While certain municipal documents detailing how rate payers' rands are spent are made available to the public, they can only be read by those who have internet access and are computer literate.
While certain municipal documents detailing how rate payers' rands are spent are made available to the public, they can only be read by those who have internet access and are computer literate.
Municipal laws state that citizens must be made aware of all local government documents and where to find them, both on the municipality's official website and at head municipal and satellite offices and libraries.
By law the municipal manager is also obliged to inform the public about the annual budget once it has been tabled in council and make it publicly available. This can be done through different media like local newspapers, newspapers that circulate in the community and local radio stations. These public notices must be made in the languages that are used in the municipal area.
On Makana municipality's website the necessary documents are available; the 2012-2017 Integrated Development Plan (IDP), Budget Summary 2012/13, Service Delivery Budget Implementation Plan 2012/13, 2012-2015 Budget Report and the final 2012/13-2013/14 IDP process plan and budget timetable.
But when Grocott's Mail checked to see what was available at the Hill Street library no current documents could be found. A library assistant did however say that they had had a copy of the 2011/12 Budget earlier this year.
At the time of going to press Grocott's Mail had not yet established whether other libraries in Grahamstown had these documents.
