Probe detects irregular expenditure
SOL PLAATJE Municipality has been instructed to implement a service delivery action plan to address the leaking sewage in and around Galeshewe, Roodepan and all other areas in the municipal district, including Ritchie.
The Section 106 investigation report added that the repair of potholes, burst pipes and cleaning of the CBD and other areas need to be prioritised to ensure a safe and clean environment in the city.
The report found that a tender awarded to Zizwe DSD (Pty) Ltd, for the electrification of 260 households in Phomolong, with a contract value of R3.7 million, was amended in an irregular fashion to include an additional 165 households in Snake Park amounting to R2.5 million.
The task team stated that this transaction was in contravention of the legislation as the electrification of houses in Snake Park should have been procured separately.
The investigation detected that irregular expenditure had been incurred through the appointment of Izwelethu Cemforce for a R3.4 million rural sanitation programme. The company was paid R2.9 million during the 2015/16 financial year.
The report indicated that irregular expenditure to the value of R2.9 million was incurred as the validity of the contract could not be determined and supply chain regulations were flouted.
It also advised that the selection of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers by councillors had to be reviewed, as the process was currently prone to nepotism and favouritism.
“There needs to be policy guidelines on the EPWP project. During the investigation the team embarked on a verification of EPWP workers to eliminate possible ghost employees. No remuneration should be paid out to those not verified yet.” increase on electricity prices on April 25 while the municipality had set its electricity tariff at 5.95 percent.
The task team meanwhile found that the special council meeting that continued after the former Sol Plaatje Speaker, Elizabeth Johnson, was voted out of her position, was “unprocedural and unlawful”.
The meeting was adjourned by Johnson before the 2018/19 budget was approved.
Johnson was removed by council through a motion of no confidence on June 13, while the motion of no confidence in the former executive mayor (Matika) was dismissed on the same day.
The investigation indicated that the continuation of this meeting, where acting Speaker Ben Springbok was appointed on June 13, and the consequent removal of Johnson through a motion of no confidence, was “not properly constituted, unprocedural and unlawful”.
“The meeting was not called by the Speaker in terms of section 29 (1) of the Structures Act and Rule 6.1 of Standard Rules of order of council and its committees. No formal notice was issued as required by rule 6.3 of the standard rules of order of council and its committees of the municipality as the Speaker had adjourned the meeting.”
It added that while the meeting that was convened on May 31 was not properly constituted, the decision to approve the budget should stand as it would result in “dire impractical consequences for the municipality and residents”.
The municipal manager was also instructed to present an action plan to review the status of indigents, as it was discovered that persons who did not qualify were benefiting from free basic services.