LOUIS TRICHARDT – The Democratic Alliance this week accused ANC councillors of meddling in the administrative affairs of Council and thus causing unnecessary chaos.

According to the local DA chairperson, Marie Helm, the Makhado Municipality is experiencing an administrative meltdown, due to the interference of ANC councillors in the administration. This is now resulting in chaos, which is seriously affecting Council's ability to deliver services to communities.

The statement follows an official announcement by the Makhado Municipality about the repeated postponement of its scheduled Executive Committee meeting, with a resultant serious delay in a series of official business.

The municipality gave notice that the sixty fifth meeting of the Executive Committee of the Makhado Municipality, which was scheduled for September 3, then postponed to September 10, is now postponed to Tuesday, September 17.

"The DA wishes to express grave concern about this chaos and administrative meltdown. It is unclear how a Council can deliver services effectively to communities, if the Executive Committee and therefore the Council fail to function.

"The DA warned on various occasions that the illegal interference of ANC councillors in the administration would result in chaos."

The statement refers to a resolution by Council in April this year, regarding a new decision making process. According to this new process the Heads of Departments will generate reports and submit them to the Office of the Municipal Manager, who must then forward them to the relevant Portfolio Subcommittee. Portfolio Councillors shall then submit the reports to the Executive Committee, which can consider it, if the Mayor so wishes, for a recommendation to Council.

The DA says the Portfolio Subcommittees have been restructured again and again by one person, and are still not functioning. This resulted in an undemocratic and chaotic situation.

The DA says it warned that this irregular procedure allowed Portfolio Committees to sabotage the free flow of information to Council, thus preventing Council from taking informed decisions. "Also, the mayor, in his drive for ultimate power, decided that all items to Council must first be approved by him, resulting in further interference and delay.

"The constant undue interference of ANC councillors in the administrative process is responsible for this increased administrative chaos, which will inhibit service delivery, cause financial mismanagement and promote corruption."

The DA also referred to what it termed "the illegal takeover" of the administrative function during Council proceedings by the ANC whip. It says this takeover continue to cause problems. During the Council meeting on August 8, Councillors from the floor had to inform the ANC whip that he doesn't follow the agenda correctly. Total chaos reigned during the meeting, which took place on August 27. The Municipal Manager tried in vain to convince Council of the correct procedures.