Councillor sets the record straight
He believes that it is impossible to maintain any form of service delivery funded only from rates.
Misconceptions regarding the duties and responsibilities of ward councillor, André Beetge, have left him at his wit’s end. He hopes to set the record straight in this regard.
“The expectations of public representatives increase against the backdrop of misconception to what a councillor’s obligations are and the jurisdiction to which the office extends. Further speculation would have it that each ward is autonomous, receives its budget, that resources are at the command of the individual and that officials are subject to the political elect who can, in turn, command them at will as opposed to the reality of mere request. The fact being that each ward is only one of 110 that make up the Metro which has one collective budget, purchases of goods and assets as well as appointments of some 27 000 employees, are all done through centralised structures that account for the entire city, not one lone standing ward. Rates are not spent only on those who contribute or the areas where it’s collected, as indeed only approximately 9.8 per cent contribute to sustaining the needs of 100 per cent.”
He believes that it is impossible to maintain any form of service delivery funded only from rates, as the municipality requires service fees, profits on bulk services as well as its equitable share of the provincial and national fiscal to remain operational.
“It is also no secret that the formation of metros has been the salvation of many a municipality that would just not have been able to cope under the demands of constitutional democracy. Councillors are not employees of the municipality, but are indeed representatives of the public and the interests of those who have elected them but, contrary to popular belief, they are not issued with a crystal ball to inform them of every issue as it occurs, magic wand to make problems disappear or a bag of tricks that yields all the answers.”
ALSO READ: Councillor sheds light on City’s financial strain
“Over a decade’s experience has further taught that it is impossible to meet in every individual’s expectation, for as much as one might attempt to maintain the scales of balance, someone will inevitably be unhappy or unsatisfied with the outcome. What people however tend to forget is that councillors are residents and part of the same community, so when the lights go off, so do theirs. Complaining is the easy part, waiting for the government to do something is the agitating part, rolling up your sleeves and contributing to making a positive difference, that is the hardest (yet most fulfilling) part.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram– why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
