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GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route District Council's new mayco (mayoral committee) was announced last Friday, 10 December, during a special council meeting.

Mayor Memory Booysen and the council appointed various chairpersons and members for the section 79 and 80 committees. 

Section 80 committees are designed to assist the mayor and are chaired by a mayco member, whereas Section 79 committees report directly to the council.

In his address, Booysen said it was fitting that the scripture reading advised that one should lead through wisdom and should not be obsessed with one's own powers and positions. He said there will be more engagement than in the past due to more political parties in council, and welcomed this new development.

The new mayco is compiled as follows: Petru Terblanche (Roads and Transport Planning Services); Anco Barker (Financial Services); Rosina Ruiters (Planning and Economic Development); Nompumelelo Ndayi (Community Services); Jobieth Hoogbaard (Property and Asset Management); Iona Kritzinger (Corporate Services) and Jerome Lambaatheen (Strategic Services).

Photo gallery: Garden Route District Council's new mayco

Chairpersons for the respective section 79 committees include: Anco Barker (Financial Services); Georlene Wolmarans (Governance); Clodia Lichaba (Municipal Public Accounts Committee); Stephen de Vries (Training and Development) and Virgill Gericke (Occupational Health and Safety).

Water authority

In reference to the recent flood damage, Booysen said it had been foreseen that there will be municipalities that could never recover after a disaster because of a lack of resources and money. 

"We've seen the figures and we've been saying let the Garden Route District Municipality become a water services authority. With that status comes the ability to raise funds directly from national and international donors. It would give us that lever to raise funds. Can you imagine, the R700-million plus damage to George. George can't afford it, as big as they are. Can you imagine that happening in Kannaland?

"It would wipe out that whole municipality. And what would we do? We are going to fold our hands because we do not have the accreditation." Booysen said the GRDM wants the support of the local municipalities. "It is a requirement of national government to give us that status."

George Mayor Leon van Wyk said the local municipality and district have distinct functions, but ongoing discussions are taking place to determine and accommodate cooperation between the various levels of local government.

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