The troubled Buffalo City Metro department of municipal services has come under fire for poor performance after achieving only 29% of its set key performance indicators in the first quarter of the current financial year.
In a report tabled before council two weeks ago, BCM mayor Xola Pakati said the department had only achieved four key performance indicators (KPIs) out of 14, from July to September.
The department is responsible for refuse removal, cemeteries, sports facilities and community amenities, among other roles.
Its portfolio head is ANC councillor Helen-Neale-May.
There is no permanent head of department at the moment.
The poor performance contributed to BCM’s overall first quarter performance of 64%.
“It is worrying that the directorate that is the face of the city can only achieve four KPIs out of 14 that have [been] set to be reported in this quarter,” said ANC councillor and portfolio head of health, public safety and emergency services Amanda Mnyute.
ANC councillor Luleka Simon-Ndzele said: “I have never seen this kind of dirt ... I fail to understand why there are no other plans from municipal services to implement and spend their budget.
“Mayor, please crack the whip. Start with the city manager because he accounts to you, and then sit with the capital spending committee.”
Finance portfolio head ANC councillor Nontsikelelo Peter said poor service delivery had a negative impact on the metro’s collection rate.
Other low scores included the finance department, with 50%, while economic development and agencies scored 63%, and health, public safety and emergency services scored 67%.
City manager Andile Sihlahla’s office and corporate services scored 100%, spatial planning and development 90%, infrastructure services 83% and human settlements 80%.
Pakati’s report also reflected that municipal services contributed largely to the metro’s high overtime bill of R27.5m in just three months.
Municipal services paid R9.8m, infrastructure services paid R8.5m and health, public safety and emergency services paid R7m for overtime.
Independent audit committee chairperson Ronel Shaw said the departments with the highest overtime incurred had been requested to submit reports on how they planned to to curb this problem.
Shaw said the collection rate was at “a disappointing 71.26% at the end of September”.
“We were assured this was because rates and taxes are levied and billed during the first quarter, however the collection would normally be recovered over a 12-month period. There are also unresolved disputes,” she said adding that the metro’s low capital expenditure and unspent conditional grants not qualifying for rollover from national treasury were a concern...