INDABA | WEDNESDAY 28 AUGUST 2013
NEWS
3
Ratepayers declare dispute against Metro LIZEKA TANDWA
MORE than a thousand Nelson Mandela Bay
residents have already signed a letter of dispute against the municipality. This is part of a campaign initiated by the local Rate-Payers Association as part of their action plan against what they call the mismanagement of the city by political heads. Nelson Mandela Bay Rate-Payers’ Association Chairperson, Kobus Gerber, said they have had a great response from many businesses and community members for their campaign to ensure a better Metro. “There has been a lot of instability in the past few years and we have had enough of political interference with the day-to-day running of the Bay. We, as rate payers, have now decided to issue a petition of demands to the MEC of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, to manage the current state of the city.” The letters of dispute were initiated on August 9 and will be handed to the Municipality (NMBM) tomorrow (Thursday, August 29). The
letter will also be handed to Qoboshiyane and the Minister of Local Government, Derek Hanekom. Gerber said they would deliver the dispute documents to the NMBM to warn them of a legal dispute action resulting in a “withholding of rates” by ratepayers, followed by a wellstructured document to Qoboshiyane for a 14 day response to dissolve the council. “If the MEC fails to agree to our demands we will go to Hanekom and national government whereupon we will start withholding rates.” According to Gerber, they took this action after the political interference which led to the re-signation of the Municipal Manager, Lindiwe Msengane-Ndlela. Gerber said the Ratepayers’ Association has had countless meetings with the metro’s municipal role-players and Qoboshiyane on the state of the metro but little has been done to solve any of the disputes. “We have had enough of the dysfunction of the Metro and the empty promises we have been subjected to as rate payers. The response generated by our petition, by both business leaders and the public, is a sign that the people
of this city are tired and enraged by the leadership of the Metro and want immediate action to be taken by the province,” said Gerber. Started 3 years ago, the Rate-Payers’ Association decided the time was right for ratepayers and citizens to show who is the “boss” of their finances. “We are a voluntary committee who have spent thousands from our own pockets and hundreds of hours because of our frustration, concern and the general public outcry on the mismanagement, corruption and political infighting which has led to the crippling condition of the city finances,” Gerber said. In response Qoboshiyane said that he was aware of the Rate-Payers’ Association’s campaign and that he had already sent his team of delegates to the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber offices to meet the Association,with regard to their demands on Monday morning. Qoboshiyane said he would take the letters of dispute into consideration and meet the ministry of Local Government, to discuss further actions to be taken.“We are greatly concerned by the current state of the Metro. Cities should work transparently with rate payers and municipalities have to take ratepayers into con-
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Civil Society Coalition meets with Mayoral Committee NCEBA DLADLA NELSON Mandela Bay Municipality Mayoral Committee would continue to meet interested parties and members of civil society to discuss issues of development, prosperity and sustainability, said Communications Director Roland Williams last Friday. Williams, who is also the Mayoral Spokesperson, said Executive Mayor Benson Fihla and his Mayoral Committee resolved in the spirit of transparency and accountability to meet those interested in a positive engagement with the municipal authorities to help build better communities. In a successful meeting the Deputy Executive Mayor Chippa Ngcolomba-led Mayoral
Committee had with the Civil Society Coalition last Tuesday, Williams said pertinent issues were raised and clarity was needed on some issues. In that meetingt the Civil Society was represented by officials from the South African Non-Governmental Organisation Coalition (SANGOCO), the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC), members of the Religious fraternity and the NMB Ratepayers Association. “We found the session very encouraging and we look forward to cooperating with the municipality in terms of implementation, so that we jointly develop the city. The session also proves that each component of civil society is valued by the municipality, and we fully appreciate such engagement sessions,” said
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sideration when it comes to spending. We are working towards resolving the instability in the NMB,” said Qoboshiyane. Alarmed by the ratepayers’ threat to withhold rates, Qoboshiyane promised that they would appoint a competent Municipal Manager and recruit the managers needed by the Metro’s administration by no later than the end of September. “The matter of withholding rates by the public would create more instability to an already unstable city. We advise against this action and ask that the public allow us to resolve the problems,” said Qoboshiyane. Owing to PE Express going to print on Monday, details of the meeting between the MEC’s task team and the Rate-Payers’ Association could not be obtained before going to print. Gerber said they were aware of the meeting with Qoboshiyane. He said public meetings would be held at a later date yet to be announced. For more information and the letter of dispute which is available for all NMB citizens to sign and download, visit the Rate-Payers’ Association website at www.nmbratepayers.co.za
SANGOCO Secretary, Mongameli Peter. Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO, Kevin Hustler, also thought the meeting was very “progressive”. Pastor Neville Goldman too described the session as “productive, proactive and held in the true spirit of cooperation, where we have agreed as civil society and the municipality to work together for the success of Nelson Mandela Bay.” Deputy Executive Mayor Ngcolomba.said that they would continue engaging with the Civil Society Coalition and all other stakeholders and members of the community. “We are encouraged by the spirit of cooperation and collaboration to position Nelson Mandela Bay as a world class city of opportunity and development.” Williams said a follow-up meeting will be held next week.
REPORTER THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has issued a statement saying that while they are working on resolving a labour dispute that led to the temporary closure of all municipal libraries, the public can still renew their books by sending and e-mail bookrenewals@mandelamdetro.gov.za. The information required to effect a renewal is: . borrower’s name . card number . number of books to be renewed
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