According to DA Clr Bruce Reid, service delivery is severely impacted when the metro does not properly plan to spend its budgets in full, and these problems undoubtedly contributed to the water problems becoming a crisis in recent weeks.
The DA says that in the 2013/14 financial year, the metro essentially overcharged residents more than the R1.8-billion that it failed to spend in its budget.
In a speech delivered in the September Council meeting, Reid highlighted some of this massive underspending.
According to him, over R790-million worth of water and electricity was purchased from Rand Water and Eskom, and not sold on to residents, in all likelihood due to losses caused by burst pipes and theft of cables.
Employee costs are allegedly down almost R400-m, because of the over 2 700 vacancies in the metro.
“It is hard to believe that the ruling party, which claims to be serious about job creation, has left vital posts vacant for so long.”
According to Reid, in the EMPD there are 301 vacant posts, and in the fire and ambulance services this number is 104.
“This not only poses a significant danger to residents in terms of their safety and their lives, if they are in an accident, but costs the metro hugely in the morale of its staff and the cost of excessive overtime hours.
“There are allegedly 240 vacancies in the Energy Department, which is simply unacceptable in light of the major problems with constant power outages in the metro.
“Being short-staffed in this critical department means the metro cannot prevent or quickly repair the damage when the power goes out.”
“The national guideline states that the amount budgeted for repairs and maintenance should be eight per cent of the total value of the assets.”
Reid says the metro is spending slightly more than half of that which means that the metro’s plant, equipment and property is not being optimally maintained, and will need massive repairs or replacement sooner than necessary.
“It will fall to the residents to pick up the tab of the cost of early replacement of these items.
“In a well-run metro, like Cape Town, residents would not have to worry about the upkeep of the metro’s assets, because proper management and planning would ensure that these are taken care of timeously.”
The metro has been approached for comment, but no comment had been received at the time of going to print. – @IschkeBoksburg
