Heidelberg businesses got together on March 8 to form an action plan to take on Lesedi Local Municipality (LLM).
Attorney at Law Hans-Jurie Moolman spoke to the business owners and concerned community members on what course of action needs to be taken.
Before the meeting, various petition campaigns from within Heidelberg as well as from the business owners themselves were handed to the mayor’s office.
Businesses are still waiting for feedback from the businesses.
The issues that were raised are water problems, electrical issues, sewerage leaks and spills and service delivery.
Moolman, who specialises in local authority cases, gave insight into what needs to be done and the course of action that need to be taken.
“The first step is for LLM to take accountability for the non-service delivery,” Moolman said.
“To do that a case has to be lodged at the courts and charges need to be filed. The attorney general will, in turn, start taking action and audit LLM. Various acts come into play that will be investigated and enforced.
“LLM will be accountable for the charges and will be forced into taking action one way or another.
“One of the acts that come into play deals with corruption and fraud. Act 34 of the constitution states that if anyone knows or has a suspicion of any corruption they must report the suspicion.
“Dealing with corruption is a long and winding road but it has to start with an initial complaint and confidentiality is of utmost importance,” Moolman said.
“We have submitted the various petitions and grievances with LLM and are still awaiting a response from them. Municipalities have 90 days in which to respond,” Gerry Holtzhausen said.
“To get LLM to take accountability we will have to look at going the legal route.”
Various questions were put to Moolman and courses of action were discussed.
“It is time the businesses and communities stand together to ensure that the right action starts to take shape,” Moolman concluded.
“Unfortunately, the whole business will cost a pretty penny but if various businesses feel it will be worth it then it is the course to take.”
He said the next step for the businesses in conjunction with the Heidelberg Business Chamber is to get a committee elected and put together to start the process’s wheels turning. The committee will run separately from the business chamber.
