Municipality in dire straits

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality's finances are in dire straits and having an extremely negative effect on service delivery and infrastructure in the district.

This deeply worrying state of affairs was confirmed by acting municipal communication official, Wilca Smith, on Monday 27 May. "Services are being delivered to the best of our ability with the available labour."

She said it cannot be repeated enough that the municipality is not in a financial position to do any other projects or maintenance except those budgeted for.

The 2019/20 draft budget was presented in the Mayoral/ IDP outreach. Meanwhile, local business people like Johann Harmse of Flashcor printing and Awie van der Berg of Awie van der Berg Enterprises, have taken it upon themselves to make a difference in the dirty, neglected town of Graaff-Reinet.

Following in Van der Berg's footsteps who cleaned the municipal pavement in front of his business, Johan Harmse last week replaced municipal notice boards at his own cost to make the town more tourism friendly.

The old notice boards.

Apart from confirming the municipality's inability to clean the town, Smith also confirmed a water leak that have impacted water supply to Kroonvale and Adendorp.

"The municipality is aware of the leaking pipe in Auret (Wolwas) camp. It was installed by a contractor who has been instructed to repair the leak. The municipality, however, is wary of repairing the leak due to the associated risks.

Water supply to Kroonvale and Adendorp will have to be shut down and, should the contractor not meet the deadline or, in the worst case scenario, not have the required spares available should something go wrong, the water will be off for an even longer period. Based on this, repairing the leak needs to well planned," said Smith.

The pipe has been leaking water since 21 February. Regarding Van der Berg and Harmse taking it upon themselves to improve the town, Smith said the municipality appreciates work done by businesses. "Any kind of assistance is welcomed."

Smith said it is important that communities contact the correct department with their enquiries.

The leaking water pipe in Auret (Wolwas) camp.