Update
GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - There was outrage expressed throughout all sectors of the community at the announcement last Friday, 1 February, from the Dr. Beyers Naude Local Municipality that the public libraries in the municipality would be closed from 4 February until further notice.
"Because the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture has failed to pay over the library grant six months into the financial year, our cash-strapped municipality has no choice but to close all the libraries in our municipal area," said Cllr Samantha Graham, leader of the DA caucus, when the news was released.
After the anger expressed last week at the decision to close the libraries due to this non-payment, residents were greatly relieved to find that the Graaff-Reinet libraries have been open as normal this week. Aberdeen's library was closed on Monday, but opened again on Tuesday.
The news last Friday of the impending shut-down spread like wildfire, and there were reports online from national media.
According to a press release issued by the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), Dr. Beyers Naude Local Municipality did not submit the required documents on time and this has delayed its subsidy for this current financial year. The Department stated that a letter was sent to the Dr. Beyers Naude Local Municipality on 29 May 2018 requesting the compliance documents that need to be submitted in preparation for the transfer, which apparently is standard practice as the Department always strives to pay the subsidies in July every year.
DSRAC claims that the municipality did not submit the documents as requested, and so in October 2018, according to DSRAC, senior Departmental officials physically visited the municipality to collect the documents.
"It was found that the municipality submitted an incomplete set of documents," said the spokesperson for DSRAC. "When the documents were finally submitted to the Department, it was further discovered that the municipality had a disclaimer of opinion from the Auditor General in its audit report."
According to several sources, this should not have had any impact on the subsidy payment, and in fact, to withhold it on those grounds is allegedly illegal.
The Department stated that the additional documents requested were received on 30 January 2019.
On Monday morning, the popular SAfm breakfast show's Stephen Grootes took up the cause and interviewed the Head of the Eastern Cape DSRAC live on air.
Mzolisi Matutu explained in detail about the delay, which Grootes reduced to "a problem with the paperwork", and Matutu then said that he had given an assurance to the Sarah Baartman District Mayor that the payment would be made on Tuesday, and that DSRAC "will assist the municipality with regard to the expenditure thereof".
There are 12 libraries within the municipal area: Graaff-Reinet (Horseshoe), Kroonvale, Umasizakhe, Adendorp, Aberdeen, Nieu-Bethesda, Jansenville, Klipplaat, Steytlerville, Willowmore, Hillview (Willowmore) and Rietbron.
Not only are the libraries used for readers to borrow books, but they also provide an invaluable venue for children to do research and homework.
Even though the internet in most libraries is generally more off than on, the learners are able to use reference books and have a quiet place to study, which many of them do not have at home.
Particularly in the smaller communities, the local library also provides a safe haven for youngsters from abusive homes and a meeting place for the elderly.
The librarians are generally extremely proactive in encouraging learning, with regular outreaches, spelling competitions and other activities to stimulate a love of reading.
The cost of running the libraries is R4.4m per annum, and the grant from DSRAC of R2.3m means that the municipality has to make up the shortfall of R2.1m. An additional cost for security is also likely to be incurred, as some of the libraries are experiencing problems with vandalism and theft.
On Tuesday, CFO Heleen Kok informed the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser that DSRAC had said that morning that the amount had been transferred on Monday, and the municipality has received notification of the payment, although at that stage it did not yet reflect in the municipality's account.
Cllr Graham is adamant that the Municipality complied with all requirements in the submission of documents, and that the issue lies with the Department.
According to a reliable source in the municipality, the submissions were made no less than four times, the most recent being last week.
n At the time of going to press, the Dr. Beyers Naude Local Municipality had not yet responded to the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser's request for comment, a statement regarding the matter was, however, promised for next week's edition.
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