ABERDEEN NEWS - The Dr Beyers Naudé local municipality's Ward 1 and 7 (Aberdeen) IDP mayoral outreach, scheduled for 10 May, was postponed for seven days at the request of the community. 

This request was based on poor communication and the absence of the Municipal Manager, Edward Rankwana, and relevant Directors.

Eldridge Ruiters (Chief Whip of the DA Caucus, Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality and DA PR Councillor in Aberdeen) explains that the mayor is the chairperson of the Executive Committee, but he does not have executive powers.

The Executive Committee makes recommendations to Council that ultimately takes decisions. The IDP and budget proposal are official documents, and the municipal manager is the accounting officer of administration. 

The municipal manager is, therefore, the appropriate person to respond to questions relating to the IDP and budget proposal. If he is not available, he has to delegate someone to attend on his behalf. Ruiters believes that the Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Joubert, would be the most suitable person to attend the IDP mayoral outreach in the absence of the municipal manager.

"They cannot send junior officials and expect the community to accept it."

According to Ruiters the relevant finance officials were on their way to Aberdeen, but turned back to Graaff-Reinet as they were under the impression that load shedding had been scheduled for 17:00 on that day. Load shedding was scheduled for 05:00 the next day.

Joy Williams (Ward 4) noted that the municipal manager has not been present at a single mayoral outreach. 

The absence of the municipal manager and relevant directors was also the primary reason for the postponement of the Ward 4 and 5 (Kroonvale and Sunnyside) outreach that was scheduled for 28 April 2022.

The municipality failed to respond to the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser's request for comment in this regard. Another request for comment was sent to the municipality and will be published as soon as received.

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