100-Day Plan for Oudtshoorn

The Oudtshoorn council has formulated and approved a 100-day turnaround plan that will serve as a guideline for the council over the next few months.

Anton Bredell, Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, has congratulated the local council, management and the national and provincial support team on their progress to date.

“Since the new council came into power, co-operation between the council and the provincial department of local government  improved significantly.”

Minister Bredell says the council’s 100-day plan includes the following elements:
    Cleaning out of storm water drains and investigating problem areas and challenges where flooding occurs.
    Addressing street lighting challenges
    Reaching a settlement agreement with Eskom and construction group Asla and providing an assurance that monthly accounts will be kept up to date.
    Decision taken to pay all creditors within 30 days of receipt of invoice.
    Addressing the prompt payment of debtors.
    An audit of prepayment electricity meters to address meter tampering and nonpayment.
    Drafting a long-term financial plan.
    Identifying land for future housing opportunity developments.
    Planning for the construction of public toilet facilities for tourists and bus groups.

“Excellent progress has been made in relation to most of the issues identified. Another highlight was the compliance with the provincial executive’s directive  by approving council’s 2015/16 budget, which was subsequently noted by the provincial government.”

Minister Bredell says other projects that have been tackled include administering the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding.

“The new council has been assisted in using MIG funding to upgrade the De Jager Sports Complex where a tartan athletic track is being installed for the local community and the construction of a water pipeline to the Dysselsdorp Sportfields. These projects have already led to job creation in the area.”

The proper and full operation of the town council has also been achieved.

“For a number of years the department was concerned about the lack of a fully functional town council. Since the department got actively involved in assisting the new leadership in the council, the following progress has been made:
    Monthly meetings as scheduled took place in July and August.
    Audit commitees, Ward commitees and disciplinary commitees have all been established.
    Special committees to address the future of the Cango Caves/Economic Development/Social Development in Oudtshoorn have all been established.

Minister Bredell says the new council under the supervision of the administrator, Mr Kamalasan ("Kam") Chetty, is on the road to recovery.

“We continue to work closely together and remain confident of a speedy and sustainable turnaround of the jewel of the Karoo.