DESPITE sewage running through Graaff-Reinet communities, insufficient water supply, and an erratic electrical grid, Beyers Naudé Local Municipality (BNLM) has reduced spending on maintenance and repairs to 1.8% of the budget.
This adjustment, along with a few other controversial decisions, was made during the BNLM meeting which was held on Thursday, February 28.
The adjustment budget increases employee costs by R17 million. The municipality overspent on employee costs by R10 million in the previous financial year.
Despite the lack of funds for maintenance and repair on sewage pumps, the BNLM adjusted salary budget is now at well over 40%.
No agreement with Eskom has been put in place to deal with the current debt of R84 million owed to the electricity provider, nor has provision been made for this in the adjustment budget.
Contrary to municipal regulations, the proposed adjustment budget was not provided to councillors prior to the meeting, but only handed out at the commencement of the meeting, leaving them with no time to properly peruse the document.
Says DA caucus leader, Samantha Graham, “I tried to table a motion of exigency to discuss the chaotic state of service delivery in our municipality.
“We wanted to get answers on the water crisis, the sewage crisis and the general lack of leadership throughout these crises, but the ANC speaker and councillors refused to allow this discussion to take place.
“We did oppose the budget, but in the end the adjustment budget was pushed through at the meeting,” Graham said.
According to Wilca Smith, BNLM Acting Spokesperson, the rules of order of council do not make provision for the motion raised by the councilor.
“It was a special council meeting that deals with specific items, but irrespective of that, the rules of order need to be adhered to. The Speaker did explain this to the councilor and the explanation was accepted,” Smith said.
At the time of going to print, BNLM did not answer questions on why the maintenance and repair budget was reduced to 1.8%.
