Welcome and congratulations

UWE RATHMANN, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST WRITES:Residents here can't wait to get you as an experienced CEO on top of the service delivery of the Municipality. Our understanding is that a Performance Agreement will be signed between you and the senior management of the Council.Before that, Grootfontein residents would like to share with you a range of “challenges” which led to breakdowns in service deliveries in the Municipality at times.Civil Society was kept under the wrong impression that the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development was accountable to implement the Local and Regional Authority Act from 1992. Fact is that the MURD's Public Service Charter states: “Regional Councils and Local Authorities are expected to develop their own Charters.” Because that was not done, all Councils made their own “work saving regulations".All our reports about the challenges and the collapse of services in the Grootfontein Municipality were sent to MURD. From there the reports were only forwarded to the Municipality and never answered or commented on by MURD.An investigation team visited the Municipality for six weeks in November 2018. Up to today no feedback on findings and recommendations were given to the public. The staff at the Municipality at times behaved aggressive against us, the “whistle blowers”.Written reports about the collapse of service delivery not only in the Grootfontein Municipality, but also in the MURD were sent to the President, the Prime Minister and the Ombudsman but not answered in the President's "Year of accountability".Dear Mr. Kisko Sinvula, I take the liberty to inform you about some “challenges” within the municipality. All these issues are in writing as communicated to MURD or OPM and available for your information.PARTICIPATION AND INFORMATIONTown Council meetings happen without invitation and without any set schedule. No agenda is available in time. There is no regular option to inspect signed minutes of meetings. Reasons: minutes were for months not signed or no staff available to hand out and observe the minutes to be inspected. During the inspection no writing of notes are allowed.The Chairperson of the Council and Mayor argues that copies of the signed minutes (public documents containing the resolutions of the Council) “are not good for the public”. The public are not allowed access unless they pay N$50 per page.No regular public information meetings are held. No public education through the PRO or the HODs. Still no updated website which can contain the minutes.INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLICThe request to get an organogram of the Municipality is denied. No office door caries the name of the official, a division and contact number, but the building has a sign: "No Entry – Staff only".The HR division has apparently got five positions but the head of the division does not answer any questions about findings, regulation and proceedings and refers every question or inquiry to the CEO.There is no time control, no attendance list. It is common to meet staff members in town during office hours or they are off for days and nobody knows the reason.There is no disciplinary action about aggressive behaviour by Councillors and staff toward the public.MANY MORE . . .We have many more challenges like uncontrolled sewage flow and refuse dumping, shebeens and taxis.The public is also concerned about the results in the report of the Auditor General and a new, unconfirmed report about lost money to "ghost security money collectors".There is a chronic abuse of Municipality cars after hours, on weekends and public holidays. One bakkie is without the logo of the Municipality and abuse cannot be recognised.Unfortunately up to now there is no “authority” to manage the Municipality in Grootfontein.Dear Mr. Sinvula, residents want, for a change, a participatory and cooperative relationship with the Municipality on the basis of our Constitutional rights and the Local Authority Act. Residents must be aware that they have to learn what their responsibilities are and support the Municipality.You have the super big task to illuminate the list of the above challenges. How to do it, should be contained in your Performance Agreement. Our expectations are that most of these challenges will be solved in one year.That is part of the change we and many young people are waiting for.Dear Mr. Sinvula, I look forward to meet you in your new working environment.Lots of strength and good luck!

Welcome and congratulations

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Republikein 2025-08-25

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Welcome and congratulations

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Republikein 2025-08-25

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