Gallery Update
GEORGE NEWS - Capital budget underspending and overspending on overtime were highlighted in George Mayor Melvin Naik's address to Council last week.
He called on Municipal Manager Trevor Botha to swiftly bring order in the administration.
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"Although national treasury gave us a heads up on sound financial management, there are serious red lights flashing," said Naik.
With only four months left to the end of the financial year on 31 June, only 15% of the capital budget has been spent, compared to 27% in 2017.
"The budget committee was at stages under severe pressure to accommodate the requests from directorates, but now little movement is found on the spending of our budgets," said Naik.
"I don't even want to engage the overtime matter. Seeing that we can't improve on managing overtime,
"I've decided to engage provincial treasury to assist in scrutinising our internal audit report on overtime."
The city's rapid expansion, high unemployment rate and increased need for infrastructure were next on the mayor's list of priorities.
He said although emphasis was placed in the budget to upgrade the infrastructure in previously disadvantaged areas, this could not be fully realised because they had to re-prioritise to plan for the assurance of water security.
Municipal Manager Trevor Botha, Speaker Gerrit Pretorius and Legal Adviser Johan van Schalkwyk.
Naik believes investment, job creation and poverty alleviation should be this year's focus points.
He said the municipality needs to ensure that its policies are appropriately aligned to ignite economic development.
ANC chief whip, Nomawethu Jantjies, said the municipality is running out of time.
"We are almost at the end of our financial year. If these funds (capital budget) are not spent, there is no service delivery."
ACDP Councillor Johan du Toit asked how the money will be spent over the next four months and asked for action against officials who misuse overtime claims.
Virgill Gericke of the PBI said although red lights are flashing, no action is being taken against the directors.
Sibongile Kraai, a local contractor, with an article he believes relates to his case against George Municipality.
According to several opposition parties, the municipality is dragging its feet on the issue of the integration of communities through planning and development.
SAC Councillor Bazil Petrus called it "apartheid" planning and development, saying it is still very visible in George.
Read a previous article: Budget, overtime in Mayoral address
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