Makana's finances are improving, you can't put the Mayor in a Polo and, yes, African Street is going to get fixed says Makana Council's rand and cents man, Piryawaden Ranchhod. Avuyile Mngxitama-Diko put him on the spot.
What are you doing as councillors to improve Makana's finances?
Makana's finances are improving, you can't put the Mayor in a Polo and, yes, African Street is going to get fixed says Makana Council's rand and cents man, Piryawaden Ranchhod. Avuyile Mngxitama-Diko put him on the spot.
What are you doing as councillors to improve Makana's finances?
We took the Auditor General's report from the 2010/11 financial year. As you know that was an adverse report. This municipality has been having such reports for the past three years. As portfolio head, I and my team of portfolio councillors dissected the AG's report and concentrated on the problem areas within the municipality itself. We corrected all the incorrect measures in place over the past few years to the best of our ability. This year's AG report will have a definite improvement.
Is capacity an issue in the municipality's finances?
In some cases yes. As politicians we have a monitoring and oversight role and I think previously this has been lacking. We're now more hands-on in making sure the administrative staff are doing what they are supposed to. Leave the administrative work to the administrators and politics to the politicians.
What were the reasons for the rolling over of a large sums for capital projects? Why were these projects not done?
We only became councillors from 2 June 2011. We were in office for 29 days before the start of the new financial year, so we cannot really say. All I can say is R29 million was rolled over into this year's budget. We made sure that 100% of grants was spent.
Don't you think buying a R300 000 vehicle for the mayor gives the right message about saving on expenses?
It is a case of rands and cents. If you buy a vehicle for R300 000, would you be able to service the rural areas? I don't think so. I think there was an sms asking why doesn't the mayor drive a Polo. Can you use a Polo to rural areas? I think not. One has to make sure you purchase a multipurpose vehicle conducive for the use of the mayor and whoever he wishes to take with him during his outreach programmes. I don't think It will be in the best interest of the municipality or servicing the community of Makana.
Does the budget for the car need to be R800 000 to service rural areas?
When we put the budget of R800 000 it doesn't mean we are going to spend that much on the vehicle. That is an overall collective budget. In the tender we have lowered the grade of the type of vehicle we'll need for the mayor. We also said it must be able to be serviced in Grahamstown so we don't indulge in the exorbitant cost of going to Port Elizabeth to service the car. Councillors have no interaction with the tendering process, it is the administrators who will decide on the type of vehicle.
Why did the office of the mayor propose a R10 000 fuel limit for the Mayoral car? Council took a decision that the status quo is going to remain at R5 000, so it is not R 10 000.
Why Piryawaden Ranchhod believes things are looking up for Makana
I am very optimistic about this municipality, I feel we are going in the right direction to serve the community to the best of our ability. In this year's budget I strive to put as much money as possible into infrastructure. Soon we are going to start renovating the pavements in the CBD area. The first area earmarked is African Street. We are starting with the sub-structure first and then we will do the top structure. We are also employing more competent staff, so I think Grahamstown is in for a good time. But by the same token I would like to see more Grahamstonians coming forward and offering their expertise, advice and hope. What is really a shame is that during our Integrated Development Plan processes we have excellent participation from people in the townships. The people that complain through the medium of your newspaper are the ones who don't come to the meetings.
* Ranchhod is a councillor and Portfolio chairperson of the Finance and Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation in Makana Municipality. This is the first of two parts of the interview. On Friday find out what Councillor Ranchhod really thinks of the media, transparency in government and what would make him hand in his resignation.
