Mayor goes on the record for NRA

Madam – We refer to the “Mayor’s replies to ratepayers’ associations many questions” published in the Advertiser of 19 September 2014.

This Association has never critisised developmental projects and wish to applaud Council for approving a budget that provides for a wide variety of developmental projects but we are concerned about the manner in which the various projects have been managed and invariably at costs much higher than the amount originally approved.

The Draper street, Asiphephe Bridge and the Phelindaba Swimming Pool are only three of such projects. We agree with the Mayor that planning a project and the eventual execution thereof are completely two different issues.

Nowhere in Council documentation could we find any questions or instructions to investigate excess expenditure that have been incurred. The fact that in numerous cases contractors are replaced is, so it appears, of no concern regardless of the cost implications, because the execution thereof is left in the hands of consultants.

There are, however, exceptions like inter alia the Asiphephe Drive development in respect of which the Association commended Council together with a proposal, which in all probability never reached the desk of Exco.

The statement that the administration has trimmed expenses is not entirely correct as the operational budgets from 2012/2013 to 2014/2015 has increased by more than R475- million but what is even more alarming is that it is anticipated to spend only R76-million of the budgeted amount of R95-million on repairs and maintenance.

Because we are part and parcel of this town we will continue to raise concerns where justified, knowing that we are doing it in the interest of the people of Newcastle who eventually will have to foot the bill, thereby fulfilling our responsibility enshrined in the Systems Act. The Newcastle Ratepayers’ Association is therefore a role player and definitely NOT sitting on the side line.

In conclusion, we wish to thank the Mayor for reacting to our letter. This is possibly the only route remaining for us, raising our concerns through the newspaper because with one or two exceptions, his administration for which he has a lot of praise is not responding to our letters thereby blatantly ignoring it’s legal responsibility. We should possibly look into the option of bringing this to the notice of the new Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Thank you.

Newcastle Ratepayers’ Association.

Response from Mayor, Afzul Rehman:

The very reason I stopped engaging the Ratepayers Association, and it is on record, is that EVERYTIME I met them, they issued a press statement before we even engaged.

It proved beyond doubt that they were a handful of people more interested in grabbing headlines than actually resolving issues. I also stopped because of the blatant hypocrisy. They were part of previous governments, who made more mistakes, one of them passing a holding budget that caused reparable damage to the finances of this city, and today they want to advise us?

They also don’t seem to have a clear grasp of English. Trimming expenses does not necessarily mean the budget is reduced, if it were, we may as well pass a holding budget! It means we cut unnecessary expenses. NO extra monies were needed for completion of Draper Street, should we have an investigation into why that’s the case?

The projected expenditure of repairs and maintenance is quite early, seeing that we have still nine months left of the current year.

I think it’s best you refer ALL letters to the newly appointed minister, as we will not be giving the association any special preference in responding to its almost 10 letters a week!!