Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipal (DBNLM) workers will possibly suffer
hardship due to the budget not being tabled, said Samantha Graham-Maré, MP and Dr
Beyers Naude Constituency Leader.
According to Graham-Maré, municipal workers in the DBNLM are facing untold
economic hardship with the possibility that their salaries will not be paid this week.
This follows the ANC and Compatriots of South Africa (CSA) coalition refusing
to work with the DA, Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) and EFF to pass the municipal
budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
“The municipal manager, Eddie Rankwana, confirmed in a memorandum that the
impact of not having an approved budget is that municipal workers will possibly
not receive their salaries on Monday, 25 July.
“Fuel provision has already been suspended by service providers and
municipal vehicles cannot be used for service delivery,” according to
Graham-Maré.
In terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) a budget can only be
tabled by a mayor.
“We now await feedback from the municipal manager with respect to the next
steps as the Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional
Affairs will need to be notified of the situation,” said Graham-Maré.
According to her the ANC and CSA continue to blame the current state of
chaos on the DA and its partners, “but this crisis was created by them when they
brought their spurious motions of no confidence in the DA Mayor and Chief Whip.
“They then took several unlawful decisions which resulted in court action.
As a result of their greed and desperation, we have no mayor, chief whip,
budget, and IDP and a host of legal bills that are irregular, fruitless, and
wasteful.”
