Money for the sand
LUKHANJI Ward three councillor Mlandeli Gxaba has paid back some of the money allegedly meant for community use following an instruction by the Lukhanji council rules committee.
The matter was first brought to the attention of the council by community members following complaints at an Exco outreach that money paid for sand taken from the area had not been paid over to the community.
The Rep reported (“Rules committee to look into money query,” August 15 2014) that Gxaba did not turn up for the rules committee meetings du- ring which the matter was to be discussed.
In a follow up report (“Councillor told to pay back money,” November 7 2014) it was indicated that the Lukhanji rules committee had instructed Gxaba to pay back R16 000 which was paid by a transporting company for the sand. The money was meant for use by the community.
Council endorsed a report by the rules committee on September 4 this year that Gxaba must pay back the money into the municipal account by the end of said month.
The community of Emachibini took the matter to premier Phumulo Masualle during a recent Exco outreach at Gwatyu Farms with Masualle sending an official, Nomahlubi Sodumo, to attend to the matter.
Sodumo on Monday met the community and is set to report back to Masualle with a follow up meeting to be scheduled with the community.
Sodumo said Gxaba had paid back R4 000 and the remaining R12 000 would be deducted from his salary. Gxaba refused to comment.
ANC chairman in the area and community leader Zamuxolo Ngonzo said the community would meet and decide what to do with the money.