It is rumoured that it cost R400,000 of ratepayers money!
No doubt the intention was that people who pay very little or no rates and service charges would then be put in a good mood to vote for tariff increases that will have far more effect on those in Ward 8 and 9 who pay the lion’s share of the charges. This is not democracy, this is blatant robbery.
In AbaQulusi the old saying, “He who pays the piper calls the tune” does not work. If the council did not waste ratepayers money on such nonsense there would be no need for these hefty increases in the tariffs. Remember this when you get your increased services bill at the end of July.
