Residents asked to help with city plan
THE SOL Plaatje Municipality has invited city residents and the business community to participate in the formulating of a development plan for the city.
The municipality adopts a new development plan every five years. The focus of the current plan, developed in 2011, was aimed at addressing failing infrastructure, financial stability, improving audit opinions, stimulating growth through infrastructure, informal settlement upgrades, etc.
Municipal spokesman, Sello Matsie, pointed out that as a result of the current plan, the city had seen upgraded bulk infrastructure in the water, electricity and sewerage sectors, improved finances and unqualified audit reports, improved services in several settlements and renewed private investments in the construction sector.
“Five years ago, when the current development plan was adopted, the municipal manager had just been appointed and the city was facing several challenges, including 10 years of financial disclaimers from the Auditor-General. The institution was being run on a crisis management basis and it was necessary to secure a loan from the Development Bank of South Africa. There were high levels of water losses and there was a moratorium on development.”
Matsie pointed out that since then, the city had grown and there was far greater stability.
“An improved governance model meant greater confidence in the city by both residents and investors and we were able to fix most of the challenges facing us, in order to ensure growth.”
He pointed out, for example, that the construction of the new university would not have been possible without improving the bulk infrastructure services.
“We need to build on this stability and accelerate future growth and development and these meetings are an opportunity for all stakeholders in the city, from residents, to the business sector and NGOs, to make an input on the provision of services for the next five years.”
It is expected that the new plan will have to focus on the upgrading of informal areas, housing and service delivery. During the current financial year (2016/17), 1 272 new erven will be created in informal settlements in the city, which will have to be serviced in subsequent years. It is also anticipated that the “gap” housing, as well as middle to high income housing opportunities will need to be addressed.
Another area of focus in the future will be the municipal-owned resorts, which are currently a liability, as well as the provincialisation of health services.
In order for the municipality to attain financial stability, the local authority will have to focus on innovative ways of making household accounts more affordable, as well as put measures in place to ensure revenue enhancement.
Attention also needs to be focused on improving the effectiveness of the administration.
Residents are invited to attend today’s meeting at the Roodepan Catholic Church Hall, tomorrow at the Horseshoe Motel, on Wednesday at the RC Elliot Hall, or the one at the De Beers Stadium on Thursday. All meetings will start at 5.30pm.