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JIMMY MOYAHA: Last week, our finance minister (Enoch Godongwana) delivered his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), and in that statement, some of the pronouncements were around municipalities, including absorbing of municipal debt and the role of municipalities in enabling service delivery.
I’m joined on the line by the supply chain executive at a Beefmaster Group, Roelie van Reenen, to take a look at some of these statements made by the minister. Roelie, thanks so much for taking the time. What’s the role of municipalities within the agricultural community and how important is that role?
ROELIE VAN REENEN: Good day, Jimmy, thank you for the opportunity to have a quick discussion with you. Now, municipalities play a vital role within the agricultural sector in that we as an agricultural community rely on the town’s infrastructure to supply us. We rely on it for our people, the people who work for us, who work with us, other companies that provide services, and if that infrastructure dilapidates, we have to incur more costs, which boils down actually right back to the consumer who then pays for that.
If we don’t have proper infrastructure and services available close by, it becomes more expensive. It’s a concern for us the way things are going, and that there is no sign of improvement at this point in time.
JIMMY MOYAHA: Roelie, in terms of the plans that were outlined, the minister didn’t really provide any colour around that. He just said that the role of municipalities is quite essential. As Beefmaster, have you identified any recommendations or any proposals that you’ve put forward in terms of how you think municipalities can be handled?
ROELIE VAN REENEN: That forms part of it. What the minister said is that there is going to be more money available, or funds will be allocated to improve infrastructure and services. But that’s the old issue, is that there’s no real plan put forward. It just seems that it’s the same structure and the same setup for failure that we keep on seeing over and over again.
The dealings that I’ve had with the municipalities personally is that they’re good people, I don’t think they’re bad people at all, it’s just the knowledge and skill required is lacking. I think that’s where if you do have the funds, but to get the projects on the ground going, and there’s a disconnect, especially from the management side, with all respect, the management changes every couple of years, how do you really put a plan to work on the long run if you’ve only got it six months, as most of this interim management is, or even up to a four-year term, it’s very difficult to get those plans going. That’s why I think we see the failures and the systemic decline in the municipal infrastructure that we keep on seeing.
JIMMY MOYAHA: In terms of those systemic failures within the municipalities, how can that be mitigated if we’re looking at the service delivery component of it because non-service delivery is not good for anyone.
ROELIE VAN REENEN: Well, I think if we refer to it next year, that we do have the election year coming up, we need to vote differently. I don’t really mind what you vote then, but you have to say your say, and as a community member, that remains important. But also, to engage with the municipality, it’s very easy to stand aside with your friends and just complain. But what are you actually doing about the problem?
Have you walked into your local mayor’s office and said, I’m a concerned citizen of this community and I would like to help, what do you need help with? I think that’s an attitude difference, even though there’s nothing at that point in time, that’s a difference that you can make just by being open to conversation and assistance.
That’s what I personally do, is I engage with them and even if it’s just to get my opinion on something or to arrange for some assistance in some way that’s a notable difference. It’s very easy to stand one side and criticise, that will not make the difference required.
JIMMY MOYAHA: Roelie, what assistance is required from the agricultural community in respect of municipalities? What more needs to be done to create that enabling environment for the agri sector?
ROELIE VAN REENEN: We need to care. If I look at some of the towns, the infrastructure concerning roads, for instance, going backwards and dilapidating but we as the agriculture industry, we have trucks on the roads. Do we send our trucks onto the roads in the municipality that cannot handle the weights? Do we try and look after the roads in such a manner that we utilise roads that are fit for those trucks. It’s an example.
How is it that we care; or do we all just establish a no care attitude, and everything just goes downhill faster. Another option might be, municipalities do struggle sometimes, they call me on weekends, they have a problem with emergency electrical supply for some reason, or a pump that’s broken down and they can’t get those services from somewhere else. They need help. Do we turn a blind eye or cold shoulder, or do we actually help. That makes a difference. It’s an attitude that we need to do change within ourselves.
JIMMY MOYAHA: A clear plan of action is needed if municipalities are to continue delivering services effectively. Thank you so much, Roelie van Reenen of Beefmaster Group.
