Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbite in English by Cllr Coenrad Herbst.
The DA in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality (DRSM) has objected to a Council workshop 400 kms away at the Hartbeestpoort Dam to review policies and structures.
This workshop is nothing but a luxury breakaway with costs running into tens of thousands of rands, money that should be spent on improving the delivery of clean water to communities.
The cash strapped DRSM District Municipality was previously under a Section 139(5) financial administration due to its inability to deliver on its constitutional mandate to deliver bulk water and sanitation services to local municipalities.
It is amazing that the ANC-led DRSM District Municipality is all too eager to spend money in their self interest rather than improving the lives of people.
We have also written to the MEC of COGHSTA, Lenah Miga, the North West Premier, Bushy Maape, and the MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, requesting them to put a stop to this selfish and wasteful expenditure. There are more than enough suitable venues within the District Municipal Offices to host this workshop.
It is completely unacceptable for the municipality to spend money on traveling, accommodation, and catering while residents throughout the district face daily water supply disruptions and raw sewage flowing freely down streets.
The DA will continue to fight in Council for the improvement of water and sanitation services and will not participate in the ANC-led DRSM abuse of taxpayer money.