Rates withholding blamed for poor cash flow

CANDICE BRADFIELD

AT the last council meeting for 2012, several councillors voiced their concerns that their own wards were not receiving adequate funding, or that the wrong projects were prioritised.

Councillor Monica Mateti, who often raises issues in Alexandria, said that in the last 10 years, not much funding had gone to the west part of Ndlambe.

"Is it an issue of east and west?” she asked.

Mayor Sipho Tandani warned that councillors must approach the matter with cool heads. He said that when municipal infrastructure grant (MIG) funding allocations are needs driven.

"We must avoid talking about east and west, we are one municipality,” he said.

A total of R27 294 000 has been fully committed for MIG projects throughout Ndlambe for the 2012/2013 financial year.

Director of infrastructural development Xolani Masiza said Nemato's sewerage was "critical” followed by Marselle and Bathurst. When it came to water supply, Bathurst is a priority, followed by Marselle and then Alexandria.

Speaker Vivian Maphaphu said they would not reach a conclusion on this topic. She said they would have a special council meeting to address the issue the following day.

"These issues are spilling over to courts of law. Once Ndlambe is taken to court, we will incur more expenses,” said Tandani.