Budget a ‘cut-and-paste’ from 2017
If the municipality is unable to satisfactorily resolve the issue, provincial intervention may be necessary.
LYDENBURG – The ruling party of Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM) has pushed through a budget which has been labelled as a “cut-and-paste plan” dating back to 2017.
This led to complete mayhem during a special council meeting on Friday, where several opposition councillors were attacked and manhandled. According to Cllr Exodus Mabanna of the EFF, the ruling party had no option but to push through this unsanctioned budget.
“National Treasury warned TCLM that they have proceeded to adopt an unfunded budget for the 2019/2020 financial year. It said in a letter addressed to TCLM that its failure to comply with the requirements of the Municipal Finance and Management Act (MFMA) is not only disappointing but can have adverse consequences if left uncorrected.”
Mabanna said that opposition parties asked, as a standing rule, for a division on the matter by which a vote would be cast either for or against the passing of the financial budget. The division was, however, denied by the Speaker, Jonothan Kock.
When opposition parties protested the ruling, the ANC called in by-law officers and a security company of TCLM to remove the councillors from the house. Standing their ground, the opposition parties faced being manhandled, for which they opened an assault case.
The letter addressed to TCLM states: “If the municipality is unable to satisfactorily resolve the issue, provincial intervention may be necessary.” In reaction to this, Mabanna said the council was thus presented with a budget containing payment and revenue collecting plans dating back to 2017.
“We have copies of the very same plans presented to Eskom in 2017 to prevent the disconnection of the municipality’s electricity. The same plan is now simply pasted into the budget. Despite this, we now owe the very same creditor more than R700 million.”
Should TCLM fail to comply with the requirements stated in the letter by National Treasury, it will invoke Section 216 (2) of the Constitution, which permits Treasury to stop the allocation of funds to TCLM. He said the EFF, the DA and BRA all confirmed that they will not stand for the unethical budget which will be presented to Treasury.
“We have all agreed to write letters to National Treasury to inform them that not only council, but they too have been duped and misled by the passed budget.”
