The Grahamstown Residents Association was pleasantly surprised to receive a call from the mayor’s secretary inviting the committee to meet the Mayor in his parlour – to use the perhaps old-fashioned terminology.
We were delighted to accept – nothing like this has happened before – and we decided to attend with no agenda of our own: just find out what is going on. Mayor Zamuxolo Peter is a gentleman, genial, friendly and open. He introduced us to three other councillors and two officials. Each made a short speech.
The Grahamstown Residents Association was pleasantly surprised to receive a call from the mayor’s secretary inviting the committee to meet the Mayor in his parlour – to use the perhaps old-fashioned terminology.
We were delighted to accept – nothing like this has happened before – and we decided to attend with no agenda of our own: just find out what is going on. Mayor Zamuxolo Peter is a gentleman, genial, friendly and open. He introduced us to three other councillors and two officials. Each made a short speech.
It was evident that the Mayor and Cllr Ranchhod are the driving force. Blunt and to the point, they made no attempt to hide the sins of omission of past administrations. In fact they showed anger at the mess – but they did not use that word – which they have inherited and it has become their lot to sort out. There is an atmosphere of determination we have not witnessed before.
Cllr Ranchhod mentioned the state of our tarred roads. (Don’t we know it!) He explained that sheer lack of maintenance in resurfacing from time to time has resulted in water seepage into the foundations, causing cracked roads and vicious potholes all over the place. We now have a major problem, I mean sorry, challenge. But Ranchhod is not making excuses, just furious and the matter must be sorted out asap. Ranchhod is more than just a big talker. As for our untarred roads mainly in Grahamstown East, in heavy rains they become dongas and quagmires. Maintenance must be done in Grahamstown Central and West, but new construction and tarring must be done in Grahamstown East to sort out that insanitary mess where so many of our people live. Hear! Hear!
Mayor Peter brought up the preservation of Grahamstown’s inner city with Ranchhod’s enthusiastic support.
Here we have late 19th and early 20th century buildings intact but housing businesses using 21st century technology. Many thousands of tourists come to see and experience this phenomenon every year – tourists who spend money inside Makana that they have earned outside Makana. We all benefit. What is more they talk about Grahamstown and word of mouth is the best advertisement one can get. Inner city decay is common worldwide and we have seen it in South Africa – Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg being two tragic examples. We cannot afford to let that happen here and Ranchhod is adamant that the Aesthetics Committee must be more effective. Development we must have, but destroying Grahamstown’s crown jewels is not a development.
I have mentioned only two examples of what was discussed, but they give a clear indication of direction and determination. No promises, just a sharing of what needs to be done and is going to be done. This deserves our full support.
We do hope they take to heart what the GRA has noticed in the recent past: the Makana municipal organisation has had to grow so rapidly to meet new challenges that it is now out of alignment with its actual tasks. An understandable human failing – you cannot see the wood for the trees when you are fully involved. When the car’s engine needs an overhaul no amount of pushing, kicking, cursing and shouting will achieve anything except send up your blood pressure. Time to call in an expert and get the thing fixed properly.
President Jacob Zuma was presented with the Freedom of Makana during a fleeting visit. The sudden changing of the name of Raglan Road to Dr Jacob Zuma Drive involved a bit of unpleasant manoeuvring in the Council. The ANC pulled a smart trick (or a dirty one if you look at it that way) to scotch any opposition and this involved another yet unseemly tantrum from Speaker Madinda directed at Cllr Lena May. All in poor taste but perfectly legal. One bad mark for that. Ultimately it is the people of Fingo Village who will decide: will they all now start speaking about ‘Dr Jacob Zuma Drive’ or stick to the traditional ‘Raglenrote’ which has been around for about 150 years?
Two good marks to the new administration over ward committees and this also involves Speaker Madinda! Ward councillors are supposed to have elected ward committees which are strictly no-party politics. They have not worked in the past through lack of public interest. AGM’s are to be held at which the Speaker or her representative is present. At ANC Councillor Tame’s AGM Madame Speaker was represented by Cllr Xolani Madyo of the DA! Well, well! When Mayor Peter says he regards all councillors as equals and that party politics plays no part his administration, he means it. Draw a veil over the street in Fingo Village business.
There was a three to four month cessation of portfolio meetings before and after the elections as there was five years ago. During this time of transition the Municipal Manager suspended Chief Financial Officer Jackson Ngcelwane, the reasons given being vague. The new Mayor called for a full confidential report from the MM and has backed her but it is now a provisional suspension. Meanwhile the CFO sits at home on full pay. There is too much of this going on in South Africa. If he is dismissed there will be expensive court cases dragging on quite possibly till after the expiry of his contract, if not his return to work will be a slap in the face for the MM. So what to do? Leave him under provisional suspension and wait till his contract expires? Heaven knows how they closed the books before the 30th June end of the financial year, ready for the Auditor General who can arrive any time after July 1.
The Mayor and his lieutenants established cordial relations with the Trade Unions before they met the GRA. Municipal workers have had an 8% salary rise every year for the past four years, above inflation and CPI rates, far more than the vast majority of the citizens of Grahamstown. They are not poorly paid. But now their TU bosses have called them all out on strike for an 18% salary hike. Who governs South Africa? The elected parliament, provincial councils and municipal councils OR the trade union bosses? This is a nationwide problem in which we in Makana are trapped.
Drat it! There is a delay in signing the contract with Amatola Water to take over the management of our highly sophisticated water pumps. Everything was ready but two councillors queried the terms so the council lawyers have to give an opinion. Pray that these pumps do not break down before Amatola takes over because then we will have no water in our taps in spite of full dams. From Grocott’s one gathers that the Infrastructure Development Department has recommended to the mayoral committee (next scheduled meeting 13 September) that they recommend to the Council (next scheduled meeting 20 September) that water restrictions be lifted! Then their decision has to be published.
Hey, Mr Mayor, the car’s engine needs an overhaul!
