The DA in Dipaleseng has written to the Municipal Manager, Lwazi Cindi, requesting him to investigate and urgently facilitate lease agreements for properties that are leased by the municipality.
Recently, a report that was tabled in council demonstrated the challenges that the municipality was facing with its properties, because it failed to enter into lease agreements.
Using the mayoral house which is situated in Balfour as an example, it is reported that the occupant is not paying for services and there are no avenues for legal recourse because there is no valid lease agreement.
To rectify the above, the municipality communicated that its Legal Division is planning to issue a contract to the lessee.
The report also lists a Shisa Nyama establishment that is without a lease agreement. Other properties/facilities with no lease agreements include an old age home, day care centre and a funeral parlour.
The DA finds situations like the above completely unacceptable and negligent. The DA wishes to highlight that the municipality’s disregard for revenue generation has a huge impact on the municipality’s financial status and service delivery.
The municipality cannot afford to offer free services from its properties. The ANC administration needs to realise that state-owned properties should be utilised in accordance with the government handbook.
No favours should be done for cadres wishing to occupy these properties. The DA reiterates that these properties should be leased according to their market value.
With this in mind, we call on the Municipal Manager, Lwazi Cindi, to take decisive action and probe why the relevant department is delaying the issuing of lease contracts. It can’t be business as usual, while the municipality is losing money on its properties.