DEAR Editor,-
I am somewhat dismayed by the statements made by DA Councillor George Henderson during and after last week’s council meeting regarding the outcomes of the Auditor-General’s report. As a member of the Hibiscus Coast Municipality Finance Portfolio Committee, Cllr Henderson had ample opportunities to discuss and deliberate the report with his fellow committee members and express whatever dissatisfaction he may have had at that time. However, instead of doing this he decided to wait until a council meeting at which the Audtor-General’s report was presented.
On top of that, he decided to turn the discussion of the report into a vicious attack on the municipality, and the municipal manager in particular, on the issue of service delivery.
The municipal manager, Max Mbili, no doubt has a tough job on his hands. To turn around a big ship such as the Hibiscus Coast Municipality takes time, but in the little time he has had at the reins, the changes are starting to be noticed. Even ratepayers’ organisations and other stakeholders have acknowledged this. There is indeed light at the end of the tunnel and he has my full support.
There is no denying that we are currently engaged in an election campaign and politicians will do their best to highlight certain issues, but in their rush to do so they may at times deliver information that is either false or incorrect.
Take for example the issue of irregular and unauthorised expenditure. These terms seem to have been misused in such a way as to give off the image that their true meaning is ‘corruption’. This could not be further from the truth. ‘Irregular’ expenditure is a violation in terms of SCM (Supply Chain Management) processes whereby rather than the required three quotations being submitted for a particular job, only one quotation is received. ‘Unauthorised’ expenditure is a violation of the processes whereby declarations of interest are not provided.
In as much as both of these are large amounts as in the report, I am confident that the municipal manager and his team will put in stricter measures to ensure that further transgressions will be prevented.
‘Budget day’ is supposed to be an occasion where all parties come together, putting their ideological differences aside and putting the community first. At last week’s council meeting this almost did not happen, as the DA, led by Cllr Dave Watson, were intent on rejecting this budget adjustment (I didn’t see that in your report), not because they disagreed with it but because it would capture media attention.
After a last-minute caucus they decided to accept the budget, but only after some serious soul-searching. No doubt had they followed through with their original intentions of rejecting the budget, it would have been a serious slap in the face of the communities they claim to represent.
As councillors we need to come together in the interests of the community, rally behind the municipal manager and assist him in achieving his ultimate goal – a clean audit. This positive attitude will serve us moving forward, for in essence, it is only if we work together that we can achieve more.
CLLR HILTON BOYLAND
