A very full agenda

WOn the subject of water, it is notable that the report on water quality testing for July 2023 in Ndlambe included in this week’s council agenda reflected 100% compliance with SANS microbiological standard limits

hat was striking about this week ’ s full council meeting was the sheer volume of extremely important information that councillors need to get to grips with in a short space of time.

These meetings are a crucial democratic instrument and the minimum period legislated for public representatives to receive and scrutinise documents is very short.

The SA Local Government Association (SALGA) provides training for councillors. And much of the technical discussions in council happen in the specialised portfolio committees.

Perhaps it is time in the saddle that has seen some improvement in councillors’ level of engagement with the agendas they are expected to weigh in on.

Two new staff appointments were introduced at this week’s full council meeting: supply chain manager Simamkele Mbengana and water services manager Gubevu Maduna, who most recently held that post at Makana Municipality.

On the subject of water, it is notable that the report on water quality testing for July 2023 in Ndlambe included in this week’s council agenda reflected 100% compliance with SANS microbiological standard limits.

Also of importance to residents is an agenda item on the updating of prepaid electricity meter software.

Ratepayers have already received communication about this and this week ’ s agenda reminded councillors that the software for all prepaid electricity meters in SA will expire in November 2024.

The service provider Utilities World will be in Ndlambe from September to November to assist ratepayers with converting their meters. So far just under half the meters in Ndlambe (47.8%) have been converted.

Back to the very full agenda and how important it is for the public, via their representatives, to have an input into what is going on in your municipality: in this week’s council meeting, municipal manager Rolly Dumezweni acknowledged the inadequacy of Ndlambe’s website so far in keeping residents informed.

With new resources deployed in the right direction, however, he said that no later than September, Ndlambe would have ‘the best website ever’.