DECEMBER 2010 NEWSLETTER AMATHOLE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR, ALDERMAN SAKHUMZI SOMYO During the past year, the drought that has affected the Eastern Cape and our district in particular, water sources for the whole district intensified to the extent that we found ourselves having to cart water to a number of towns and so that we drill boreholes where villages. Thus far since the advent of the drought when Adelaide and Bedford ran out completely there is good potential and test these of water in December 2008, we have spent in excess of R35 million of ADM funding to ensure in order that they are ready for use provision of alternative sources of water for drought-affected communities. whenever needed. 4. Term tenders for drilling companies In July 2009 the district, along with other district municipalities within the Eastern Cape was declared were awarded to start drilling the a drought disaster area. Water restrictions were implemented across the whole district as of 1 moment enough sites were marked May 2010. Shortly after the disaster declaration, a Joint Operations Committee was established for drilling and we have a good with representation from various stakeholders within the district and a business plan was submitted understanding of their potential for funding in the amount of R156 million. To date the ADM has received some R12,4 million yields. from National Treasury. Hence carting of water became unsustainable and the ADM was forced to 5. Pump testing companies were also implement its drought tariffs of 25% across the board effective as from 1 October 2010. appointed on a term tender to test successfully drilled boreholes. The rains late in October and November this year were a welcome relief for our coastal areas, 6. CDEC, a local engineering company, filling up the dams and hence we were able to lift the water restrictions in the towns of Chintsa, has been appointed to explore Kei Mouth, Morgan’s Bay and Haga Haga. We anticipate that this will be a short reprieve as the the distribution of water along the dams in these areas are not very big and would struggle to cope with water demands during the coastal belt where we would most next dry period, thus we still encourage consumers to conserve water in these areas as much as probably use sea water extraction as ALDERMAN SAKHUMZI SOMYO possible. However, the inland areas remain water-distressed and the ADM continues carting water the main source of bulk water – to be to these areas. specified and designed by SSI. 7. We are in the process of appointing other local engineering companies for each area to The ADM took a bold decision in September 2010 to dig deep into its financial reserves to set aside design and implement the distribution of water once SSI has designed the water reuse/ funding of R78.5 million to implement its adopted Drought Intervention Plan which is designed to recycling part of the projects. In terms of ADM’s procurement policies and its drive aggressively mitigate the district-wide drought. This plan provides for a completely new strategy towards appointing emerging companies, our approach will be that each established of progressively exploring and developing new sources of bulk water which will provide a basket local company must list an emerging company they will work with, so that there is of options that will render ADM less rain-dependent including: sharing of knowledge and expertise. • A district-wide underground water exploration programme; In spite of the good rain along the coastal areas of the district, the ADM will not relax its planning • Water reuse and recycling to stretch our precious water further; of desalination provisioning. Planning always takes a lot of time as we also have to do an EIA study • Desalination option of salty borehole water and also directly from the sea along the to obtain a Record of Decision for the project, which could take up to 18 months, hence our need coast. to pursue with the desalination programme. The Municipal Manager, Mr Vuyo Mlokoti, appointed a Drought Action Team to implement this We trust that these measures which have been designed to speed up our response time to drought plan and to procure all material and services speedily. situations will go a long way to mitigate the stressful situation for all within our district. 1. An Engineering company, (Steward Scott Inc – SSI) who have a lot of experience in dealing with and mitigating the drought in the Southern Cape, was appointed to drive I would like to thank our consumers for their patience and forbearance with us during this very the above interventions and act as lead consultant for the whole district, with local trying time and for assisting us in handling the drought situation. It has not been an easy year for companies in the process of being appointed for each area. all of us. 2. An environmental specialist from a local firm, Coastal and Resource Management, is driving all environmental aspects like EIA studies etc. To all our visitors and citizens of the district, I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all 3. Two geo-hydrologist firms were appointed and they have started with desk studies for of us at the Amathole District Municipality, to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Butterworth area and Cathcart, from where they will cover all areas in order of “drought Prosperous New Year. We wish you peace, joy and fun in the sun with family and friends during priority”. This will assist in building up a good record of all potential underground the festive season. Please remember to keep safe, to buckle up and travel safely. MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR This past year has been marked by the Traditional Affairs Department has undertaken story which will hopefully become a reality by grieving, for those that have passed on, to extensive drought disaster within our district an extensive programme to improve service December 2013. road accidents, to drugs, drinking and driving, which demanded our full attention in delivery in local government. This includes and sometimes the normal inhibitions are left addressing the concerns of affected citizens, Local Government Turnaround Strategies. I Other articles include the unveiling of grave at home and revellers often find themselves whilst still carrying on with our usual workload invite you to read the discussion document that sites of six of our struggle hero icons; the suffering the consequences of unprotected sex and implementing the programmes of our has been written by our Municipal Manager, Elliotdale Rural Water Supply Project which is later on. Aids is a scourge and your family and Integrated Development Plan. Mr Vuyo Mlokoti, on these issues, specifically soon to be officially launched, and the transfer community need you! So to all our readers, on Outcome No 9, which affects our local of the primary health care function back to the please be safe, be responsible, and spare a Our resources, both human and financial, were government sphere. provincial Department of Health. thought for those who are suffering. stretched in order to cope with the demands. It has thus not been an easy year for many of In a similar vein, the district municipality For many Christians, Christmas is a time for If you would like to submit any comments or us, both for consumers and for the municipality is tasked to provide support to local family and friends to get together, to celebrate articles, please feel free to contact the editor officials alike. Still, the ADM has done its best, municipalities, and here Lungisile Ngcobo, our the birth of Christ, of Christmas carols and at [email protected] or fax on (043) 742 with the assistance of community members, to Municipal Support Manager, has submitted an church services, for the annual holiday of 1831. cope with the situation as best we could under article which outlines the support of ADM to fun in the sun, of beach parties and bonfires, the trying circumstances. our local municipalities. and a time of relaxation, rejuvenation and Until next time, renewal before rolling up our sleeves for the Gail Pullen Much has been said about improving the On a more exciting note, the ADM is in the year ahead. It is a time for planning New Communications Manager performance and service delivery from the planning stages for the development of its own Year’s resolutions, giving up smoking, going top echelons of government down to local dedicated offices which will be located at the on a diet, being more active and so on. government. The Cooperative Governance and Sleeper Site in Quigney. Read more about this But for many it is also a time of sorrow and 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE OUTCOMES BASED APPROACH, PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS AND DELIVERY AGREEMENTS AND OUTCOME NUMBER 9. In January 2010, the national Cabinet • Transformation of administrative and financial systems of local government, which includes Lekgotla approved an Outcomes Based supply chain management; Approach to service delivery; adopted twelve • The filling of six critical senior municipal posts, namely municipal manager, chief financial outcome areas, and for each outcome, a draft officer, regional town planner, municipal engineer, corporate services manager and the series of strategic outputs and measures. The communications manager as the basic minimum for every municipality; President expects that the outputs for each of • That all municipalities in the country achieve clean audits by 2014; and these outcomes should cover the period 2010- • Building municipal capacity to enable municipalities to collect 90% of their revenues. 2014. A high level Performance Agreement and a fully detailed and negotiated Delivery KEY ISSUES AND CONCERNS Agreement is expected to be developed by each national Minister/ Department with key The President has noted a number of times that we cannot continue to do the same things in the same role-players applicable to that department to way and expect different results.