One hundred and sixty one (161) houses worth R 15 million will be build in De Rust, the residents were told by municipal senior officials on Monday evening,16 April 2012, during a presentation at a Mayoral Imbizo of the draft IDP and budget for the 2012/13.
The allocation of R 75 000 to each ward for community based project that is to be initiated by residents of each wards was well received by residents of Vlakteplaas and surroundings in Ward 11, where the first meeting was held on Sunday, 15 April 2012.
What also emerged during the first two meetings that were held in De Rust is that the community is not fully informed about the indigent programme the municipality is offering. Those residents who qualify for the Indigent programme are encouraged to register as the municipality has budgeted a total of R 16.4 M for the 2012/13 financial year.
Currently, the municipality has registered just over 5000 households. For one to qualify, the income of a household must not exceed R 3000. The applicant must be the owner of the house and must not own another property except for the house he/she resides in. Those who qualify will get 70kwh electricity free of charge per month. Other benefits include 6 Kl water free of charge and benefits relating to burial.
The Executive Mayor, Alderman Gordon April has assured the resident of Ward 11 in De Rust that the municipality has passed the instability stage that it had experienced in the recent past. “The top management is now complete we can brace ourselves for better service delivery going forward,” said Aldm April. He encouraged the resident to pay their services and mentioned to them that the tariffs increase that have been proposed are unavoidable.
The Executive Mayor has also warned that now that the recently inducted ward committee members are getting a stipend, those who do not perform will be shown the door. “We cannot afford committee members who are not working,” he said to the applause of the fully attended De Rust meeting.
Addressing the meeting in De Rust the Municipal Manager, Mr. Mnyimba encouraged the citizens to take charge of this process: “It is important that during these processes that the community continues play a central role; you would remember that last year in September / October we came and gathered needs from you and so we have prioritized your needs and sourced funding. We have now come back and check whether what we have prioritized is what you want or not. Because when we implement we do not want you to say this is not want you wanted.”
“We are committed to serve all the residents in the greater Oudtshoorn towards a better life for all. He said. All residents in the respective wards are encouraged to come in number to be part of the governance of the Greater Oudtshoorn,” Mnyimba concluded.
