Trip to Morocco might be a thing of the past
The Gauteng Provincial Government has now stepped in.
Thanks to intervention from the Provincial Government the trip that various officials and politicians from the Merafong City Local Municipality wanted to take to Morocco might be a thing of the past.
Various eyebrows were raised when the municipal council of our cash-strapped Merafong City Local Municipality approved that a 13-person delegation of the municipality could go on a business trip to Morocco on August 14.
The planned delegation consisted of executive mayor Nozuko Best, deputy mayor Mogomotsi Sello, chief whip Thabo Mokuke, as well as the MMC’s for Local Economic Development. Energy, Human Settlements and Land Development, and Finance. The municipal manager, Dumisani Mabuza, the executive managers for economic development and urban planning, energy, IDP and intergovernmental relations (IGR) and the Chief Financial Officer will also be part of the delegation.
On September 5, however, the chief director of MFMA (Municipal Financial Management Act) implementation, Wayne McComans, issued a letter to Merafong’s municipal manager that the Council’s decision is not compliant with legislation.
“We also draw your attention to the section of the MFMA that stipulates that the accounting officer of a municipality is responsible for managing the financial administration of a municipality and must for this purpose take all reasonable steps to ensure that the resources of the municipality are used effectively, efficiently and economically. The municipality’s decision is therefore not aligned to these requirements,” the letter stated.
As a result, McComans asked the municipality to provide information on the process followed to come to this decision.
In his response, the municipal manager stated that the “subsistence payment” that those going on the trip will receive, must be in accordance with the law and adhere to regulations. Mabuza also argued that the municipality has not appointed the company that has invited the delegation on the trip to Morocco and is prepared to pay for their travel and accommodation.
The Herald asked the municipality whether the delegation will still go on the trip, but they did not respond.
