PHALABORWA: Party demands municipal action
Could this expenditure be part of the R290 million which was reported in the audit general?
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Phalaborwa has written to the Municipal Manager of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, Maite Maokamela, that she must put measures in place to allow the municipality to start deducting money from the 120 municipal officials who owe the municipality over R2 million on their municipal accounts.
It is noted that all these employees’ accounts have been in arrears for over two years and no attempts were made to settle their debts, despite receiving services from the municipality.
The top three most shocking amounts of R133 000, R132 000 and R98 000 are in arrears.
The DA claims that officials only pay less than R500 a month whilst others are paying as little as R50 to settle their debts.
Could this expenditure be part of the R290 million which was reported in the audit general?
HERALD have not heard anything from the municipal manager, after attempted to make contact without success. Councillor, Sybrandt de Beer, stated that the municipality has turned into a corrupt hub.
According to Section 10 of the Municipal Systems Act, Schedule 2, a staff member of a municipality may not be in arrears to the municipality for rates and service charges for a period longer than three months.
The affected municipality may deduct any outstanding amounts from a staff member’s salary after this period. In this manner, the municipality failed to take steps against these officials for contravening this Act.
“These officials should lead by an example and pay their accounts in time,” Councillor Johanna Mphogo highlighted.
“The Municipal Manager has to instigate disciplinary actions against these officials and make sure that the municipality starts deducting money from their salaries as soon as possible to settle their debts,” said Councillor Mphogo.
