State funds used for officials to attend ANC congress – DA

THE DA in the Northern Cape intends laying a complaint with the public protector after alleging that the Hantam Municipality used state funds to allow three councillors to attend the ANC’s provincial congress in Colesberg earlier this year.

DA spokesperson for Social Development, Dr Isak Fritz, stated that the councillors had been sent on a bogus workshop that coincided with the date of the ANC provincial elective conference, which took place from May 10 to 15.

“The DA is in possession of a copy of a letter, written on the letterhead of the Northern Cape Department of Social Development and signed by the department’s head of ministry, inviting the mayor of Hantam Municipality, as well as ANC councillors, to attend a workshop regarding the departmental social relief programme.”

Fritz stated that they were, however, also in possession of written confirmation from the department that no social relief workshops or related training programmes were held in Colebserg on the dates in question.

“Despite there being no legitimate programme by the department, the DA also has proof that payments of over R17 000 were made by the Hantam Municipality for travel costs and daily allowances for three ANC councillors, the mayor and his driver to attend the so-called social relief programme in Colesberg.”

Fritz said that the DA suspected that the invite to attend the bogus workshop was extended to other municipalities as well.

“The manipulation of government programmes, coupled with the abuse of state funds for party political purposes, is not only immoral but also amounts to nothing less than fraud.

“It is unscrupulous and criminal to use social relief programmes, that are meant to assist the poorest of the poor, as a cover to get the government to pay for party political agendas.”

Northern Cape spokesperson for the Department of Social Development, Gamiem Abrahams, indicated that the department would investigate the allegations.

“A statement will be issued upon conclusion of such,” said Abrahams.