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The Democratic Alliance will request clarity and an explanation from the JB Marks Municipal Speaker, Elias Mogeemang, on why his office continues to undermine residents by failing to hold effective public participation meetings.

The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) meeting scheduled for 16 October 2018 was abruptly cancelled due to the failure of the Speaker’s office to show up for the meeting.

This meeting was an opportunity for residents to raise concerns over service delivery issues with regards to the lack of refuse removal, the poor state of the roads and other environmental concerns in the area.

The IDP is a five-year plan which local governments are required to compile to determine the development needs of the municipality. The projects within the IDP are also linked to the municipality's budget, this is a vital living document that relies on the continued input of local residents and the support of the Council.

The Municipal Systems Act 32 of 200, clearly states that a municipality must develop a culture of municipal governance that complements formal representative government with a system of participatory governance.

The IDP adopted by the council of a municipality is the principal strategic planning instrument which guides and informs all planning and development, and all decisions with regard to planning, management and development in the municipality.  The IDP is intended to provide an opportunity for residents to put forward their specific needs in line with the development and growth of a city.

The failed IDP meetings and the fact that the Speaker of JB Marks Local Municipality continually fails to arrive for the planned IDP meetings sends a clear message to residents that they are only important for votes during election time.

This is in stark contrast to the requirement that local municipalities in South Africa use this process as a method to plan future developments in their areas. Rural areas which are underdeveloped and largely unserviced continue to be ignored, and residents are deprived of the opportunity of participating in the future planning of the area.

The plan is intended to improve the quality of life for all the people living in an area. The absence of the ANC speaker and the failed meeting is clear proof that the failing ANC does not care about improving the standard of living of the residents.

JB Marks needs a change in government, a government that will prioritise community engagements to understand the challenges that residents endure in order to deliver basic services to improve this.

Only a DA-led government can bring change that accelerates the delivery of services and building One South Africa for All.

Issued by the DA