Dear Editor
We as Citizens appreciate the TPTTP programme by the NCOP for three reasons. Firstly, for the huge financial injection to the tourism sector during their visit. Secondly, for allowing Parliamentarians to experience first hand what the state of municipal services are.
Thirdly, for providing ordinary citizens direct email access to senior government officials.
As only some of the attendees could be allowed to speak it wasn’t realistic to address all the individual complaints.
It did however become clear that every ward has unique circumstances.
The history, location, population and preparation of each ward demands an individual study and fitting solution.
It was therefore suggested that a study of every ward with the help of the ward councillor be done. The past, present and future conditions of the ward must be overlaid on the geographical map of the infrastructure network.
The plan and budget for the wards should then be amalgamated in the budget. An in-depth study of the budget may include verification of all items on the current approved budget and consideration of the appropriateness of budgeted items given the current situation. Non-essential services may have to be put on hold to free up money for essential services.
Non-essential staff may have to be reallocated to essential needs areas. Training of staff and councillors may then be done to fully equip them for the task at hand.
A comprehensive and real time communication network must be established to provide management and the community access to all plans and progress of all items.
The community complaints are mostly symptoms of past management errors . UGU should focus on factual details of the causes and appropriate solutions and communicate that to the individual wards so the public also fully understand what to realistically expect. Pride, greed and politics should also be set aside to improve service delivery.
Citizens have a constitutional right to administrative action that is lawful, reasonable and fair. However that right comes with the responsibility to act lawfully. As part of the exercise, bylaws may be generated to link a consumer’s rights with certain town planning compliance requirements. For instance, a house that is built without municipality approval should have no right to demand municipal services.
The reason for that is reticulation and town planning is done by professionals to achieve maximum efficiency. Sometimes houses are built randomly in areas that are not suitable for proper and economically viable municipal services. These areas cause the majority of the problems that people complain about.
So while studying the wards for solutions, a needs analysis differentiating every dwelling can be put on record.
We need professional people from the citizenry involved in every aspect of planning and management in UGU. Such participation will create mutual trust and mutual benefits.
It is more than 27 years since public participation was written into the Constitution and other local government laws. Over the years there have been many attempts to partner with UGU. To date none of the attempts have been successful.
I quote the President “To the people of the UGU District I say, join hands with us to make local government stronger here and throughout the province”. “You hold government to account for the promises that have been made, and ensure that they are met.” “Better governance is an issue in which each of us has a stake.”
Let us hope that the doors will open, so we can give effect to the President’s wishes. – Anonymous.
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