Showing posts with label disaster management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disaster management. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Call for Urgent Business Environment Survey for Tshwane City Council


MEDIA RELEASE BY COUNCILLOR ADRIANA RANDALL: DA TSHWANE CAUCUS, 22 AUGUST 2008

The present flight of skills experienced at the Tshwane City Council threatens to paralyze effective service delivery in Pretoria.
It is of utmost importance to establish the reasons why the working environment at the council appears not to be conducive for motivated and productive working performances.

The Democratic Alliance calls on the City Council to commission an independent working environment survey to ascertain the morale, or lack thereof, of employees and to establish what factors are contributing to the spate of resignations experienced at present.

“Human resources are the council’s most precious asset. Without the human factor, no system, even if supported by the most advanced technology, can be of any use. Retaining skilled and loyal employees is a non- negotiable.” said Councillor Adriana Randall.

Racism, nepotism, poor management in general, the manner in which the Alternative Service Structure (ASD) is implemented and inadequate travelling allowances, to mention a few, are cited as possible reasons for widespread negativity among personnel.

In the light of the present exodus at the Council it is clear that time is not on our side. We need to get to bottom of this as soon as possible. An appeal is consequently made to Council to commission a survey without delay.

The DA questions the ANC-lead Council’s commitment to the “Batho Pele’ principles, which are supposed to inspire employer and employee alike. Without the political will and commitment noble ideas remain elusive dreams.

On the one hand, it is only fair to all employees to ensure positive working conditions which will benefit their performance and output. On the other, residents and tax payers of the city deserve no less than effective service delivery.

Councillor Adriana Randall (083 263 8667)

MEDIA VERKLARING DEUR RAADSLID ADRIANA RANDALL: DA TSHWANE KOUKUS, 22 AUGUSTUS 2008

Oproep om ‘n dringende besigheid omgewingsopname by die Tshwane stadsraad

Die huidige uittog van kundigheid by die Tshwane stadsraad dreig om effektiewe dienslewering in Pretoria lam te lê. Dit is uiters noodsaaklik om vas te stel waarom die werksomgewing by die raad nie bevorderlik blyk te wees vir gemotiveerde en produktiewe werksprestasie nie.

Die Demokratiese Alliansie doen ‘n oproep op die stadsraad om ‘n onafhanklike werksomgewing opname uit te voer om die moraal, of gebrek daaraan, onder werknemers te bepaal en vas te stel wat aanleiding gee tot die huidige vlaag van bedankings by die stadsraad.

“Menslike hulpbronne is die raad se belangrikste bate. Sonder die menslike faktor kan geen sisteem, selfs al word dit ondersteun deur gevorderde tegnologie, van enige nut wees nie. Die behoud van kundige en lojale werknemers is ononderhandelbaar.” het raadslid Adriana Randall gesê.

Rassisme, nepotisme, swak bestuur in die algemeen, die wyse hoe die Alternatiewe Dienste Struktuur (ADS) geimplimenteer word en ontoereikende reistoelaes, om net enkele voorbeelde te noem, word as moontlike redes aangedui vir die wydverspreide negatiwiteit onder die personeel.

Teen die agtergrond van die huidige eksodus by die stadsraad is dit duidelik dat tyd nie aan ons kant is nie. Ons moet so gou moontlik by die kern van die probleem uitkom. ‘n Oproep word dus op die raad gemaak om ‘n onafhanklike opname sonder verwyl uit te voer.

Die DA bevraagteken die ANC beheerde raad se verbintenis tot die ‘Batho Pele’ beginsels, wat veronderstel is om beide werkgewer en werknemer te inspireer. Sonder die politieke wil bly edel idees ‘n mens ontwyk.

Enersyds is dit regverdig teenoor werknemers om positiewe werkstoestande te verseker wat hul prestasie en uitsette ondersteun. Andersyds is die inwoners en belastingbetalers van die stad geregtig op effektiewe dienslewering.
Raadslid Adriana Randall ( 083 263 8667)

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

DA Release on Schubart Park Disaster


Schubart Park Disaster

Press release: Councillor Natasha Michael, Chief Whip Democratic Alliance, Tshwane. 22 July 2008

The Democratic Alliance Tshwane Caucus reacted with horror at today’s disaster that occurred at Schuburt Park Building in Pretoria Central.

“It is the most horrific end to a terrible tale that has been going on for years, the ANC led council has been making promises to the residents of this building for years, but due to a complete lack of service delivery and complete insensitivity towards the residents, nothing was done. This building was a health and safety risk and has been for years, it is an utter disgrace that the municipality did not act immediately! This ANC council has no respect for the human dignity of these residents and should today hang their heads in shame. The DA has warned the council on various occasions that this building was a time bomb waiting to explode and today our worst fears were confirmed. Perhaps if the Mayor and her staff spent more time in the city that they are supposed to serve and less time in Austria watching the Euro 2008 finals whilst staying in luxury hotels, residents of the city would not have to live in inhumane conditions” Said DA Chief Whip in the council Natasha Michael.


Councillor Natasha Michael – 083 282 0668


The following note was delivered this morning to the mayor’s office:


URGENT


To: THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR; THE CHIEF WHIP; THE SPEAKER


BY EMAIL ONLY


22 JULY 2008


Dear Executive Mayor; Chief Whip and Speaker

Schuburt Park Disaster

Please urgently inform the Democratic Alliance Tshwane Metro Caucus as to what steps have been taken to house and feed the residents of Schuburt Park Building following their forced eviction this morning.

We also formally request an investigation into the cause of the forced evictions as well as an investigation as to why alternative accommodation was not made available to the above mentioned residents before the forced eviction was required.

We further request a report to be handed to the Democratic Alliance Tshwane Metro caucus in which the council’s detailed plans regarding the building and problems there associated are outlined, including all responses to complaints lodged regarding the building by the Democratic Alliance.

We trust that we can expect this information as a matter of urgency in light of the tragedy that occurred at Schuburt Park today!


Yours faithfully
_______________________________
Clr Natasha Michael
Chief Whip of the Official Opposition: Tshwane Metro Council ;
Deputy Provincial Chairperson: Democratic Alliance Gauteng

Friday, April 11, 2008

Pretoria Disaster Management Disastrous


Persverklaring: Raadslid Clive Napier 11 April 2008
Media Release: Councillor Clive Napier 11 April 2008

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has released an earnest warning that Pretoria is not geared to react in the event should a disaster struck the city tomorrow.
Although the National Disaster Management Framework for the entire country was gazetted in April 2005 already, the Tshwane municipality only has a Municipal Disaster Risk Management Framework in place.
This is only a policy document aimed to ‘ensure an integrated, co-ordinated and uniform approach to disaster risk management in the municipality.’
The next phase that needs to be introduced is a public participation process. When will this commence one may ask, and how long will it take before decisions are taken on who is expected to do what with what means, in which manner to ensure speedy and effective reaction to disastrous events
Councillor (DA) Clive Napier said:” This is a disaster itself. The Tshwane Metro Council clearly doesn’t grasp the gravity of the situation.”
Napier added:” A disaster can strike any suburb at any given time with disastrous consequences.”
Pretoria is a high density city with complex infrastructure features with among other a matrix of road networks carrying heavy traffic with ample incident possibilities. In addition one must bear in mind the air traffic in the sky which constantly poses the possibility of an aircraft plunging to the ground. Over the elements of nature nobody has control and water, fire, wind can instantaneously become man’s worse nightmare.
The DA is calling on the Metro Council to face its responsibility with regard to Disaster Management before it is to late. Prevention is always better than cure.
If proper structures, capable of attending to disasters rapidly, is not put in place soon, the City Council will be culpable if human loss and damage is resulted by a disaster in which ever form.
The DA demands action on this issue and is calling on the ANC lead Council to stop tempting fate.

Councillor Clive Napier (082 827 5578)