DM’s next moves – give your input

Widely regarded as a municipality’s five-year business plan, the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is the single strategic plan that each municipality is required, by the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 (MSA), to adopt for the development of the municipal area. The plan sets out the vision and strategic objectives that the municipality intends to achieve.

For a municipality its IDP is something similar to a road map. It contains all the details on progress with current service delivery projects, on planned initiatives and actions, and it gives residents and businesses in the area a sneak peek into the municipality’s next big moves.

Drakenstein Municipality’s Draft IDP; Draft Budget for the 2024-’25 financial year and proposed tariffs; as well as its Draft Spatial Development Framework (SDF) are currently open for public comment.

Its official public engagement process around these documents starts this week.

“Our five-year IDP maps out how the municipality plans to improve its municipal services and to make economic and social development happen over the next five years,” said Dr Johan Leibbrandt, City Manager of the Municipality. “Each year we review and amend the contents of the plan and ask our residents for their feedback.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to give feedback on the Municipality’s Draft SDF, which is literally a map, or spatial representation, of the needs and proposals that have been identified in the IDP. The SDF is one of several sectoral plans that supports the IDP in achieving its strategic objectives.

How to make your voice heard

The municipality will host 20 IDP Open Day sessions across Drakenstein’s 33 wards from 9 to 29 April. Here residents will be able to give their input into their own ward’s unique service delivery issues and needs, as well as speak directly to municipal officials about any service delivery issues.

Apart from attending the Open Days, residents can also give their input on the Draft IDP and Draft Budget via email to idp@drakenstein.gov.za, WhatsApp 081 034 8468, or write to the Office of the City Manager, Paarl Civic Centre, Berg River Boulevard, PO Box 1, Paarl, 7646. Comments must reach the Municipality by no later than 29 April 2024.

. Comments on the Draft SDF must be submitted in writing to the City Manager, Drakenstein Municipality, PO Box 1, Paarl, 7646, or customercare@drakenstein.gov.za, by no later than 6 May 2024.

Once the municipality has received everyone’s comments it will consider and incorporate these into the final IDP, Budget, and SDF, which will be tabled at the Drakenstein Municipal Council meeting at the end of May 2024.

IDP/BUDGET PUBLIC OPEN DAY ENGAGEMENTS