Dear Editor
During a visit to the Cederberg Municipality on 7 July, it emerged that almost R50 million to the fishing community in Elands Bay Fishing Corridor has been mismanaged, and there is no clear indication as to where the funds have been used. As Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Local Government at the Western Cape Provincial Legislature I have repeatedly requested the Municipal Manager to provide a report of the development, but despite commitments by the former Municipal Manager I have yet to receive anything.
Another shocking revelation during the visit in Cederberg, was that the former Municipal Manager borrowed money on behalf of Cederberg Municipality to pay out a settlement amount of R1.8 million to himself. This settlement was paid out despite the Municipal Manager’s mismanagement of the municipalities funds while at the helm, and without approval of the council.
The ANC-run Cederberg Municipality is in a sad state of affairs, in some areas more than one household is connected to a single electricity meter box in the settlement, and people does not receive their 50kw of free basic electricity. Wherever the DA governs we always deliver 50kw free electricity to all indigent residents as per the minimum national standard. Some of our municipalities offer more than that. The Theewaterskloof Municipality for example, offers 70kw free electricity.
Corruption and the mismanagement of funds seems to be the norm where the ANC governs, they put themselves first and the people last. In the municipality with the highest poverty rate in the Western Cape according to Stats SA, the poor governance leads to lack of service delivery and lack of opportunities.
The DA intends to turn around the mismanagement by the ANC in Cederberg after 3 August, and provide the people with a responsive government that takes its people seriously.
Regards
Masizole Mnqasela MPP
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Local Government
DA Constituency Head: Overstrand
