Council meeting halted
2008-10-09
May Saal
THE latest Drakenstein municipal council meeting was once again marred by a walkout following a disagreement - this time by the opposition parties. The mayor, Charmaine Manuel, recommended at the council meeting that the capital budget be adjusted due the the acquisition of the Sentrasure House building in Main Street, to the tune of R24 508 000. This amount includes the acquisition cost, as well as commission fees paid to the auctioneer. According to a document submitted by the municipal manager, dr Sidima Kabanyane, the shortage of office space continues to be a challenge to the municipality and has huge implications in the service delivery. “Drakenstein Municipality is on the verge of massive intake of new employees since the Macro-Structure and the realignment of the Micro-Structure were approved. In the next three years it is envisaged that the staff component of Drakenstein will increase tremendously. “There is a great need for office space that can accommodate the required staff component. The temporary remedy to this is the lease of office space. This however will not provide long lasting solution to our challenge,” Kabanyane emphasised in the document. Kabanyane also motivated in this document that the purchasing of the Sentrasure House building will result in an office space solution that will be cost effective. The building will be available much earlier than expected as contrasted against building an extension, which basically would be available in three years’ time. This building could accommodate the expansion of the work force double to what the extension of the civic centre can accommodate. A rental income of R1,2 million will be secured from current tenants that can be used to service the loan. One department of the Municipality (strategic services) is temmporarily housed in the former Landbank building in Breda Street. The difference between the construction of a new building and Sentrasure House building amounts to R9 million. The difference will be expended on transfer costs, renovation and general upgrading for occupation. Initially Drakenstein Municipality budgeted for the construction of a new wing at the civic centre over three financial years in the capital budget, starting this year. The total cost for the wing would be R33 567 587 over three years. On 20 August the Municipal Manager, Dr Sidima Kabanyane, approached the Executive Mayoral Committee for permission to bid for the Sdentrasure building that was to be auctioned the next day. After consulting the National Treasury as well as the Provincial Treasury, Drakenstein Municipality successfully acquired the Sentrasure House building on 21 August. The opposition parties were shocked at the decision to purchase the Sentrasure building without consulting the full Council. “Where did the municipal manager get the mandate to bid on this item?” asked Deetlefs du Toit (DA). “We want a full report before this item can be approved. “If the Council does not reach agreement on this item, then I propose that we have a special council meeting next week and finalise this item after all councillors get a full report,” du Toit said. According to Manuel a lengthy report had already been submitted to Mayco and the councillors. The DA asked for a recess and when they came back to the meeting they continued to insist that a full report on the purchase of Sentrasure House be submitted to a special meeting next week. Manuel emphasised that if the opposition delayed the purchase, it would be an opportunity lost. The DA asked for another recess, but did not return to the meeting, leaving the council without a quorum, due to the absence of two ANC councillors. Manuel expressed her disappointment at the attitude of the opposition parties. “A report regarding this item was submitted and minuted. It would be sad if we should lose this building and also a saving of R9 million. I propose that we have a special council meeting not later than Thursday 16 October,” said Manuel. * The meeting was concluded without discussing two motions submitted by the DA. In one of the motions, the DA asked questions about the progress of the 2010 Soccer Bid, as well as the cost of parties held by Drakenstein Municipality for the Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, and for Nelson Mandela’s birthday. In a second motion the DA requested the suspension of Gouda councillor Johannes Thomas (ANC), who has been charged with rape by a woman he allegedly gave a lift to, after a function.
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