Set in the heart of the Garden Route, Mossel Bay is famous for its beaches, tourist attractions, and gorgeous homes. It also happens to have the best-run municipality in the country. Ratings Afrika's Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI) awarded Mossel Bay Municipality top position for having the best performance in 2019. Nickey le Roux, Senior Communications and Marketing Officer, says the local Council and the administration are proud to be serving the community effectively.
"Mossel Bay has consistently scored either tops or in the top three in the Ratings Afrika ratings for the past number of years", she says. "Given what was measured, the rating is proof that we have a sound and well-thought-through long-term financial plan."
"But, more importantly, it shows we have the officials who stick to the plan. It is through maintaining focus and consistently being compliant with the financial plan that we are financially viable."
MFSI rating criteria
In scoring Mossel Bay Municipality, the MFSI measured six performance areas: operating performance, liquidity management, debt governance, budget practices, affordability, and infrastructure development. According to Le Roux, the municipality has worked hard to meet these criteria.
"The Ratings Afrika ratings reflect sound long-term development planning, effective financial management policies, and financial discipline by the municipality's leadership. The high score achieved by Mossel Bay Municipality in practice means that the municipality has the financial ability to provide sustainable high levels of service to the residents of Mossel Bay. A very fine balance is required when mentioning service delivery, infrastructure development, and affordability in one sentence."
Mossel Bay Municipality in action
Mossel Bay Municipality stretches from Vleesbaai, Dana Bay, Hartenbos, Tergniet, to Great Brak River and Glentana and includes the rural communities of Herbertsdale, Buisplaas, Brandwag, Ruitersbos and Friemersheim. The rural areas are serviced by the dedicated team of the Rural Development unit - one of its kind in the country. These areas enjoy exceptional service by an experienced team. Le Roux says these are the factors ensuring Mossel Bay stays on top.
1. Service delivery: Mossel Bay Municipality takes pride in ensuring water, sanitation, and electricity is supplied. It also pays attention to the cleanliness of the municipality and the environment, and fixes potholes and street lights according to very strict turn-around deadlines.
2. Infrastructure development: Mossel Bay Municipality invests in the upkeep and maintenance of infrastructure and provides infrastructure to enable growth.
3. Accountability: The Mayoral committee and top management of the administration meet every Friday morning to assess service delivery and peer pressure plays an important role - nobody wants to admit that a service delivery problem was not attended to in front of the other directors and managers/councillors - it is a big incentive. The municipality has key performance indicators (KPI) for all employees and personnel evaluation is done at all levels of the organisation. They also put in place various measures against fraud and anti-corruption. The municipality is fortunate to have good leadership with political as well as administrative stability.
4. Work ethic: Apart from the organisational and regulatory measures, the municipality has a workforce that takes great pride in their work. Through regular feedback from management, every employee is encouraged to maintain service delivery standards at the high level expected of them.
5. Community engagement: The municipality believes in forming and maintaining partnerships with community organisations and builds and fosters these partnerships through effective communication and an open-door policy. Both the councillors and administrative employees are accessible and foster effective, two-way communication. This is encouraged and enhanced through effective ward committees in all of the 14 municipal wards, as well as regular community meetings or even Town Hall style meetings on issues that transcend ward boundaries.
Popular municipality for homeowners
It's not just the natural beauty attracting people to Mossel Bay. By devoting time and effort in the area's upkeep and development, Mossel Bay Municipality has made Mossel Bay a desirable place to put down roots.
Through stringent law enforcement, the area is a safe place to live. Mossel Bay pioneered the first municipal court in the Western Cape outside of a metro. The municipality's law enforcement unit regularly meets with the representatives of the taxi industry and, as a result, there are no taxi-related violence or unrest.
The membership of neighbourhood watch groups is encouraged and the municipality works well with accredited organisations to stem the tide of petty and opportunistic crime.
The excellent service delivery standards are being maintained by communicating closely with locals. The spatial development framework allows for open spaces to be effectively used to benefit the surrounding communities - several outdoor gyms have been installed. There is a keen focus on small business development with two small business parks having just recently been officially opened and others are in the planning stages.
The municipality supports the Central Improvement District (CID) concept and has welcomed a CID in the central business district - the notion is also to have CID's formed in other communities.
Through the local economic development office, the approach to business is red carpet, not red tape. Much is being done to grow economic development such as an incentive policy.
Tourism development is encouraged with a dedicated tourism strategy that includes a major marketing campaign post-COVID to attract South African visitors to the town and will soon also focus on international tourists.
Exciting plans are in the pipeline to develop a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary motorsport mecca and, likewise, there are plans for the redevelopment of the airfield.
Make Mossel Bay your home
The Mossel Bay Municipality is invested in the well-being of its residents and visitors. By settling down in the area, you can reap the rewards of a well-run community. Century 21 Mossel Bay can help you find your perfect Mossel Bay property. View our homes for sale and make contact today.