GOOD Statement by Chantelle Kyd, GOOD George Councillor:
As the GOOD Party, we reject the culture of evasion that characterises formal written responses from the George Municipality. As elected officials, our duty is to the people of George, not to bureaucratic stonewalling or political self-protection.
The answers provided by George Municipality to our formal questions expose the municipality’s lack of transparency and disregard for the opposition’s right to oversight.
RUWACON AND HENRA TENDERS
Tender awards totalling nearly half a billion rand have been concentrated in the hands of just two companies, Ruwacon and Henra. Six tenders have no disclosed value at all.
• Ruwacon received contracts to the value of R266 million from 2022 to 2024, excluding three additional tenders with no disclosed value (“rates apply”).
• Henra received R197 million, also excluding three additional tenders with undisclosed value.
Even more worrying, there is no clear evidence that the 30% subcontracting rule meant to benefit local, black-owned businesses was monitored or enforced. The GOOD Party will refer this matter to the Office of the Public Protector for a full and independent investigation. Half a billion rand and counting cannot move through this municipality without full transparency.
YORK HOSTEL BUILDING RENOVATION
Over R49 million has already been spent on renovating the York Hostel building, yet the administration has failed to provide figures for furniture or fittings. With that kind of public investment, ratepayers deserve to know if this money was spent responsibly or squandered behind closed doors.
PACALTSDORP SMME HUB AND SUPPORT PROGRAMMES
The SMME Hub in Pacaltsdorp remains incomplete and unopened. A flagship initiative for economic development has been reduced to a shell.
• Phase 1 of the building is completed, but a Certificate of Compliance (COC) cannot be issued as electrical activation is still outstanding.
• All the demarcated trading spaces in Blanco and Pacaltsdorp are still vacant.
• There are no formal trading spaces in Thembalethu.
• Only 55 jobs have been created through the programme – 33 full-time and 26 part-time.
MUNICIPAL MANAGER
The appointment of the new Municipal Manager is shrouded in secrecy. Despite our request for transparency, the Council has refused to share the shortlist of candidates, citing POPIA. This is not how ethical, lawful appointments are made.
We will continue to table questions, demand proper disclosure, and escalate matters to appropriate oversight bodies when necessary. This municipality must stop treating accountability as optional.
GOOD Manifesto on Social Welfare: Supporting social welfare programs for vulnerable communities.
Tall Honey
Van, startled, spins around and answers the rep, \”It\’s my donkey\’s ears. When they walk under the highway their ears rub along the roof and hurt them. I\’m making it taller so that doesn\’t happen\”.
The rep looking confused, because it\’s a dirt track that runs under the bridge, asks him, \”Why don\’t you grade or dig some of the soil to lower the surface so they can pass through without their ears touching?\”
Van – no the one looking confused then angry answers, \”No man, it\’s their ears that are too long, not their legs!\”
pinball esq
Fun South African Fact: South Africa is known as the “Rainbow Nation” thanks to its mix of cultures across the country. The status of being a cultural “melting pot” is evident in the fact that South Africa has a whopping 11 official languages: English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, IsiNdebele, Sesotho, Northern Sotho, Setswana, SiSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga. Most South Africans speak more than one national language. IsiZulu is the most common first language and isiXhosa is second. Fun fact – did you know the people of Wakanda speak isiXhosa in Marvel’s Black Panther movie?