MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) - When Council meetings are just postponed until further notice, the question arises whether the Makhado Municipality actually needs a Council.

The Council meeting which had been scheduled for July 29 was postponed until further notice. The notice of postponement was dated July 28.

“Administrative chaos and the seeming inability to keep to the most basic of schedules are some of the first signs that a meltdown can be expected. It seems that the only conclusion might be a serious lack of leadership and management skills in this municipality,” reads a media statement of the Democratic Alliance, dated September 13.

According to the statement, only a few Council meetings were held in 2004, for example one on April 29 and one on May 31. The Budget necessitated two special council meetings in May. The meeting scheduled for July 29 has still not taken place.

“It seems clear that council meetings are regarded as little more than social gatherings which can be postponed indefinitely without much consequence,” states the DA.

“With so few Council meetings, do we need a council? Why not rather stop the pretense and save the municipality money?”

According to the provisions in the Constitution, Section 151(2), the executive and legislative authority of a municipality is vested in its municipal council. Ms Marie Helm, Democratic Alliance Councillor says that it seems clear that the municipality is not able to implement even the most basic of the constitutional or other provisions to establish and develop true democratic government structures.

“A select few are taking all the decisions - this is surely a danger sign to all who love democracy and freedom?” Helm says, and calls the governing style of the Makhado Municipality a seemingly “post-colonial dictatorship”.

The statement reads that it seems that administrative chaos with Council and Executive Committee meetings constantly being postponed, limitless corruption in the tender committee and financial mismanagement are slowly eroding any attempt to build a democratic society.

The DA stated in conclusion that the excuse of apartheid was getting rather thin after ten years of ‘democracy.’

“Unless we wake up and start taking those in government to task, the next 10 years will be remembered as the last breath of democracy and the birth of a post-colonial dictatorship, chaos, breakdown of basic services and central control. It seems that only the select few who are either friends or family of those in power or those who are able to manipulate the chaos and greedily enrich themselves, will find any benefit in this system.”

Council’s Director of Corporate Services, Mr Peter Magwala, stated last week that Council has to meet at least once every four months. He said they therefore had until the end of September to meet. Mr Magwala added that they will definitely meet before the four-month period is over.