Bitou budget does nothing to curb Covid-19 impact on Plett
During the initial stages of Level 5 lockdown, Plett found itself in a relatively isolated bubble with only five confirmed cases. With the onset of Level 4 on May 1 and its initial window period of free movement within and between provinces, we still had only five cases, all of which had recovered.
The movement spreads the virus and as the economy opens gradually, movement between towns will increase. This is clearly illustrated in the total cases reported in Bitou between May 1 and June 21. We then suddenly had 33 confirmed cases, of which 17 were still in recovery.
Initially, lockdown caused severe disruptions to normal council business particularly to the annual IDP and budget processes which, by law, should have been completed by end-March.
Fortunately, emergency amendments to legislation permitted the extension of the public participation period and final approval of the IDP and budget to mid-June. By mid-April virtual Skype municipal council and committee meetings had become the new normal.
On June 11, the 2020/21 IDP and budget were approved by majority ANC/AUF vote. Although the proposed revenue streams, rates and service tariffs were adjusted downward to accommodate the impact of C-19, the DA still could not see its way clear to vote in favour of adopting the tabled budget.
The DAs vote against the budget was based on the following considerations:
• With outstanding rates and service payments already standing at over R260-million for the year and the payment collection ratio dropping from 90% in January to as low as 50% in May, we believe the anticipated revenue was not adjusted down enough to provide for the impact of the C-19 pandemic.
• The continued deduction of outstanding municipal debt from prepaid electricity purchases made by mostly township residents is not justifiable given the severe impact of C-19. The sharp rise in unemployment in the wake of the pandemic must be considered here.
• Budgeting for unfunded RDP housing projects which are not project ready and thus not officially gazetted or funded by the provincial government simply cannot be supported. Worse still is that the budget provides for the almost total depletion of municipal investments to fund these unready projects
• Staff cost at over 36% without an increase in headcount is totally unacceptable. This is 6% higher than the accepted norm of 30%. The anticipated expenditure on overtime of up to R20-million is equally unacceptable. The DA also proposed that all senior managers sacrifice their unlawful scarce-skills allowances to significantly reduce the staff cost.
• Given the massive impact of the pandemic on municipal revenue. the DA finds the budget provision for yet a further replacement BMW for the mayor as well as a new unspecified vehicle for the exclusive use of the deputy mayor an insult to our citizens more so since Bitou deputies have never before been provided with exclusive-use vehicles.
This frivolous expenditure will cost our town further R1.65-million. The DA proposed that the existing mayoral vehicle be sold to be replaced by a Toyota Corolla for shared use by the mayor and his deputy.
Since the beginning of lock-down, DA ward and PR councillors have been deeply involved in the coordination of food-parcel distribution and the setting up of approved soup kitchens within their respective wards.
DA wards have been particularly successful, setting the benchmark for other wards, and we also seconded Ward 2 councillor, Dave Swart, to serve on the Central COVID Committee where he is making a notable impact.
The DA would like to express its deepest appreciation to our private donors, volunteers, churches and NGOs who continue to work tirelessly to keep the unemployed poor people fed during these difficult times.
They also funded and organised the isolation hospital, given out 50,000 cloth masks, raised funds for PPE, sanitised public places, and brought Bitou to the place where controlled help can be provided.