Finances were the hot topic at the final full Council meeting of the year last Wednesday.

A proposal that Endumeni send councillors to the annual SALGA (South African Local Government Association) Games in Durban was shot down by Mayor, Sduduzo Mdluli, who explained that on recommendation from the Finance Department, the municipality was not in the financial position to justify the expense.

ANC Councillor, Hope Xaba was not entirely happy although he agreed cost containment measures should be a priority.

“Cost savings only seem to apply to councillors. Officials appear to be able to travel in separate cars to workshops out of town. Who controls the controllables? We must be fair. Councillors are elected to lead the town, yet we are completely governed by the officials.”

His thoughts were echoed by the IFP’s Councillor Ndlovu, who said councillors were accountable to the electorate while officials ‘ruled the councillors’.

The EFF’s Councillor Khanyile said junior staff seemed to take decisions and stated there was never overtime to pay them to fix street lights over weekends, yet there was money for ‘other things’: “Officials must walk the talk of cost saving.”

Acting Municipal Manager, Velaphi Kubeka advised any councillors with evidence of abuse of power by officials should contact his office so an investigation could commence

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