The Overstrand is often regarded as a well-run municipality, but concerns are increasingly being raised about whether public participation processes are meaningful in practice.

The following letter was sent to Mayoral Candidate Clinton Lerm this afternoon, accompanied by our “Councillor’s Pledge” that you can view at Councillors’ Pledge.pdf :

From a Ratepayer perspective, meaningful Public Participation is central to good governance.

Significant concern has arisen in Sandbaai regarding the conduct of certain councillors (including the Sandbaai ward councillor and the deputy mayor) and municipal officials (including the area manager). Allegations of irregularities, nepotism, and even fraud have been raised.

The following letter was sent to the Municipal Manager (with Council CC’ed):

SUBMISSION ON ELECTRICITY TARIFFS AND RESTRUCTURING

Dear Councillor Lerm.

Residents who have taken the time to work through thousands of pages of draft municipal documents and submit detailed comments have probably asked themselves the same question: does any of it actually make a difference?

In order for us to continue our accountability work, Afriforum Overstrand has been so kind as to donate a laptop to the Overstrand Accountability Collective (OVAC).

A recent municipal notification announced that the upcoming Sandbaai ward meeting has been relocated to the Banquet Hall in Hermanus. This has drawn strong criticism and objection from Sandbaai Ratepayers, who claim that the public participation process is being undermined…