SPESIALE NUUSBRIEF/SPECIAL NEWSLETTER:

CANNON ROCKS / BOKNES

BELASTING BETALERS VERENIGINGS/RATE PAYERS ASSOCIATIONS

JUNIE/JUNE 2021

Beide Boknes (BRA) en Cannon Rocks Belasting (CRRA) Betalers Verenigings is terdeë bewus van die groeiende bekommernis van die gemeenskap oor die onwettige vestiging van plakkers te Boknes tuinvullis stortingsterrein, langs die Ndlambe Munisipale behuising vir werknemers, asook die beplanning van Ndlambe Munisipaliteit om die verskaffing van dienste t.o.v. elektrisiteit van Eskom oor te neem.  Die Belastingbetalersverenigings het aandag geskenk aan genoemde aspekte en wens soos volg te rapporteer.

1.      Vestiging van Onwettige Strukture te Boknes Tuin Vullisterrein.

Daar is verskeie briewe deur beide die twee Belasting Betalers Verenigings aan die Ndlambe Munisipale Bestuurder gerig ten einde die vestiging en uitbreiding van onwettige strukture op munisipale grond onder sy aandag te bring en te versoek dat die nodige stappe geneem word om die probleem aan te spreek.  Skrywes is ook aan die plaaslike Demokratiese Alliansie (DA) tak deurgegee.  In die skrywes is oa die aandag daarop gevestig dat die strukture onwettig is en dat dit gesondheidsrisiko’s inhou vir beide die plakkers, munisipale werkers, hul huisgesinne asook die inwoners en besoekers aan Boknes.  Die Munisipale Bestuurder is ook versoek om die Ndalambe Munisipale beleid rakende onwettige oprigting van strukture op munisipale grond, te bevestig.  Beide verenigings het ook gesprekke met personeel van die Munisipaliteit gevoer om die probleem aan te spreek.

Gedurende ‘n vergadering in November 2018 in die gemeenskapsaal te Boknes, het die Ndlambe Munisipale Burgermeester, Raadslid Faxi, sy afkeur rakende die oprigting van onwettige strukture op munisipale grond bevestig en inwoners die versekering gegee dat die Ndlambe Munisipaliteit sulke optrede nie sal duld nie en ook dat sulke dade aanleiding kan gee tot konflik.

Kennis is geneem van ‘n skrywe deur die Oos-Kaapse Landbouvereniging aan die Departement van Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling, Omgewingsake en Toerisme (DEDEAT) waarin bogenoemde probleem aangespreek word.

Tot op hede is nog geen formele ontvangserkenning of terugvoer van die Ndlambe Munisipale Bestuurder ontvang nie.

2.      Samesprekings.  Daar is gevolglik ‘n informele vergadering gereël waar die Koukus-leier van die DA, asook beide Cannon Rocks en Boknes se Voorsitters en Onder-Voorsitters die vergadering bygewoon het.  Tydens die vergadering is vasgestel dat:

·      Die Munisipaliteit nie die onwettige plakkers wil antagoniseer nie, maar eerder oorreed om na veiliger persele, waar die nodige dienste beskikbaar is, te skuif.

·      Die Ndlambe Munisipale Behuising Bestuurder het meegedeel dat voldoende persele te Marselle beskikbaar gestel is vir plakkers aldaar, asook dié wat strukture te Boknes Stortingsterrein opgerig het.

·      Die Behuising Bestuurder het ‘n formele memorandum voorberei wat aan die Speaker en die Munisipale Bestuurder voorgelê sal word om die nodige stappe te neem vir die hervestiging van die onwettige bewoners.

Die DA Koukus-leier het onderneem om die saak met die Speaker en die Burgemeester op te neem en vordering aan beide belasting betalers verenigings te rapporteer.

3.      Elektrisiteit Voorsiening.  Tydens die vergadering met die DA Koukus leier was die saak van elektrisiteit voorsiening ook bespreek.  Sonder enige vooraf kennisgewing aan betrokkenes of enige vooraf bespreking, het ‘n besprekingspunt op die sakelys van die Ndlambe Munisipale Raadsvergadering van 6 Mei 2021 verskyn om magtiging te versoek dat Alvimax Pty Ltd gemagtig word om ‘n ondersoek te loods vir die moontlikheid dat Ndlambe die elektrisiteits-voorsiening en verskaffing van ondersteunende dienste van Eskom oor neem in areas onder beheer van die Ndlambe Munisipaliteit, waar Eskom die direkte verskaffer is.  Die aangeleentheid was uitgestel na die Raadsvergadering van 25 Mei 2021, waartydens dit verder uitgestel is vir verdere toeligting deur die Munisipale Bestuurder.

Gedurende die vergadering met die DA Koukus-leier het beide Belastingbetalers Verenigings aangedring op publieke deelname aan die proses en dat publieke deelname reeds by aanvang van die proses, en nie eers later gedurende die proses, vereis word.

Die aangeleentheid sal deur beide belastingbetalers verenigings gemonitor en verdere terugvoer mettertyd voorsien word.

 

Both Boknes (BRA) and Cannon Rocks (CRRA) Rate Payers’ Associations are conscious of the growing unease in the community regarding the illegal squatter situation at the Boknes garden refuse dump, next to the Ndlambe Municipal housing for employees, as well as the intention of the Ndlambe Municipality to take over from Eskom the provision of electricity.  The Rate Payers’ Associations are paying attention to both these issues and wish to report as follows.

1.     Establishment of Illegal Structures at the Boknes Garden Rubbish Dump.

Numerous letters from both associations have been addressed to the Ndlambe Municipal Manager where in the erection of illegal structures on municipal land was brought to his attention and the request was made for the necessary steps to be taken to address the problem.  The local Democratic Alliance (DA) office was also informed about the problem in writing.  Their attention was drawn to the fact that the structures are illegal and that many health risks to the squatters, the municipal workers, their families, residents of Boknes and visitors to the area, are attached to housing on this land with no infra structures.  The Municipal Manager was also asked to confirm the Ndlambe Municipality’s policy pertaining to illegal structures on municipal land.  Both Associations also had discussions with staff of the municipality addressing this issue.

At a meeting in November 2018 in the Boknes community hall, the then Ndlambe mayor, Councillor Faxi, confirmed his disapproval of illegal structures on municipal land.  He assured residents that such structures would not be tolerated by Ndlambe and that it could cause conflict if any are erected.

Notice has been taken of a letter by the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture to the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (DEDEAT) in which the above-mentioned problem was addressed.

Up to the present no formal receipt or feedback from the Ndlambe Municipal Manager has been received.

2.         Discussions.  An informal meeting was then arranged attended by the leader of the DA Caucus-leader as well as both chairmen and vice-chairmen of BRA and CRRA.  At the meeting it was established that.

·      The municipality does not wish to antagonise the squatters, but rather wish to persuade them to move to safer sites with the necessary infra-structures.

·      The Ndlambe Municipal Housing Manager informed the meeting that a sufficient number of sites at Marselle have been made avaible for all the squatters in Marselle as well as those at the Boknes garden refuse site.

·      The Housing Manager prepared a formal memorandum to be presented to the Speaker as well as the Municipal Manager for the necessary steps to be taken for the relocation of the illegal squatters.

The DA Caucus-leader undertook to take up the matter with the Speaker and the Mayor and to report on any progress to the two Associations.

3.     Electricity Supply.

At the meeting with the DA Caucus-leader, the supply of electricity was also discussed.  With no prior notice given or any discussions, a point of discussion appeared on the Agenda of the Ndlambe Municipal Council meeting of 6 May 2021 whereby authorisation was requested for Alvimax Pty Ltd to launch a probe into the possibility of Ndlambe taking over the supply of electricity and services from Eskom, at present the direct supplier, in all areas under the governance of Ndlambe.  This matter was postponed until the Council meeting of 25 May 2021 whence it was again postponed for further explanation by the Municipal manager.

During the meeting with the leader of the DA Caucus-leader both Ratepayers’ Associations demanded the public’s participation in the process and that the participation must be as from the beginning of the process and not at a later stage.

This matter will be monitored by both associations and more feedback will be supplied when available.