Meth’s Argentina trip sparks legal threats

O R TAMBO district mayor Nomakhosazana Meth is once again in the firing line, with furious opposition parties accusing her of abusing taxpayers’ money and threatening both criminal charges and civil court action.

At a special council meeting on Friday a decision was taken to endorse a trip to Argentina, at the end of the month at a cost of about R400 000.

Among those who will be going on the overseas jaunt with Meth will be deputy mayor Robert Nogumla, municipal manager Owen Hlazo, rural economic development programme director Nolufefe Dunywa, Ntinga OR Tambo Development Agency CEO Mncedisi Zungula, and the chairman of the agency’s board, Sitembele Mase.

Opposition parties were vehemently opposed to the trip during the council meeting, but were defeated when the matter was put to a vote.

The delegation will spend seven days in Argentina, from September 22 to 29, learning about that country’s agricultural practices.

This will be the second time in two years that Meth will lead a delegation to Argentina. In 2015, she spent more than R369 000 on a trip there.

On Friday, UDM chief whip Mncedisi Bunzana slammed the latest trip, saying it would bring zero benefit to the people of O R Tambo district. “The core business of the district municipality is water and sanitation. While they are occupied with going to Argentina, there are communities who do not have clean drinkable water and proper sanitation.”

He threatened to report Meth to Eastern Cape department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC, Fikile Xasa if Friday’s decision was not reversed.

“We will look for the right channels to fight this, including instituting criminal charges against [her] if we have to,” he said.

EFF caucus leader Unathi Ketwa argued that the district authority had delegated all agricultural development functions to Ntinga.

“This means the municipality has no role in agriculture. People from Ntinga should have gone. We think this delegation is just going on a holiday to Argentina,” he fumed.

The EFF would fight to block the trip even if it meant taking legal steps against the district municipality.

DA PR councillor Thembalihle Xhangayi said the 2015 Argentina trip had been undertaken without the knowledge or blessing of council and there had been no value for the people of the district out of it.

But municipal spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa defended both trips, arguing that in 2015 the delegation went to Argentina to make initial contact.

The latest trip would culminate in the signing of an agreement with the province of Cordoba, said Lungisa.

“The Argentines have pledged to invest R45-million over a year in O R Tambo in agricultural activities.” —