Why pay bonuses to officials of the Mangaung Metro if the metro is so badly managed that it must be under national administration?
This is one of the problems touched on at a meeting of OurSA, an umbrella organisation for community associations, businesses, professionals and forums, that was held on Monday (20/06) regarding the metro’s budget.
OurSA is a non-governmental organisation that was formed with 13 directors representing community and business organisations in the metro.
The meeting was held just before the metro’s 2022/23 budget got approved on a third meeting on Wednesday, 15 June.
Johan Snyman, a director and coordinator of OurSA, said this organisation had been formed to empower the community. Several neighbourhood associations, the Mangaung Ratepayers Association, the Mangaung Service Delivery Forum, the Mangaung Concerned Community (MCC) and other organisations attended the meeting.
Snyman said OurSA aimed to include residents of the metro, of all 103 suburbs and towns, as well as the four agri areas that fall within the metro, on non-political grounds.
“We want to draw all sectors of the community together to make Mangaung a place that you would want to live in. It should be a place where all residents have a job, a house and are safe.”
He said it was the vision of OurSA that different organisations keep their identity and continue work in their separate communities, but talk with one voice about things that matter to all.
Snyman said the metro consists of council members, officials and the community.
“Once every few years we have to vote for councillors or the governing party, but after that community members are not consulted on what they want and need. This will have to change.”
Snyman said it was their aim to work with government towards a better future for all.
“When we talk about something, leaders of the different organisations go back to their members to get input. This is what we did after the meeting about the budget and how we will take OurSA forward.”
Themba Zweni, spokesperson for the MCC, said they were not part of OurSA.
“We are still working on a format that will fit both organisations. We are in ongoing consultation,” he said.
Cas Kempff of the Mangaung Ratepayers Association said it was important that groups form a united front.
“If we do not get services, why do we have to keep paying?”
Kempff said it was time for residents to stop complaining and to start doing things.
Snyman said they wanted to be representative, therefore people should join the residents’ association in their area or get involved as members of business.
Some of the other issues regarding the budget is the concern that the budget document itself is 359 pages, while projects consist of 35 pages.
“How many people work through the documents on the metro’s website? We should be more informed and use knowledgeable people in the community to help us make a difference,” Snyman said.
Some of the remarks that came back from member organisations is that the metro can save money by repairing water leakages, better monitoring of capital budget and other projects and by appointing qualified employees rather than outsourcing.
