Councillors of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality clapped hands during a sitting of Council today to appreciate the efforts of the Budget and Treasury Directorate for receiving a Vuna Award as the Best Performing Municipality in Revenue Collection.
This coveted award was received at a ceremony in East London last night at the Eastern Cape Vuna Awards ceremony.
Standing Committee Chairperson for Budget and Treasury, Cllr Balu Naran, said he accept the award as a success story.
“We must look at it as an inspiration not just for the directorate but for the entire institution. Others are struggling to achieve a good revenue collection rate and we have managed to achieve it,” he said.
To the entertainment of the public gallery political parties such as the UDM, PAC and Cope joined the ANC (ruling party) in appreciating the great achievement.
Speaker of Council, Cllr Maria Hermans, said management came up with the best strategies to enhance revenue collection and as a result the achievement should be celebrated.
“Let”s all put our hands together and be happy,” she added.
Since the inception of the Vuna Awards in 2001 municipalities received more than 300 awards.
Eastern Cape MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs Mlibo Qoboshiyane said the Vuna Awards concept is an initiative intended to strengthen and support the development of a culture of quality performance by our municipalities by identifying and rewarding best practices.
“This initiative is also a platform where municipalities are expected to learn, share Best Practices, innovations and creativity in order to improve delivery,” he added.
Amongst the many awards that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality received over the years, it also scooped a Vuna Award for maintaining an Unqualified Audit in the 2010-”11 financial year as well as Vuna Awards for Local Economic Development and Service Delivery during the 2006-”07 financial year.
Editor’s Notes:
- See the other side of this – Vuna Awards Lack Vooma
- AND, Stand by for a week or two – I have been contacted by a ratepayer very upset with the ineptitude of the collections department.
