PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Bitou Mayor Dave Swart used his opening remarks at the monthly Bitou council meeting on Thursday 25 January to address some critical comments made in the Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers Association's (PRA) 2023 report on the performance of the municipality.

The report, which was distributed to members by PRA chairperson Steve Pattinson, had been forwarded to Swart.

The report - which was released just before Bitou Municipality's annual report - highlights the fact that the PRA has six 'access to information' cases in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia) pending against the municipality.

The PRA report says they continue to have "a cordial relationship with Mayor Dave Swart", but that the same cannot be said for Memani, "whose strained relationship with our association, as it has been with other ratepayer associations, continues". 

Swart defended Municipal Manager Mbulelo Memani, saying Memani was not avoiding meeting with the PRA. "He has not refused to meet with the Plett Ratepayers Committee. 

"He has been clear in saying that he will not meet with individuals of the committee, but with the full committee," said Swart.

Swart said Memani has been instrumental in improving the governance of the Bitou Municipality. 

He referred to the PRA's historic opposition to Memani when at the time of interviews for the municipal manager, the PRA lobbied against Memani's appointment, alluding to corruption in other municipalities and imminent charges that would be laid against him.

"Two years later these charges have never transpired and [it is known] that he has assisted in getting Bitou Municipality back on track, much quicker that we initially anticipated," said Swart.

Addressing long-term issues

The PRA report said that, over and above its objectives of oversight and improved governance, it will be turning its efforts this year "towards the strategic longer-term issues of water security, efficient and cost-effective waste removal, expanding our sewerage capabilities and consideration of alternative power, to name a few".

"There is so much skill and expertise in our community across all these areas," said Pattinson.

"All we need to do is convince Bitou that community engagement, collaboration and willingness to work together is a competitive strength. Then we can shift 'Better Together' from an empty slogan to a reality."

Governance

The PRA report contained a section on governance, compiled by Debi Nicholson. "When information we are entitled to is not made available, the law provides us with a remedy in the form of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia) which is a statutory process to formally apply for the information," she wrote. 

"We have six Paia applications in various stages of the process. In three instances we have been awarded court orders by the magistrate instructing Bitou to comply with the law and provide us with the information requested. 

"A further two applications are past their deadlines and in process of applying for court orders.

"Contrary to what can be expected, the municipality has allowed the deadlines imposed by the court to pass without fully complying with them. This leaves us in a position where we must now go back to court and apply for contempt orders against individuals."

Swart countered that three members "purporting to represent the full executive" do meet with the municipality's managers and are given all the necessary information they require.

"Bitou managers have gone to great lengths in meeting them to provide answers their queries. However, we have seen misrepresentation of the facts and information and the [PRA] is choosing to to be the mouthpiece of the council by communicating what this council has already addressed," he said.

Accountability

The PRA report further implied that communication with the MM is not satisfactory. "Our work with the greater Garden Route Alliance has shown that where effective relationships exist between the mayor and municipal manager, better communication, transparency and governance exists. 

"The current situation is untenable and must be resolved. His conduct in this regard is in breach of the Constitution, and the Municipal Systems Act which entitles us to accountability, responsiveness and openness, and is clearly not in the interests of the residents," the report said. 

But Swart countered, "Since his appointment Memani has corrected the incorrect budget, implemented new staffing regulations, encouraged the current CFO to rejoin Bitou Municipality - and this has been key to the turnaround strategy we currently have in place."

Swart said much of what is said in the PRA report is conjecture and allows the reader to form a skewed impression of the state of play in Bitou Municipality.

"I urge members of the public to read the Bitou annual report as a complete picture, as has been determined by the Auditor General. 

"And also to read the foreword by the executive mayor and the municipal manager that offer explanations for challenges and planning going forward."

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