The situation between the Lekwa Fire Brigade’s chief, Mr John Kock and Lekwa Fire Protection Association’s manager, Mr Louis Kotzé, is heating up, but Mr Kotzé is still of the opinion that only one entity has the resources to face the heat.
Mr Kock refuted the statement, but acknowledged that they have challenges.
“We are trying our level best to make do with the resources at our disposal,” Mr Kock said.
The Standerton Advertiser published their views in its 17 August edition to highlight their differences.
A high ranking source informed the Standerton Advertiser about R85-million that Sasol donated to the Lekwa Municipality to upgrade the Standerton Fire Brigade, but that this money was allegedly used by the Executive Mayor, Linda Dhlamini, to pay off a portion of Lekwa’s debt to Eskom.
The Standerton Advertiser contacted Ms Sizakele Masilela of Sasol’s communications department to get clarity on the alleged donation, as well as sent an e-mail to her and Sasol’s head of group media relations, Mr Alex Anderson.
Ms Masilela informed the newspaper that she would forward the matter to the relevant department for comment.
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Sasol’s senior manager for corporate communications, events and branding, Ms Rethabile Ndjibu responded:
“Sasol does not, under any circumstances, give or pay out money to municipalities.
“In the case of the Lekwa Municipality, we recently completed the first phase of the upgrade of the electricity network in Sakhile.
“However, we used Sasol appointed service providers to complete the project and paid them directly.
“Sasol follows stringent governance policies, which guide the implementation of all projects and programmes we undertake.
“As a responsible corporate citizen, Sasol partners with various stakeholders to create positive and long-lasting change in our host communities.
When Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, communications manager of the Lekwa Municipality, was asked about the R85-million donation, she said:
“The funding was re-prioritised to address electricity challenges in Sakhile.
“The fire station will be implemented in the outer financial years.”
Read the complete article in the next edition of the Standerton Advertiser.
