Chair: Elize Laubscher – hgiv@absamail.co.za
Heilbron’s problems consist of a municipality that has just had its furniture repossessed because it has been unable to pay its bills, among other problems. One of the more pressing problems was the complete failure of the town’s fire-fighting capacity. The residents have called a dispute with the municipality, and in early June called a meeting with various members of the municipality to discuss problems with service delivery. Here is a letter written as a result of that meeting:
June 12th 2009
Sir
INTRODUCTION
The Heilbron Grondeienaars en Inwoners Vereniging is a legally structured and constituted association representing a number of landowners and inhabitants of Heilbron. A dispute was declared with the Ngwathe Local Municipality during December 2008. As a result of this and after several meetings between die parties during which possible solutions in respect of the concerns raised by HGIV were discussed, the Ngwathe Municipality accepted a Rehabilitation Program as proposed by HGIV.
THE COORDINATION MEETING
The said association organised a Coordination Meeting between the different role players in an effort to assist the Municipality in expediting the actions proposed in the Rehabilitation Program regarding the sewerage works and the streets.
The following persons were invited and accepted the invitation
1. P.F. Botha LGH Municipal Infrastructure Bloemfontein Cel: 051 407 6703
2. M. Mahlatsi Ngwathe Municipal Manager Tel: 056 811 2131
3. A. Schoonwinkel Councillor (DA) Cel: 084 549 3384
4. P. v.d. Merwe Councillor (VF+) Tel: 058 852 2041
5. G. Nel DWAF Tel: 051 405 9204
6. J. Earle Proper Consulting (Engineering consultant of the Board) Cel: 082 784 8476
7. J. Kelder NBU Cel: 083 208 9314
8. F. Malherbe HGIV Cel: 083 635 1386
9. E. Laubscher HGIV Cel: 082 416 8950
At the meeting an unfortunate situation developed in that Mr Mahlatsi arrived at the meeting with a delegation of councillors, directors and municipal employees, demanding that the Speaker should be the chairperson. The HGIV chairperson, Mr F Malherbe, declined the demand where after the Municipal Manager, with his delegation, walked out of the meeting.
Mr P.F. Botha and his assistant, delegates from the Provincial Local Government and Housing, also left the meeting.
Since it is etiquette that the organisation , who arranges a meeting, also decides on the contents of the agenda and it’s chairperson as a rule normally presides over such meeting, HGIV finds the conduct of the municipal and the provincial delegation unacceptable. We condemn the action in the strongest terms and we expect an excuse from the relevant persons.
If an excuse is not forthcoming, HGIV will view the incident as an indication of a non-cooperative attitude from the side of the municipality and province. Such a conclusion may have a detrimental effect on future cooperation between the ratepayers and the Local Government, which is the last thing HGIV desires as it’s attitude has all along been one of co-operation and the maintaining of a good relationship with all the role players in it’s efforts to enhance service delivery in the greater Heilbron.
Yours faithfully
__________________
F. MALHERBE
CHAIRPERSON
Tags: Heilbron