Estella Naicker
Acting municipal manager, Bongiwe Mnikathi, is spending about the cost of a brand new entry level car on personal security every month.
In a bid to bring an end to unnecessary expenditure at AbaQulusi municipality, SAMWU and IMATU union representatives divulged that ratepayers are spending roughly R95 000 per month for acting municipal manager, Bongiwe Mnikathi, to have her own personal security.
Reliable sources indicate that the R95 000 per month pays for Ms Mnikathi to have two bodyguards and a security vehicle from a Durban based security company at her disposal.
Ms Mnikathi has chosen not to answer questions posed by the Vryheid Herald about why this expense was deemed necessary, if she had received any threats that suggested her life might be in danger, or whether any threats were being investigated by the police.
However, members of municipal staff believe that Ms Mnikathi may have received a threatening sms before she put the personal security in place.
Harry Heyns, a member of the AbaQulusi Exco, said the council was completely unaware that Ms Mnikathi was spending that amount of money on private security. “It’s ridiculous when you consider how the municipality is battling to pay people,” he said.
AfriForum chairperson, André van de Walt, said his organisation was going to investigate the absurd expenditure. “…and we will take it further if necessary,” he added.
“I have heard that she (Ms Mnikathi) has been threatened but I don’t have any evidence of this,” said chairman of the AbaQulusi Ratepayers’ Association, Doug Grewar. “Ms Mnikathi has been more co-operative with the community than some of the other municipal managers. She has been trying to sort out some corruption, which may be the reason that someone may try to hurt her, but I do think that spending R95 000 a month on security is a waste of money.
“Labour relations of the council have degenerated so far that it is an absolute mess. I am sitting and watching it collapse all around me. I am hoping that, after the elections, there might be some stability,” concluded Mr Grewar.
