TRIF requests meeting with Witzenberg

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=30 BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" style=" border-left: 1px solid #3366CC;" BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Tulbagh Info Information</B></div> <div> TRIF requests meeting with Witzenberg</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="120" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#0099CC HEIGHT= 15 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="local_news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tulbagh News Page 2"><U>Back to Local News</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>TRIF</B></div> <div> <B>Tulbagh Ratepayers and Inwoners Forum</B></div> <div> <B>addressStreetP O Box 10, </B></div> <div> <B>Tulbagh,</B></div> <div> <B>6820</B></div> <div> Tel. 023 2302172  - Cell 082 6538229</div> <div> email : <A HREF="mailto:rockyvalley@telkomsa.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:rockyvalley@telkomsa.net"><U>rockyvalley@telkomsa.net</U></A></div> <div> Tel. 023 2302172  - Cell 082 6538229</div> <bR> <div> 6 July, 2010</div> <bR> <div> The Municipal Manager</div> <div> Witzenberg Municipality</div> <div> P O Box 44,</div> <div> Ceres</div> <div> 6835</div> <bR> <div> Dear Sir</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>ISSUES FACING TULBAGH IDENTIFIED BY TRIF</U></B></div> <bR> <div> My committee has directed me to request an urgent meeting with you and the Mayor (plus whomever else you decide should attend) with the Executive of our committee, to examine certain pressing issues affecting Tulbagh.  </div> <bR> <div> The attached list, which we wish to discuss in detail, has been compiled from complaints received from community members and tabled at TRIF committee meetings. </div> <bR> <div> Furthermore, we feel it is reasonable to expect a full written response from the municipality to the issues raised within 90 days from the date of this letter.</div> <div>  </div> <div> I thank you in anticipation of your co-operation.</div> <bR> <div> Yours faithfully</div> <bR> <bR> <div> John Veschini</div> <div> <B>Chairperson</B> </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>TULBAGH'S ISSUES WITH WITZENBERG MUNICIPALITY </U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>INFRASTRUCTURE</B></div> <div> <B>WATER</B> : </div> <div> <B>Reticulation system</B> old & continuous breakages experienced, resulting in whole sections of the town frequently being without water.  Roads being rehabilitated without doing a simultaneous upgrade of the water system.</div> <div> <B>Sewerage system</B> - continuous blockages/breakages; cannot cope with increasing load resulting in heavy pollution of rivers and streams in the town.  </div> <div> <B>Water catchment </B>neither cleaned nor maintained; inadequate and ailing infrastructure to harness water.</div> <div> <B>Storm water system</B> in addressStreetVan der Stel Street - size reduced by Telkom and others plus litter aggravating the problem.  Some properties were flooded last winter and the same will occur this winter. The potential for irreparable damage to mud brick National Monuments in Van der Stel Street as well as in the lower Church street exists. </div> <div> <B>ROADS</B> :  </div> <div> <B>Road surfaces</B> breaking up resulting in potholes, insufficient maintenance, inadequate drainage and storm water disposal, little or no road markings, traffic signs not visible and incomplete demarcation of parking areas. </div> <div> <B>Pavements </B>are<B> </B>not being maintained and are steadily breaking up.   Some sections have been allowed to erode to a point whereby pedestrians prefer to walk in the road at a danger to themselves and to the public. </div> <div> <B>HOUSING</B>: </div> <div> <B>Uncontrolled influx</B> of homeless people - the number of shack dwellers both in 'informal ' settlements and back yards has grown to about 1500 families in the last ten years, causing huge socio-economic problems.  In 10 years the municipality has only built 72 houses.  </div> <div> <B>Housing waiting list : </B>There appears to be manipulation and irregular allocations of housing taking place. </div> <div> <B>Irregular allocations</B> - Seemingly inadequate control by department of housing - contractor, or local committee, or Ward councillor left to allocate houses?</div> <div> <B>Housing planning</B> - Inadequate housing provision and insufficient information to general public as to what Councils' plans are, how many houses are to be built and when. Housing meetings advertised only in Witzenville and Chris Hani. Other I&AP's such as Ratepayers are not informed. </div> <div> <B>Hygiene and basic sanitation</B> in the informal settlements - estimated approximately 60 people have to share one toilet and an ongoing cleaning programme is deficient.  A recent proposal by the municipality to provide another 10 toilets will not alter the ratio much. Most people use either the river or the fields in order to relieve themselves, resulting in severe pollution and the potential for the spread of diseases such as cholera.  </div> <div> Informal housing structures have recently been erected over <B>graveyards </B>showing disrespect for the dead.</div> <div> <B>TOWN PLANNING</B> </div> <div> <B>Undercapacity </B>- officials are competent but seemingly cannot cope with the workload.  Long outstanding issues, such as addressStreetVan der Stel Street traffic calming, are affecting the lives of the community.</div> <div> <B>Haphazard planning and building control -</B> buildings being built over boundaries, illegal structures all over the town, residential property used for business, zonings not in keeping with actual use, etc.</div> <div> <B>Enforcement lacking</B> - tardy dealing with infringements of by-laws affecting non-payment for rates or services, Illegal trading, liquor license infringements, Illegal occupation of municipal land, erection of illegal structures etc.  </div> <div> <B>Protection of our heritage</B> - Municipality failed to act against an individual who illegally demolished a monument in the town a year ago.</div> <div> <B>PlaceNameplaceKliprivier PlaceTypePark</B>: Due to lack of adequate management and maintenance this facility is running at a loss.  It is felt it should be sold and the money received ploughed back into Tulbagh.</div> <div> <B>Property valuations</B> - valuation of farming businesses appear to be unfair and excessive.<B> </B></div> <div> <B>ELECTRICITY</B> :  </div> <div> <B>Electricity losses</B> - concern about the high percentage mainly in the informal housing areas.</div> <div> <B>Threat of power lines</B> affecting potential development - two corridors are now proposed.  Municipality not seen to be supportive nor consultative enough - perhaps unaware of problems facing the community if these power lines are allowed to traverse the valley.</div> <div> TRIF Chair's request for an <B>electricity Pay Point</B> in the lower part of town to make it easier for people to purchase electricity when the municipal offices are closed not actioned.  The local Spar made a similar request and even offered to pay for the installation, which was refused.</div> <div> <B>Street lighting</B> - street lights are not working.</div> <bR> <div> <B>MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION</B> :  </div> <div> <B>Transparency </B>- Expenditure and income cannot be determined from the budget per town/entity; therefore there is no way of measuring if we are getting what we pay taxes for nor ascertain what proportion of the budget is in respect of Tulbagh and how money is spent or allocated in proportion.</div> <div> <B>Credit control</B> - Inequitable tariffs and inadequate credit control management processes plus slow prosecution process by the Municipality (allowing excessive debt to be incurred by a consumer/tenant and then recouping from the owner of the property instead of enforcing strict credit control on the consumer).</div> <div> <B>Salaries</B> of Mayoral Executive Councillors and the Mayoral PA considered excessive.  Concern about appointments of top ranking officials, rates of pay and substantial settlement packages when they leave.  Recent increases awarded across the board disproportionate with current economic climate.</div> <div> <B>Mayoral Executive Council </B>(Mayco)'s role questioned - it is felt municipal officers should be doing these jobs with a plenary-type Council to decide on their recommendations. </div> <div> <B>Lack of knowledge & skills</B> is evident in respect of some Councillors and officials; some appear not to consider that they are in fact public servants and/or representatives. </div> <div> <B>Ward delineation</B> - Decisions affecting Tulbagh are made in Ceres by mainly Ceres-based councillors not necessarily considering the best interests of Tulbagh.</div> <div> <B>Communication </B>with Ward Committees deficient - letters go unanswered. </div> <div> <B>Twinning with the PlaceNameplaceEssen PlaceTypeMunicipality</B> - benefits doubtful and process potentially wasteful.  Projects (eg. Youth Centre) seem to be rushed though without adequate community consultation. </div> <div> <B>     </B></div> <div> <B>GENERAL : </B></div> <div> <B>Fire fighting service</B> - Fire tenders have to be dispatched from Ceres and as far away as placeCityWorcester. Inadequate provision of fire hydrants in critical areas.</div> <div> <B>Litter </B>-<B> </B>inadequate number of waste bins; insufficient cleaning of the streets and storm water drains; no education programme to keep the town clean.</div> <div> <B>Traffic law enforcement</B>:   No traffic presence in Tulbagh nor any apparent control of traffic violations - eg. deliveries to retail outlets not controlled, speed and noise levels. </div> <div> <B>Traffic department</B> - people have to travel to Ceres for learners and drivers licenses - no transport service & frustrations with staff.</div> <div> <B>Lack of public information locally </B>- residents and ratepayers have to direct all their enquiries to Ceres; no staff available locally to address enquiries or complaints. </div> <div> <B>Maintenance of Council property</B> - buildings showing signs of disrepair; also known occurrences of theft from and off Council property due to inadequate security.</div> <div> <B>Garden refuse system</B> - No control over garden refuse site resulting in risks of fire and to health.<B> </B></div> <div> <B>Greening of the town</B> - Trees are being allowed to be removed on Council property (road reserves) and some have died due to neglect.</div> <div> <B>Small Business opportunities</B> - Not enough being done to facilitate sustainable job creation projects. A proposal submitted by the community in 2004 has not been considered while the unemployment levels remain high. </div> <div> <B>Illegal sales of liquor and drugs</B> - Owners of properties operating shebeens et al should be prosecuted and the police thus enabled to stop illegal trading.</div> <div> <B>Crime increase</B> - safe houses needed for youth and abused women. </div> <div> <B>Lifesavers at public pools</B> - children's lives are in danger.</div> <div> <B>Youth Centre</B> - Entire process from beginning to end raises serious concerns. Project not in keeping with the Spatial Framework plan, no proper community consultation process, wrong location to be of any real benefit to the broader community, wrong policy to place `youth adjacent to a crèche - should preferably have been a pre-school, no visible compaction of platform prior to building, possible lack of adequate supervision of the contract?</div> <div> <B>Huis Disa Old age home</B> - The home is in dire need of land for expansion for both the aged as well as for facilities for abused women and children etc.</div> <div> Library level of service - books outdated, no CD's or educational videos.</div> <div> <B>Sale/Alienation of PlaceNameplaceKlipriver PlaceTypePark</B> - Council dragging it's heels on this matter. Third political administration yet again to go through a Public Consultation process. Prior processes have indicated that the community requires that the Municipality goes ahead to alienate. Previous Council decisions agreed for the alienation. Finality of the alienation of the park desired by TRIF.</div> <div> <B>Approval of plans</B> - Approval of building plan applications taking far too long.</div> <div> <B>Stormwater blockages Witzenville</B> - Numerous blockages occurring on an ongoing basis due mostly to being blocked with sand and litter. </div> <div> <B>Bikers Rallies</B> - Despite protestations year upon year, the municipality chooses to expose the community to the excessive noise, dangerous and rowdy behaviour of the bikers with no apparent traffic policing of the excessive speed and reckless antics of the bikers in the main road especially.</div> <div> <B>Traffic control generally</B> - none apparent.</div> <div> <B>Unnecessary stop street at corner Buitekant and Mark Streets</B> - Municipality ignores letters written by Ratepayer about the disturbances caused by vehicles, the damage to the tarmac and the lack of traffic control thus allowing many vehicles not to stop therefore causing the said intersection to be dangerous. <B> </B> </div> <div> <B>Galgeheuwel Municipal Nature reserve</B> - no maintenance, no control and no access provided through for the public. </div> <div> <B>Shacks built over graveyard </B>- Shacks still not moved off graveyard at Gordon Singel.</div> <div> <B>Maintenance of graveyards</B> - Insufficient management of graveyards in the Tulbagh area.</div> <div> <B>Inequitable tariffs which discourage development </B>- Charges for some for sewerage availability whilst other commercial and accommodation are not charged the same. Council's credit control policy and tariffs questioned.</div> <div> <B>Pep Stores encroachment and illegal building over boundary</B> - pedestrian and disabled persons - obstructions on paved surfaces.</div> <div> <B>Access for disabled persons to commercial premises</B> - no enforcement.</div> <div> <B>Council Resolutions in Council minutes</B> - Not evident as a record of decision. Council minutes to be made available at libraries.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width=28 style=" border-top: 1px solid #0066CC; border-left: 1px solid #0066CC;border-right: 1px solid #0066CC; border-bottom: 1px solid #0066CC;" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>