Karibib sets sail on redemption path

KARIBIB has embarked on a rigorous plan to change its fortunes and restore the confidence of its residents in its image tainted mainly by political infighting and ineffective accounting structures.

Topping the list for restructuring at the local municipality is the realigning of staff members with their positions in order to do away with the prevailing situation where employees do not have clear job descriptions.This was revealed by the Karibib Town Council’s acting chief executive officer (CEO), Fanie van der Westhuizen, in a recent interview with Nampa.Van der Westhuizen said the absence of job descriptions, which has been the norm for the past three years or so, made it difficult for management to reprimand employees who were not performing well, or to reward hardworking ones.The acting CEO said a finance manager was appointed to head the formalisation of written job descriptions.The finance manager is also expected to revamp the municipality’s accounting and financial management systems, structuring them to bring them up to national standards, Van der Westhuizen said.’Some people had no idea what exactly they were expected to do when they come to work. You will see them in this department today, and in a totally different one the next day. As such, it was vital to bring in a person on board that has the know-how and technical skills to spearhead the process,’ he explained.The council is also busy screening for new erven in the Usab residential area, where at least three new extensions will be developed to cater for the housing shortages at the town. According to the acting CEO, at least 1 000 new erven will be created through this process.’Karibib has an acute housing shortage that needs urgent attention. We have also been approached by some developers intending to purchase land at Usab for the construction of housing units,’ he stated.Residents at this western town have been constantly complaining of not seeing enough development at the town, something which often culminated in organised protests through street marches over the past four years.The leadership tussle involving the town council’s former CEO, Lydia Kandetu and other prominent members of council, also delayed project implementation at the town.Kandetu was eventually shown the door in March this year after allegedly taking unauthorised leave, ending a close to four-year turbulent stint at the helm of the council. – Nampa