Update to Plett Ratepayers' Members

Dear Members,

The Plett Ratepayers' Association continues to press for accountability, responsible development and competent municipal management. We are increasingly concerned that important issues are not being resolved by Bitou Municipality, leaving the RPA with little choice but to escalate matters to provincial and national authorities and, where necessary, to consider legal action.

1. Over-development and Water & Sewerage Capacity

The RPA remains deeply concerned that housing developments are being approved despite serious questions about whether Plettenberg Bay has sufficient water and sewerage capacity to support further growth.

On 30 March, the RPA wrote to the Western Cape Provincial Environmental Department asking it to enforce Bitou's compliance with the applicable environmental legislation and Compulsory National Water Standards in relation to development approvals. To date, we have received no response.

On 26 April, we formally approached Bitou Council, asking that approvals for new housing developments be required to comply with the Compulsory National Water Standards. We specifically highlighted Bitou's water crisis and concerns regarding compliance with the requirements governing new water connections. We also requested that Council adopt a motion requiring compliance with the relevant environmental regulations. Again, there has been no response.

The RPA has also approached the National Minister of Water and Sanitation, asking her to intervene to ensure that Bitou complies with its legal obligations. We are also raising our concern that inadequate budget appears to be allocated to the short-term water and sanitation projects needed to address the crisis.

Of particular concern is the use of package sewerage treatment plants and boreholes as the band-aid basis for approving developments. Our advisor, Bill Alexander, prepared a report on package sewerage plants. His assessment raises significant concerns about their long-term effectiveness, including the need for ongoing maintenance and the environmental risks associated with failures or leaks.

PDF documentSewerage Package Plants ReportDownload

Recently the mayor announced the completion of a new R41 million water treatment plant in Kurland Village to support a planned 1 500 housing unit development. However, looking at the sustainable, legally available water yield from the Wit River after accounting for the ecological reserve, existing lawful users, downstream users and the cumulative impact on Bitou's constrained Keurbooms dominant raw water source, to supply the Kurland area and the Erf 940 housing project, the actual Bitou Water Master Plan comes up short. Also when you consider that there is no raw water storage buffer but that it is totally reliant on adequate rainfall and boreholes.

We remain extremely concerned about the forecasted El Niño drought over the peak season and beyond and that there are no tangible actions in place to mitigate beyond implementing restrictions and relying on Roodefontein dam.

We also remain concerned about Supply Chain Management hampering critical progress with regard to vital infrastructure projects in the engineering department. Similarly, HR seems to be hampering progress with regard to recruitment to fill the many important positions in the engineering department. In terms of council's own reporting, these positions, while budgeted for, remain vacant with a notation of 'not yet advertised'.

Given the backlogs we face in maintenance, upgrading and expansion of infrastructure, while over development and influx are sanctioned by council, it is vital that key departments (and particularly the support functions such as HR and SCM) work efficiently and in support of the key objectives and priorities in the town, and not in silos or at cross purposes. The tail shouldn't be wagging the dog!

The RPA is now obtaining an advocate's opinion on a possible legal strategy to compel Bitou to comply with environmental requirements and ensure that housing developments are only approved where sustainable water and sewerage capacity exists to support them.

Our position is simple: development cannot be allowed to proceed faster than the infrastructure needed to support it.

2. Electricity Tariffs

The RPA is challenging aspects of the Bitou process and underlying motivations submitted to NERSA regarding increases in tariffs. We have also responded to the Department of Electricity & Energy regarding the future electricity pricing policy.

Our position, as set out in our letter to NERSA, is that municipalities should not be permitted to recover through electricity tariffs:

• Excessive administrative or staffing costs


• Procurement inefficiencies


• Poor contract management


• Avoidable losses


• Inadequate revenue collection


• Costs arising from poor management or negligence


• Costs attributable to inefficient municipal operations

Bitou ratepayers therefore request that the final Electricity Pricing Policy expressly establish the following principle:

No electricity consumer should be required to pay more than the efficient and prudently incurred cost of the electricity services and network capacity actually attributable to that consumer, together with transparently approved and properly justified cross-subsidies or surcharges.

Municipal inefficiency, avoidable losses, poor revenue management, unrelated municipal expenditure and revenue shortfalls must not be recovered through electricity tariffs.

We further request that all material tariff increases and new fixed, network, standby, prosumer or municipal surcharge charges be supported by transparent cost-of-supply and cost-to-serve studies, an affordability assessment, and full disclosure of the costs and assumptions underlying the proposed charge.

PDF documentBitou Cost of Supply Comments – letter to NERSADownload

3. Municipal Account Disputes

We are receiving an increasing number of complaints from residents about the Municipal Accounts Department.

Residents report that queries and account disputes are not being dealt with within the municipality's required timeframes. Of even greater concern are reports of disconnection notices being issued while accounts remain formally in dispute.

This is unacceptable.

The RPA has raised these concerns through the appropriate channels, but after receiving no satisfactory assistance from our Ward Councillor, we are now exploring whether legal remedies are available to enforce compliance with the municipality's own policies and procedures.

Ratepayers are entitled to a municipal administration that responds to legitimate queries and treats disputes fairly and consistently.

4. Plettenberg Bay Airport

The airport saga has now been going on since 2012.

Year after year we hear about mistakes, errors, failed processes and new attempts to get the airport operating properly. Yet there appears to be very little accountability when things go wrong.

We understand that the municipality is once again going out to tender. But this raises a fundamental question: why should we expect a different outcome if essentially the same municipal structures and officials are responsible for managing the process?

Plettenberg Bay needs a functioning commercial airport. It is critical infrastructure for tourism, investment and the local economy, and its failure represents a continuing economic opportunity cost to the town.

The RPA believes that the time may have come for Provincial Government to take responsibility for resolving and finalising the airport situation.

We cannot continue to watch money being spent while the benefits of a functioning airport remain locked away.

5. Long Suspensions of Senior Officials

Municipal Manager Mbulelo Memani's second suspension has now passed the one-year mark.

At a recent report-back meeting, Councillor Swart was asked why the disciplinary process was taking so long. His explanation was that a presiding officer and prosecutor still had to be appointed.

We find this explanation difficult to accept.

Plettenberg Bay has a substantial pool of experienced retired judges, advocates and attorneys who could potentially provide the necessary expertise. The failure to get disciplinary proceedings concluded within a reasonable period raises serious questions about management, accountability and the municipality's ability to deal decisively with senior officials whose performance is in question.

This is not simply about one individual. It is about whether Council has the capacity and willingness to:

• Appoint competent senior officials


• Monitor their performance


• Act when serious concerns arise


• Bring disciplinary processes to a timely conclusion

Accountability delayed is accountability denied.

6. Welcome to Our New EXCO Members

We are delighted to welcome David Offerman, Chris Sounes and Gillian McKnight to the RPA Executive Committee.

Each brings valuable skills, experience and expertise to the Association, strengthening our ability to scrutinise municipal performance and advocate effectively on behalf of ratepayers.

We look forward to their contribution and are sure that members will be hearing more from them in the months ahead.

Looking Ahead

The RPA will continue to pursue issues constructively but firmly. Where Bitou Municipality does not respond or fails to act, we will escalate matters to the appropriate authorities and consider all lawful avenues available to protect the interests of ratepayers and the future of Plettenberg Bay.

Our objective is not simply to criticise. It is to ensure competent administration, responsible development, accountability and value for ratepayers' money.

Kind regards,

Tony Blignaut