Date: 04/11/2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Dowry: Statement to W Cape Provincial Legislature on Vuna Awards
STATEMENT TO THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE BY COBUS DOWRY, MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ON THE VUNA AWARDS AND ALLEGATIONS BY MR CARLISLE
HERE ARE THE FACTS ABOUT BEAUFORT WEST MUNICIPALITY
Madam Speaker
On behalf of the Department of Local Government and on behalf of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape I once again want to congratulate the winning municipality, Beaufort West, as well as the runners up, Matzikama and Theewaterskloof municipalities for their performance in winning the Vuna Awards in the Western Cape. They will now be part of 27 municipalities from all nine provinces, which will compete nationally. I am proud of their performance and we wish them all the best in the assessment process ahead.
The Vuna Awards have as aim to identify good practices and to facilitate shared learning among municipalities. The awards further intend to motivate municipalities to continuously seek mechanisms of improving performance. Strict and specific criteria have been set against which these municipalities were assessed but because of time constraints and because it is public knowledge I will not repeat them again.
The ten short listed municipalities were assessed by officials from my department, Western Cape Department of Local Government, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the National Productivity Institute and the national Department of Provincial and Local Government and the results were audited by Gobodo Chartered Accountants.
Despite this proud moment for local government in the Western Cape and despite recognition given to excellence, Mr Robin Carlisle from the Democratic Party has attempted to cast suspicion on the Vuna Awards and these municipalities. Instead of accepting facts Mr Carlisle has decided to ignore facts and to rather turn to misleading untruths. Instead of finding the truth Mr Carlisle has opted for deceit and guile. In short - Mr Carlisle has displayed a frightening lack of knowledge and insight into local government matters.
My department could have supplied the following information to him had he merely asked:
Carlisle allegation no 1: Beaufort West Municipality is bankrupt
* The facts: In the last financial year this municipality ended with a surplus of R724 309 on its budget and they have budgeted for a surplus again in the current financial year. In fact this municipality has R7.7 million on investments, R2 million more than last year.
Carlisle allegation no 2: Beaufort West Municipality has an overdraft of R3,7 million
* The facts: On 30 October 2003 this municipality had an overdraft of exactly R316 639,57 because of infrastructure projects being funded from their current account and the transfer of CMIP funds are awaited. Furthermore they funded bonuses to municipal workers, payable end of November, which was transferred from the current account to another account. This is a far cry from the R3,7 million overdraft according to the honourable Mr Carlisle.
Carlisle allegation no 3: Beaufort West Municipality is 98% under funded
* The facts: In the light of the above financial information it is clear that this is not the case.
Carlisle allegation no 4: This municipality lives on provincial and national handouts
* The facts: This municipality is within the Central Karoo region and is therefore part of the Integrated Sustainable Renewal Development Programme and my department is extremely proud of our involvement. If his party is against development in the Central Karoo then it should state so publicly and then its representatives in this area must be honest with their voters, and say they prefer to have no such involvement.
Carlisle allegation no 5: The Development Bank has cut the credit line to Beaufort West Municipality
* The facts: In the last four years this municipality has not applied for any loan as they have decided to fund their own projects and they have definitely not applied for a DBSA loan. Mr Carlisle must therefore explain this allegation.
Mr Carlisle has also seen fit to cast suspicion on the runners-up namely Matzikama and Theewaterskloof without giving information and without substance. Let me give Mr Carlisle and this House the assurance that these two municipalities are performing beyond expectations and they are proud participants in the national assessments of the Vuna Awards. They are far from bankrupt - yet another Carlisle fabrication.
To the honourable Mr Carlisle I want to say: As a member of the Standing Committee on Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Developmental Planning our municipalities expect from him to act with integrity and to act in a manner, which will promote local government in the Western Cape. To go public with fabrications and with distorted facts is not in the interest of local government and is not in the interest of our municipalities.
To criticise merely for the sake of cheap publicity is irresponsible and all our municipalities in the Western Cape - irrespective of their political affiliation - deserve better than casting suspicion on the Vuna Awards.
Furthermore the honourable Mr Carlisle was this morning quoted in the Cape Times and I quote: "For Beaufort West to win the best municipality award is like me (Carlisle) winning top female reporter of the year". With these financial facts on Beaufort West at his disposal and for his information, my wife can recommend a designer for a dress for him to wear for the occasion.
Enquiries: Jan Bosman, 083 775 5312
Issued by: Ministry of Local Government, Western Cape Provincial Government
4 November 2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Dowry: Statement to W Cape Provincial Legislature on Vuna Awards
STATEMENT TO THE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE BY COBUS DOWRY, MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ON THE VUNA AWARDS AND ALLEGATIONS BY MR CARLISLE
HERE ARE THE FACTS ABOUT BEAUFORT WEST MUNICIPALITY
Madam Speaker
On behalf of the Department of Local Government and on behalf of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape I once again want to congratulate the winning municipality, Beaufort West, as well as the runners up, Matzikama and Theewaterskloof municipalities for their performance in winning the Vuna Awards in the Western Cape. They will now be part of 27 municipalities from all nine provinces, which will compete nationally. I am proud of their performance and we wish them all the best in the assessment process ahead.
The Vuna Awards have as aim to identify good practices and to facilitate shared learning among municipalities. The awards further intend to motivate municipalities to continuously seek mechanisms of improving performance. Strict and specific criteria have been set against which these municipalities were assessed but because of time constraints and because it is public knowledge I will not repeat them again.
The ten short listed municipalities were assessed by officials from my department, Western Cape Department of Local Government, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the National Productivity Institute and the national Department of Provincial and Local Government and the results were audited by Gobodo Chartered Accountants.
Despite this proud moment for local government in the Western Cape and despite recognition given to excellence, Mr Robin Carlisle from the Democratic Party has attempted to cast suspicion on the Vuna Awards and these municipalities. Instead of accepting facts Mr Carlisle has decided to ignore facts and to rather turn to misleading untruths. Instead of finding the truth Mr Carlisle has opted for deceit and guile. In short - Mr Carlisle has displayed a frightening lack of knowledge and insight into local government matters.
My department could have supplied the following information to him had he merely asked:
Carlisle allegation no 1: Beaufort West Municipality is bankrupt
* The facts: In the last financial year this municipality ended with a surplus of R724 309 on its budget and they have budgeted for a surplus again in the current financial year. In fact this municipality has R7.7 million on investments, R2 million more than last year.
Carlisle allegation no 2: Beaufort West Municipality has an overdraft of R3,7 million
* The facts: On 30 October 2003 this municipality had an overdraft of exactly R316 639,57 because of infrastructure projects being funded from their current account and the transfer of CMIP funds are awaited. Furthermore they funded bonuses to municipal workers, payable end of November, which was transferred from the current account to another account. This is a far cry from the R3,7 million overdraft according to the honourable Mr Carlisle.
Carlisle allegation no 3: Beaufort West Municipality is 98% under funded
* The facts: In the light of the above financial information it is clear that this is not the case.
Carlisle allegation no 4: This municipality lives on provincial and national handouts
* The facts: This municipality is within the Central Karoo region and is therefore part of the Integrated Sustainable Renewal Development Programme and my department is extremely proud of our involvement. If his party is against development in the Central Karoo then it should state so publicly and then its representatives in this area must be honest with their voters, and say they prefer to have no such involvement.
Carlisle allegation no 5: The Development Bank has cut the credit line to Beaufort West Municipality
* The facts: In the last four years this municipality has not applied for any loan as they have decided to fund their own projects and they have definitely not applied for a DBSA loan. Mr Carlisle must therefore explain this allegation.
Mr Carlisle has also seen fit to cast suspicion on the runners-up namely Matzikama and Theewaterskloof without giving information and without substance. Let me give Mr Carlisle and this House the assurance that these two municipalities are performing beyond expectations and they are proud participants in the national assessments of the Vuna Awards. They are far from bankrupt - yet another Carlisle fabrication.
To the honourable Mr Carlisle I want to say: As a member of the Standing Committee on Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Developmental Planning our municipalities expect from him to act with integrity and to act in a manner, which will promote local government in the Western Cape. To go public with fabrications and with distorted facts is not in the interest of local government and is not in the interest of our municipalities.
To criticise merely for the sake of cheap publicity is irresponsible and all our municipalities in the Western Cape - irrespective of their political affiliation - deserve better than casting suspicion on the Vuna Awards.
Furthermore the honourable Mr Carlisle was this morning quoted in the Cape Times and I quote: "For Beaufort West to win the best municipality award is like me (Carlisle) winning top female reporter of the year". With these financial facts on Beaufort West at his disposal and for his information, my wife can recommend a designer for a dress for him to wear for the occasion.
Enquiries: Jan Bosman, 083 775 5312
Issued by: Ministry of Local Government, Western Cape Provincial Government
4 November 2003
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