VEREENIGING. – The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Lebogang Maile, on Friday 19th February demanded that the speaker and municipal manager of the Sedibeng District Municipality submit formal reports, respectively on the progress that has been made to implement the recommendations of a damning investigation into allegations of maladministration, fraud, corruption and serious malpractice that has occurred at Sedibeng District Municipality.
The MEC furthermore demanded that the report must contain representations of the Municipal Council as to why it is not necessary that the Executive Council should not place the municipality under administration.
The Gauteng Province recently released a damning report on the Sedibeng District Municipality, and demanded certain actions from the municipality, with strict timeframes, in order to avoid the District from being placed under administration by the Province in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution of South Africa.
In the letter that was leaked to Vaalweekblad Maile writes: “It is once again regrettable that to date I have not had the courtesy of a response that the recommendations of the investigation report by Adv William Mokhare SC was implemented within the set timeframes as embedded in the letters in question. I was however advised that the former Acting Municipal Manager has furnished an informal report to officials within the Department, in respect of the recommendations that he was directed to implement, but no Report has been received from your goodself.”
Cllr Phillip Gomes, DA Caucus Leader in Sedibeng, told Vaalweekblad that numerous letters were sent to the Speaker calling for the council to urgently address the MEC’s letters and concerns. “We have not had the courtesy of a reply,” he said.
Dennis Ryder the opposition party’s Vaal Regional Chair says: “The Sedibeng district is showing the MEC the same disdain that they have shown to their residents for years. It is unthinkable that a Council would not respond to direct instructions from the MEC to whom they report. The arrogance would be unbelievable if we had not seen it repeatedly.”
