Lephalale is in the “fortunate” position of being in the eye of the storm regarding the development of the controversial Medupi Power Station. The power station is being built just outside Lephalale and has led to huge controversy regarding the environmental damage, socio-economic problems etc. The change from sleepy little town to technological leader has meant that the Lephalale DA Councillors had to become experts on a variety of issues in a very short time. Lephalale has a caucus of 3 DA Councillors and one District Municipality Councilor who lives here.

 On 8 April 2010, the Lephalale DA MCC organized a meeting between DA MP’s of the Water and Environmental Affairs portfolio (Gareth Morgan and Annette Lovemore), the DA Limpopo Leader (Desiree van der Walt, MP), key stakeholders in the development and representatives from organized agriculture. The meeting was held in a relaxed, informal atmosphere at a venue next to the river with a view of the beautiful bushveld scenery, monkeys playing in the trees and even an impala grazing in the vicinity. It was clear to all present that we need to do our utmost to protect this unspoiled environment. Interesting debates took place about important issues such as the availability and allocation of water, protection of our natural heritage, the need for alternative sources of energy etc. The visiting Members of Parliament were able to ask questions and share their knowledge with the participants. The knowledge that was gained by the Councillors and the networking that took place ensured that this was an extremely valuable experience for us.

 Subsequent to this event, in his Budget Speech on 15 April 2010, Gareth Morgan referred to the problems being experienced with the allocation of water quotas in Lephalale. The meeting once again demonstrated how important interaction between our MP’s, MPL’s and Councillors is and what positive implications such interaction can have for our communities.

February was a busy month in Welkom for the DA. On the 27th they held their National T Shirt day.

Have a look at the pictures to see what messages the T shirts raised!

The Limpopo ADAC Exco met on 23 January 2010. A communication was sent to all Limpopo councillors after the meeting.

Limpopo has 56 ADAC members and we are therefore entitled to 2 representatives on the National ADAC Council. The ADAC Chairperson and the ADAC Deputy Chairperson are the representatives.

 Three ADAC communications were circulated on:

1. Feedback on ADAC Exco meeting.
2. Information required by the Provincial Leader on SALGA training in Sweden.
3. Media statement on the Soccer World Cup.

 The National Chairperson of ADAC will be visiting Limpopo on Friday, 4 June 2010. The meeting will be in Polokwane at 14:00. Venue to be confirmed. All councillors will be informed of the date next week.

 The new ADAC website has been launched. Limpopo shares a blog with Free State, Northern Cape and Northwest. Any news from councillors for our blog will be appreciated. The more inputs we provide, the better chance we have of getting our own blog.

 Astrid Basson

082 8229027

During a council meeting of the Frances Baard District Municipality on Wednesday, 24 February 2010, ANC mayoral committee members insisted that the purchasing of five bar fridges, intended for the offices of the members of the mayoral committee, go ahead.

 This is in spite of the Democratic Alliance having pointed out during the meeting that a directive from Treasury clearly states that expenditure for the remaining and current financial year must be directed towards service delivery.  The DA wanted to know from the ANC what the actual aim of this purchase is and how they can justify spending public money on these luxuries. The distance between their offices in the new council building and the kitchen, which is already equipped with a big luxury fridge, can’t possibly be more than 20 steps away.

 The ANC’s reaction to this was very sarcastic. They said they were very sorry that there are council members whose feathers are ruffled every time items are to be purchased for the permanent mayoral committee members and that they consider the bar fridges, to be set up in their individual offices, as assets that will serve to improve the performance of their duties. The irony is that all of these permanent mayoral committee members are actually councilors in other municipalities and that they are not permanently based at the district office, even though they receive a greater salary than regular councillors because of their ‘permanent” status.

 The entire DA caucus voted against the purchase of these unnecessary items.    

 ISSUED BY DIRK STUBBE (MPL)

DA LEADER IN THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE

CELL:    082 787 5818

Tydens ‘n Frances Baard Distriksmunisipaliteits-vergadering op Woensdag, 24 Februarie 2010, het die ANC Burgemeesterskomitee-lede daarop aangedring dat daar met die aankoop van vyf (5) kroegyskaste voortgegaan moet word vir hulle kantore.

Dit nadat die Demokratiese Alliansie die ANC daarop gewys het dat in ‘n direktief soos vanaf Nasionale Tesourie ontvang, daar baie pertinent genoem is dat uitgawes vir die oorblywende en toekomende boekjare beperk moet word tot dienslewering.  Die Demokratiese Alliansie wou ook by die ANC-lede weet wat die eintlike doel is vir hierdie aankope en hoe hulle die spandering van openbare geld op sulke luukshede kan regverdig?  Die afstand vanaf hulle kantore na die kombuis met die mees luukse yskas tot hul beskikking in die nuwe raadsgebou, kan ook nie meer as 20 treë wees nie.

 Die ANC se reaksie hierop was baie sarkasties en vermakerig dat hulle baie jammer is as daar raadslede is wat “pyne” ontwikkel elke keer wanneer daar items vir die permanente burgemeesterskomitee-lede aangekoop moet word en dat hulle hierdie kroegyskaste binne in hul kantore as ‘n bate beskou ten einde hul werk beter te verrig.  Die ironie is dat al hierdie permanente burgemeesterskomitee-lede, raadslede in ander munisipaliteite van buite is en nie voltyds by die distriksmunisipaliteit op kantoor is nie alhoewel hulle ‘n groter salaris as gewone raadslede vir hul “permanente” status ontvang.

 Die volle DA koukus het sy teenstem teen die aankoop van die onnodige items uitgebring.

OPGESTEL EN UITGEGEE DEUR DIRK STUBBE (LPW)

DA WOORDVOERDER : KOöPERATIEWE REGERING

SEL:  082 787 5818

Clr Debbie Shahim of F.S.Moqhaka municipality is petitioning the Free State Legislature to have the roads in the Free State repaired in the short term and in the long term that they plan to rebuild these roads. This drive has now moved to other across to other provinces as well and there has already been a huge show of suppport.
Contact Clr Shahim on 082 375 9310

Masilonyana se leng ka tlasa ona,jwaleka ka ha e ka bophelo setjhabeng ho tswa ho Bo-Masepala bo tlamehile ho fana ka phana ya ditshebeletso. Mafelong a 2009 DA e i le ya amohela ditletlebo ho tswa setjhabeng hore ka nako tse ding boholo ba sebaka sa Soutpan ha se fumane metsi,mohlomong metsi ha a le teng ha se a nepahetseng ho ka sebediswa ke batho.

DA e ile ya latella taba,re ile ra ikopanya ka pele le Lefapha la Metsi ho nka disampola tsa metsi tshebedisanong mmoho le University Ya Freistata ho etsa diteko. Disampola tsa metsi di ne di phahame ho feta Escherichia coli kokwana e tshabehileng hoo boima ba yona boneng bo ka baka letshollo.