GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Following the reappointment for another five years of 67-year-old Dr Edward Rankwana as Municipal Manager (MM) of Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality last week Wednesday, DA MP Samantha Graham-Maré has submitted a request to the MEC of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Zolile Williams, to declare the appointment void under Section 54A(3) of the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000.

Civil society organisations, under the banner of People for Basic Rights (P4BR), also questioned the reappointment and are planning a protest march to voice their discontent. (See the article 'A call to action!' by Pieter Pienaar. Ed)

P4BR states that "the people of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipalilty have suffered a serious lack of services during Rankwana's tenure as Municipal Manager and that another five years will bring DBNLM to the point of no return".

Some of the reasons why Rankwana is believed to be unfit for the position of MM are outlined by Graham-Maré in her letter to the MEC. This include a number of issues related to the Auditor General's report 2021/22 as well as the previous report. It also include cases against the MM, in particular the charges under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) for the ongoing sewerage system leaks around Graaff-Reinet that resulted in raw sewage running into the Sunday's River, as well as charges under the Pensions Fund Act for the failure to pay over to the fund contributions to the amount of R25-million.

In P4BR's letter dated 26 January to Speaker Cheslin Felix, the civic movement also questions the hundreds of millions owed to Eskom.

Mayor vs MP

P4BR has received no response from the Speaker, but Mayor Willem Safers responded to some of the issues that were put forward to the MEC by Graham-Maré. Regarding the issue of criminal cases against the MM, Safers stated that the environmental charges were dropped because there was no evidence to prosecute the MM. He added that the sewage spill situation was, and still is, under control.

In response, Graham-Maré stated that the case was dropped because the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) failed to investigate the matter while the DA, at the time, believed it to have been addressed.

However, in December, Tronkdrif was once again overflowing and at this stage they doubt that the Kroonvale Bridge pump station has ever been fixed.

In his response to the non-payment of pension fund contributions, Safers stated that the issue is "part of the liabilities coming from the former DA controlled Baviaans Local Municipality". However, according to him, they have a plan in place and good progress has been made to resolve the situation.

Graham-Maré replied that she is horrified that Safers can find any justification for this. "It is reprehensible to deduct money from staff salaries with the implied understanding that you will comply with the law and pay over the money within seven days of deducting it, and then not do it. FOR OVER 2 YEARS!" she stated. "To try and pass the buck by blaming Baviaans is offensive. The staff are terrified that their years of pension contributions will be lost and that they will be left destitute when they retire. And you defend it!" said Graham-Maré.

Although the MP did not raise the Eskom debt, Safers stated that "the municipality is completely in control of the situation with Eskom and will soon make an announcement in this regard". He said this will include a solution to the money owed to Eskom and the money the electricity utility owe the municipality, as well as "the way forward in easing the pressure of load-shedding on residents and businesses".

Graham-Maré replied: "We owe Eskom R361-million. I am absolutely fascinated to hear that this is under control. Perhaps it is because, while you were holidaying in Gauteng and the MM was at his home in Kouga, the rest of us were enduring up to 12 hours a day of electricity blackouts and communication blackouts from you and the MM. People went weeks without water. Tourism dipped. Business owners spent untold amounts of money trying to keep their businesses afloat. And you want us to accept that it is under control..."

Safers said they are not denying that there are challenges, but "you must be blind not to see the things the municipality is doing well".

He added that they will wait for the MEC to respond and that they will abide by whatever the MEC determines.

Related article: Mass protest against municipality in Graaff-Reinet next week

DA MP Samantha Graham-Maré and DA Caucus Leader of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality

Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality Mayor, Cllr Willem Safers. Photo: Chriszanne J van Vuuren

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