The Makana United Business Chamber has issued the following open letter to Mayor Zamuxolo Peter, listing their concerns about municipal failures, the poor state of infrastructure and a lack of engagement with business and the public on these matters.
The Makana United Business Chamber has issued the following open letter to Mayor Zamuxolo Peter, listing their concerns about municipal failures, the poor state of infrastructure and a lack of engagement with business and the public on these matters.
OPEN LETTER
19 SEPETMBER 2013
The Executive Mayor
Makana Municipality
GRAHAMSTOWN
OPEN LETTER: SERIOUS CONCERNS FROM ORGANISED BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON
MUNICIPAL FAILURES, POOR STATE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND LACK OF
ENGAGEMENT WITH BUSINESS
- The Makana United Business Chamber decided in its meeting of 18 September 2013 to write to you and the council this open letter and to bring to your attention our great concerns in relation to the municipal failures, the poor state of infrastructure, water and sewage crises, lack of respect for the organized business community and failure to respond to our letter requesting a meeting with you and your mayoral committee.
- The letter we are referring to was sent to you on Tuesday 10th September 2013 via email as well as hard copies that were delivered to your office. The purpose of the meeting was for the Makana United Business Chamber(MUBC) to get clarity on the issue of the Director of LED who has been efficient and doing extremely well in her department. We cannot again learn through the media when senior municipal officials are removed by you and your new Municipal Manager. The case in point is that of the Chief Financial Officer.
- Our initial meeting with the Municipal Manager, Dr Naidoo, where the Chamber was first discussed, occurred on the 6th June 2013. It was agreed that the MOU would be signed as soon as it was finalized, then the launch of the Chamber could happen. We launched the Chamber on 15 August 2013, but to date no invitation to sign the MOU has been given by Makana Municipality nor its Manager. We request that the Municipal Manager acknowledges and respects his promises made to this Chamber. We also remind his office that the first quarterly meeting’s invite is overdue to the Chamber.
- Please be aware that this is now the second letter we are writing requesting an urgent meeting with the Mayoral Committee as well as the Executive Council, both of which are being copied to the Premier and the Office of the President. We hereby demand a meeting with a particular date and venue to be confirmed by the Mayor’s Office before Friday 20th September 2013 at 3pm. Failure to do so will result in the Chamber taking legal action against the Makana Municipality as well as reporting it to the Office of the Public Protector. As the business representatives in this town, we speak on behalf of the business sector who are all fully committed to economic growth and contribute towards job creation. We want to work with the municipality to find a lasting solution to the problems that are destroying investor confidence, causing many businesses to close down.
- We find it despicable and extremely disappointing that you ignore us and dismiss our legitimate concerns with such impunity. This display of disrespect towards organized business and the people of Makana can no longer be tolerated.
The following are some of the important issues we want to discuss with you and your mayoral committee.
- The signing of the MOU
- Lack of By- Law Enforcement
- Incompetent municipal staff and lack of expertise with regards to infrastructure and town planning as well as the total collapse of town planning unit.
- The impulsive decision made by the Municipal Manager to take down the signage in High Street regarding the car wash prohibition and its by-laws
- The water crisis and its huge negative impact on local business
- The sewerage crisis experienced in Mayfield and Belmont Valley areas
- The fact that the MUBC is not being invited to important meetings within the Municipality to put forward our input, as per agreement with regards to anything affecting the business community, economy of the town and the infrastructure
- The fact that we do not have direct “go-to” people within various departments pertaining to issues that are affecting the Business Community
- The urgency to have all Municipal Directors present at MUBC meetings, especially the Local Economic Development, Social Development, Infrastructure and Corporate Services Departments
- The proposal of the duplication of the “BIZANA” Training Centre Project in Grahamstown.
- Poor leadership and lack of institutionalized Batho pele principles
- Long suspension of senior municipal officials at a huge costs to tax payers and high municipal legal costs wasted to fight narrow personal battles at the expense of business, tax payers and the public.
- We strongly urge you to respond before the given deadline, being Friday 20th September 2013 by 3pm. We request that you take this letter and its contents with serious regard. Our demand is for an open platform where the Business Community’s voice can be heard. We want to work with you for the greater good of our community.
Sincerely,
Mr Lungile Mxube
Makana United Business Chamber Chairman
Contact: 0835867163
…………………….
Mr Eugene Repinz
Makana United Business Chamber Vice Chairman
Contact: 0827847685
