Local DA-councillor Mr Jacques Smalle issued a statement on behalf of the Democratic Alliance this week in which they expressed their disappointment with what they called the “unethical” behaviour of the senior management of the Makhado Municipality, specifically that of the finance department.

“Recently, most of the ratepayers in the jurisdiction of the municipality received shocking monthly statements. As if that was not enough, they were also expected to go and fetch their additional separate rates accounts at the municipality. There are 40 000 statements on the system! My question to management is: Should we as government not supply an efficient, reliable service?” Smalle said. In last week’s edition of the Zoutpansberger, a front-page article appeared in this regard.

Smalle says the DA finds it totally unacceptable that the municipality’s management team clearly implies that a consultative effort between themselves and the ratepayers of Louis Trichardt is still ongoing, when in fact they are not showing any intention to consult.

“How do you start implementing the new valuation roll into the budget whilst knowing that the issue between the parties has not been resolved?” Smalle asked.

Smalle says that the fact of the matter is that the Makhado Municipality has only spent a mere 28% of its capital expenditure since it was approved in June 2008.

“Debt has increased close to R90 million, taken into account the mistakes on the system. We as the DA expect that all citizens should be treated equally and for those who are less privileged there is assistance in the form of government grants. Management should rather put their efforts into decreasing municipal debt, in order to provide an efficient service and thereby creating an environment of satisfied rate payers,” said Smalle. He added that there are already signs in the adjustment budget that things are not at all well.

“The DA will ask for an immediate audit into the finances of the municipality. It is clear to the DA that, due to continuous interference by the ANC leadership into the administration of the municipality, our municipality is on the verge of collapse,” said Smalle.