All the ANC councillors left the meeting, minutes after it started. The DA continued the meeting with a quorum. Before the walkout Charlie Williams, ANC chief whip, explained that the ANC is seriously concerned about a number of factors - 11 in total - including "wasteful expenditure on so-called infrastructure". He also maintains that the tender process was not open and transparent.
The approval of the first item on the agenda went smoothly. Council approved the proposal to the ultilise erf 1544 in Touwsranten (open field across the community hall) as a remote depot facility for the George Integrated Public Transport Network (GIPTN).
However, the second item, the approval of the GIPTN Unit Structure, was not without hick-ups. After a 40min caucus, and several discussions, Council approved the structure in principle, with quite a few amendments. The main problem was approving a structure in which certain positions - those financed by province - were already filled. In the amended proposal it is stipulated that posts financed by province will be managed and filled by both province and the municipality, in terms of the Inter Governmental Agreement. The structure will also be financed by province in full, for the first two years.
The other items were approved without serious glitches. They include the GIPTN rules of carriage and passenger charter, and the information statement on the proposed lease and transfer of the vehicles of the GIPTN initial bus fleet to the operating company George Link.
Charlie Williams, chief whip of the ANC, and the rest of the party's members, leaves the George Council Chambers last Wednesday, minutes after the meeting started.
Jacques Quinot, deputy director of roads and stormwater at the George Municipality, and Mercia Draghoender, George speaker, share a lighter moment last Wednesday. Photos: Michelle Pienaar
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