The Bushmans River Mouth Ratepayers Organization (BRRAG) is a body of people with a Mandate from the ratepayers to look after their interests in Ward 3 of the Ndlambe Municipality. The committee of the BRRAG is elected at the AGM (certain people can however be co-opted onto the committee by the elected members) and serves for a period of 2 years on a pro bono basis. The "Constitution of the BRRAG" is a document which serves as a guideline for the operation of the body and can only be changed at the AGM when most of the, usually absentee, ratepayers are present. Details of the election process, number of members etc can be seen in the constitution.

The area where the BRRAG is most active is in bringing to the notice of the Ndlambe Municipality and the Ndlambe Council, via the Ward 3 councillor and the Ward 3 Committee, matters which affect or could affect the ratepayers. Each member of the BRRAG has a portfolio of special responsibilities which are broadly based on the structure of Ndlambe Municipality.

The portfolios are split into Health, Safety and Security, Roads and Infrastructure, Environment and River, Parks and Recreation and Finance. An additional portfolio which could be construed as IT, is the website.

The greatest problems facing the BRRAG are the sustainability of the municipal services, proposed new developments and the management of the river. These are, however, not the only areas of concern and numerous other issues including water supply, health and security, building regulation compliance etc are dealt with from time to time. We believe that we need to be proactive in place of always being retroactive. We are currently investigating the possibility of taking over the tennis courts and the maintenance of our parks and public facilities. We hope to identify manageable projects for the year with our limited financial resources.

Specific issues which are being dealt with are the following:- The SEA (Strategic Environmental Analysis) and EMP (environmental management plan), the IDP (Integrated Development Plan), proposed rezoning and development of Marselle 348 Portion 4 and Farm 371, the river intake and water storage capacity of the ACWB (Albany Coast Water Board), RDP house construction at Klipfontein and Marselle, municipal solid waste disposal site and sewerage works, construction of the website, disaster management, boating regulations SAMSA (South African Maritime Safety Authority), management of the river with Estuary Care and via the NRF (Ndlambe Ratepayers Forum) the municipal finances and reporting.

Most of the progress or lack of progress, can be monitored via the BRRAG committee monthly minutes and correspondence with Ndlambe Municipality.