Dear Alan & Andrew

Have you seen the advert below?  What do you think it will achieve?

I think Langeberg Municipality will just get another under-performing, over-paid bureaucrat.  Another person to attend interminable meetings, to demonstrate their importance while the real outputs are little more than hot air and obfuscation.

That R215,000 (plus benefits and overheads) for a Tourism Officer would be better spent in the towns’ tourism offices.

We don’t have the skills in SA to place people like these in all municipalities, and we don’t have competence in municipalities’ management — they don’t know what to expect or to demand.  Just look how poorly written those job descriptions are.  Can people grow into jobs?  Only if they have great mentors, which these people won’t have.  Should people be highly paid while growing into their jobs?  Only if you treat tax and rate-payers as cash cows!

I’m looking forward to seeing you on October 9 and hearing about the Economic Development Partnership’s action plans, because a complete overhaul of tourism and economic development functions is an urgency.  My experience of tourism and LED municipal officials is horrendous.

The Municipality serves the towns Ashton, Robertson, Montagu, Bonnievale and McGregor in the picturesque Breede River Valley/Klein Karoo area, where people still live close to nature.  Applications are hereby invited from persons with the necessary qualifications and experience for appointment in the following position:

Tourism Officer

Qualifications/ Experience:
Std 10/ Grade 12 and appropriate 3 year National Diploma or Degree in Tourism; Valid Code EB driver’s license; Computer literate; 5 years appropriate experience; Should be able to communicate (verbal and written) in both English or Afrikaans – additional languages will be an advantage; Should be prepared to work after normal office hours

Key Performance Areas:
Render the tourism function in the Langeberg area; Gathering and processing of tourism statistics; Attendance of Local, District and Provincial Tourism meetings; Marketing of the Langeberg area as a preferred tourist destination by arranging media educational tours and tour operator information sessions; Design, printing and distribution of marketing material; Attendance of Indabas, Expos’s and Festivals to market the Langeberg area; Arrange training programmes for persons employed in the tourism sector and execute schools tourism awareness programmes; Product development in the previously disadvantaged areas; Doing of general administration

Remuneration:
R 165 324 – R 214 608 per annum and normal benefits as applicable to a Local Authority.

Local Economic Development Officer (LED) – Contract position

Qualifications/ Experience:
Std 10/ Grade 12 plus 3 year tertiary qualification in economical development; 4 years relevant experience in an economic development environment; Code EB driver’s license; Computer literate

Key Performance Areas:
Planning and prioritize the economic development activities; Facilitate and manage the investment facilitation programme; Contract and manage key Economic Development projects; Networking with National and Provincial Government Departments; Execute research on best practices and interact with other public sector institutions; Facilitate and manage key tourism related projects.

Remuneration:
R 219 744 – R 285 240 per annum and normal benefits as applicable to a Local Authority.

Closing date: 8 October 2012.  Application / CV (Copy of ID and driver’s license where applicable) with covering letter must be submitted to the Municipal Manager at Postal Address:  Private Bag X2, Ashton, 6715; E-mail:  tcarstens@langeberg.gov.za; Fax:  (023) 615 1563.  Further information is available from the Manager:  Human Resources at Tel (023) 615 8035 during normal office hours.