It seems more and more likely that Louis Trichardt’s ratepayers will declare a dispute with the Makhado Municipality. The ratepayers association last year demanded that action plans be presented by the municipality by January 15.

The Soutpansberg Ratepayers Association (SRPA) declared a dispute with the municipality in August last year. Included in the dispute were the aspects of water for human consumption, sewerage, roads, consultation, property rates/budget and financial and administrative management. The SRPA indicated that the municipality failed to comply with these aspects of effective service delivery and accountable government. The dispute was based on provisions in the legislation and boiled down to “a vote of no confidence in the competency and quality of administration of the Makhado Municipality”. The end result could be that rate payers will withhold rates and taxes and deposit this money into a trust account pending the outcome of the dispute.

At a meeting between the SRPA and the municipality in October last year, this worst case scenario was warded off for a short span of time. The dispute and processes were suspended until January 15 subject to certain conditions. The most crucial condition was that the Makhado Municipality presents “action plans with time frames linked to budgets” in respect of all queries and concerns raised by the SRPA.

It was emphasized that plans should be logical and result driven. As an example of illogical plans it was mentioned that it was senseless to upgrade sewerage pumps if the sewerage works is not operational.

Failure to present the appropriate plans would result, amongst others, in sanctions against Council as well as the Directors and the Municipal Manager. Empty promises were no longer to be tolerated, was the warning in a letter by the SPRA to the municipality dated October 28.

On January 12, with the date to present action plans just a few days away, municipality spokesperson, Mr Louis Bobodi said that as far as he knew the date for meeting with the SPRA had not yet been determined. He declined to supply more information regarding the dispute.

According to some sources, the municipality is expected to resort to the plans of the Kwezi V3 Engineering firm that was contained in reports on the condition of the Makhado Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) and the Albasini Water Purification Plant. These plans were presented in 2007 when the estimated cost for the WWTW was given as R3.6 million and for the water purification plant R6.6 million. However, in a recent letter by the same firm, the construction cost for the first phase of the WWTW alone is R12 million. The total preliminary cost for the upgrading and augmentation of the sewer system is estimated at R66 million.

The serious situation with the sewer system shocked the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Ms Lindiwe Hendricks, during a visit to the region in December. Residents hope that all the pressure will have the result that the necessary funding is made available.

Whether action plans pertaining to the implementation of the property rates will be forthcoming remain to be seen. No property rates were included in the statements sent to property owner during the previous two months.