Lack of accountability irks BRA

Addressing the February meeting of the Bluff Ratepayers Association (BRA) chairman, Ivor Aylward, expressed outrage at the lack of accountability by those who claimed to represent Bluff civic interests.

The outcome of the meeting is as follows:

• Despite challenging Sodurba at the January meeting of BRA to provide feedback on the economic benefits the Bluff had derived from the whale watching deck in Finnemore Place, no response had been forthcoming. Aylward said the BRA would continue to badger Sodurba for that information, failing which it would recommend the withdrawal of the world whale watching accreditation from the Bluff.

• The BRA had reason to believe that the CLO posts (community liaison officer) were being abused in that individuals were being assigned to more than one CLO appointment. Multiple appointments were illegal and constituted corruption, Aylward said in calling for transparency and accountability.

• Similarly, the BRA required transparency and accountability regarding the ward committee. Since its members each received monthly allowances of R1 000 of ratepayers money, it should be public information as to their identity and their portfolio designations. In striving for a better Bluff, the contact details of these members should be available.

• Aylward criticised the South Durban Area Based Management Office for failing to invite BRA representatives to meetings concerning the Bluff. He found it unacceptable that although such meetings concerned stakeholders, the BRA’s status as an historic stakeholder was neglected.

• Aylward gave notice that he would be re-erecting the plaque in memorial of Elaine Thomas who was tragically killed by a reckless truck driver in Bluff Road on 9 August 2008. The trucking issue on the Bluff remained hazardous as a result of lack of enforcement. With regard to port congestion and truck traffic spilling over onto Bluff roads, it was pointed out that that was the consequence of a wages dispute among crane operators who then expressed their dissatisfaction by reducing productivity.

• Criticism of the lack of enforcement of by-laws was also voiced by Dev Naidoo of Marathon Road and Jason Johnson. Naidoo related a series of enforcement issues from town planning and trucking to anti-social conduct all of which he had emailed to councillor JP Prinsloo for attention.

• The absence of orange bags for paper, plastic and cardboard had resulted in a 30 per cent increase in the amount of refuse removal DSW was handling on a weekly basis. The BRA questioned the silence of the environmental lobby in this regard.

• The meeting concluded with a resolution calling for a public meeting at which the councillor, ward committee,war room and Sodurba could account for issues of concern.

The next BRA meeting takes place on Thursday, 26 March.