Eden Municipalities stand with Oudtshoorn

10 February 2016

Municipalities in the Eden district of the Western Cape have pledged to assist in turning around the municipality of Oudtshoorn.

Following a request for assistance by Allen Paulse, the newly appointed acting municipal manager in Oudtshoorn, Anton Bredell, the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, convened a meeting with mayors and municipal managers of the Eden district’s municipalities.

“The Administration of Oudtshoorn continues until the local government elections later this year. To date the administration has made a lot of progress in terms of issues like governance and stability. But now we face a second phase and here the municipality needs assistance in order to improve service delivery.”

Bredell says the district municipalities under the guidance of the Eden District Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Cllr. Wessie van der Westhuizen, all agreed to jump in and help Oudtshoorn.

“Budget and skills remain a huge problem in addressing the challenges that are on the ground in Oudtshoorn. While the full turnaround will be a lengthy process, the assistance of municipalities in the region will ensure that critical events like theKlein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) festival can continue unhindered. As a provincial government we cannot allow that vital boosts to the rural economy like the KKNK gets impeded by bad service delivery. The various municipalities in the area agree with this.”

The assistance to be provided to Oudtshoorn include:

- Financial support of up to R 200 000.

- Secondment of staff to Oudtshoorn at the cost of the pledging municipalities to help with the cleaning of the town and repair of the potholes.

- Specialized and highly technical skilled staff to assist during the KKNK.

- There may also be some improvements of KKNK venues through painting, cleaning etc.

Bredell has thanked the leadership of the various municipalities for their willingness to help.

“This intervention has always been and remains a combined effort between local, provincial and national government.  This latest effort by the municipalities in the Eden district is what the idea of working together is all about. I applaud the selfless assistance by these councils.”

Issued by James-Brent Styan, Spokesperson for the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, 10 February 2016