This is how you govern: DA brags to ANC
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane says that his party has revived the struggling “ostrich capital of the world”, Oudtshoorn, having taken over the running of the municipality in 2016.
The DA won the troubled municipality in last year’s local government elections after the African National Congress suffered a 15% drop
The DA claimed victory with 55% support winning 12 of 13 wards, with a voter turnout of 55%.
According to Maimane, when the DA took over the municipality it was on a downward slide, heavily in debt and “virtually bankrupt”.
Many of the industries the area is famed for – ostrich farms and tourist destinations like the Cango Caves – were in deep financial difficulty, and the party campaigned on the promise of turning things around.
“Our promise to the people of Oudtshoorn was to implement a clean, honest and capable government that would revitalise the town’s incredible potential as a world class tourist destination,” Maimane said.
“Sustainable job creation and economic development were at the heart of our offer.”
Ten months in, and the party has already delivered on some of those promises, announcing that the Cango Caves has managed to return to profit, and is function well, drawing in thousands more tourists than a year ago.
As part of the resuscitation of the area, the local government has announced a new mall and housing development, which will launch in January 2018.
Further development projects are in the pipeline, including a variety of housing opportunities aimed and providing quality housing for poor residents.
Negotiations are taking place to establish a satellite campus of Chrysalis Academy in collaboration with Eden District Municipality, in support of the development of young people in Oudtshoorn.
Financially, the Municipality is still in debt, but this debt has decreased from R112 million to R31 million.
“Very soon we will be out of the red altogether and back on a sound financial footing,” the leadership said.
Eskom debt has decreased from R52 million to R10.3 million. Capital spending is improving and we have managed to spend our entire municipal infrastructure grant within the financial year, focusing on the development of poor communities.
“We are aiming to raise an additional R20 million per annum in revenue and our efficient spending and saving measures have resulted in savings in the excess of R7 million for the 2016/17 financial year,” it said.
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