Youth Centre Chris Hani work started

<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> Youth Centre Chris Hani work started</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> <B>Previous correspondence - if any - follows after in sequence below.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>TRIF voices concerns in an urgent email to the Witzenberg Municipality that earthworks have begun for a 'Youth Centre' being built alongside the Crèche in Station Road, Hani withouth the project ever have been part of a Public Participation process. Muncicipality requested to explain everything relating to the project.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>An email sent to the Municipality requesting a response to an email sent  14 April, 2010 (for which no response was received)</B></div> <bR> <div> T.R.I.F</div> <div> Tulbagh Ratepayers and Inwoners Forum</div> <div> P O Box 10, </div> <div> Tulbagh,</div> <div> 6820</div> <div> email : <U>rockyvalley@telkomsa.net</U></div> <div> 023 2302172</div> <div> 082 6538229<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> 27 May, 2010<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Dear David,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Could I have the courtesy of a response to this email from either you or your official/s concerned? Note that it is over a month since the email was sent to you.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Kind regards,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> John Veschini<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Chairperson</div> <bR> <div> <B>The original email that had as of 27 May, 2010 not been responded to</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>T.R.I.F</B></div> <div> <B>(Tulbagh Ratepayers and Inwoners Forum)</B></div> <div> P O Box 10, </div> <div> Tulbagh,</div> <div> 6820</div> <div> email : <U>rockyvalley@telkomsa.net</U></div> <div> 023 2302172</div> <div> 082 6538229<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> 14 April, 2010<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Municipal Manager</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Witzenberg Municipality</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Dear David,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Youth Centre in Chris Hani</B></div> <bR> <div> I note with concern that earthworks have begun for a Youth Centre being built alongside the Crèche in Station Road, Hani.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> I hade no prior knowledge of this 'Youth Centre' before I came across some information relating to an impending trip by Councillors and officials to Belgium recently in this regards and a visit by a delegation by the Essen Municipality about three weeks ago.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> I have checked all previous records relating to the Spatial Framework Plan, the IDP document for 2007 to 2011 and Council's previous budgets and I can see no reference as to when prior decisions of Council were made to zone the property for the purposes of a Youth Centre. Neither am I aware of any community participation process that was undertaken to gauge public support for this project. </div> <bR> <div> I request the following information as a matter of extreme urgency.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> 1. At what point was the land earmarked for this purpose after the SDF plan was approved by Council?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 2. When was this Youth Centre ever included in the IDP documents previous and current as being something that the community of Tulbagh have requested to be a priority?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 3. Where in you IDP document or the WSDF, was the location of the Youth Centre discussed and planned for?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 4. What community organisations accredited with the Municipality or otherwise, were involved in a Public Participation process in respect of the Youth Centre?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 5. Has this 'Youth Centre or the use of Public land for the purpose ever been advertised in the press for comment?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 6. What are the financial implications/commitments by the Municipality and the City of Essen to this project in detailed proportion for the construction costs.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 7. What are the financial implications for the Municipality after construction (salaries, maintenance, equipment, security, services etc.)?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 8. Have plans been approved by the Municipality for this project? Has the planning concept for the building ever been shown to the public and comment invited?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 9. Where in the 2009/2010 budget, was this expenditure provided for?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 10. Who authorised the expenditure for this project. Was it Council, or was it a Mayco decision.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 11. Where did the funds come from in respect of the contribution by the Municipality?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 12. It what part of the Municipal Systems Act or any other regulations, does the Municipality be given authority to spend money on projects of its choice, use public money for the purpose, without due process of public engagement and consultation. </div> <div> 13. If the money came from Government or Province, were proper procedures followed including indicating to such governmental entities that the project was planned as a consequence of a Public Participation process and it met the needs of the community?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 14. What is the actual purpose intended at this 'so called' Youth Centre, what 'Youth' is the structure intended to serve (Is it intended to be for the Youth of Chris Hani only, or the Youth of Tulbagh generally)?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 15. Has the project been evaluated in terms of the Witzenberg LED and the IDP as a job creation project and if so, by whom?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 16. What age group qualifies as a 'Youth' in the 'mind' of the Municipality? </div> <div> 17. Kindly explain the entire Tender process and how it got to where it is now - with a contractor on site?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 18. Is this project politically motivated?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Whilst I have no problems with anything done to enhance the potential for the youth of the town to obtain skills and eventual sustainable job opportunities, training, financing for SMME's, mentorship, linkages with the market place etc., I have a problem with a training facility which is a duplication of others in the area set aside without enough thought as to location and what the 'so called' youth will achieve there. </div> <bR> <div> I also have a problem with such activity being placed next to a crèche where infants and youth could possibly 'interact. I have a more serious problem with the project being planed (and underway) without any thought of rather having a training related project not directly linked to a Small Business (SMME) development where anything learnt could be applied. But, my most serious concern is that the Municipality has seemingly arbitrarily decided on this project without consultation and without assessing the needs of this community properly, including their determination that it is only a segment of the youth of the town which must be catered for and that this is not a much needed job creation project for all including adults who have been waiting for years for such opportunities.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> This is yet another example of decisions being made in Ceres for Tulbagh without consultation and this is totally unacceptable. </div> <bR> <div> This project should be stopped immediately, pending proper investigation and consultation.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Your urgent response will be appreciated.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Kind regards,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> John Veschini<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Chairperson<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" > TRIF</FONT></div> <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>