Opposition snubs mayoral inauguration

Neels Coetzer of the Democratic Alliance in Tlokwe says DA councillors declined Kgotso Khumalo’s invitation as they cannot participate in events that are funded by public money.

‘We were not privy to the approval of any budget that makes provision for this event and, as custodians of public funds, we cannot allow the Public Finance Management Act to be violated,’ he said. He added that the use of public resources should be handled with transparency, effectively and efficiently. ‘This is also in conflict with a parliamentary resolution on 23 October 2013 to eliminate unnecessary expenditure,’ he added. ‘National Treasury also issued the MFMA Circular 58 in 2011, instructing municipalities to eliminate non-priority spending. This includes excessive catering for meetings and other events and the use of public funds to buy alcoholic beverages.

‘We also wrote a letter to inform the Tlokwe City Council about the legal implications of decisions that may already have been taken on behalf of council and warned them to weigh up the risks of their actions. On a moral level, we cannot participate in such events while our communities are suffering without proper services and jobs.

‘The gerrymandering of the amalgamation between Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp has put Tlokwe under tremendous financial strain. In the absence of intervention from province or national Treasury, we foresee that, in the coming months, we will face serious challenges that will expose the intended – and what would appear to be an extravagant – inauguration, as a slap in the face of the most destitute in our community. These people currently suffer as a result of poor management, corruption and a lack of empathy from the ANC council,’ he concluded.

The independent councillors also distanced themselves from the inauguration. Their spokesperson, Lucky Mokoena says, ‘It is our firm belief that local government remains at the coalface of service delivery. It requires sound planning and financial governance and the prioritisation of supreme basic needs in our whole town. We, therefore, hold the view that this event is not important or value for money.’

The council spokesperson, Willie Maphosa, says the DA is entitled to its own opinion.

‘However, we are aware that there were some DA councillors present at the weekend event,’ he said. ‘We wish to put it on record, though, that there was nothing extravagant about the occasion on Saturday. The main purpose of the inauguration was to afford the mayor an opportunity to thank the community for participating in the recent elections and to broadly outline his plan for the term and to introduce his mayoral committee members and councillors to the community,’ he said.

Maphosa added that the occasion should not be seen in isolation but as part of a chain process of engagement. ‘The mayor met with various community stakeholders locally and in Ventersdorp before the event to personally get a feel for their needs. Subsequently, a strategic workshop will follow, as well as a series of ward committee meetings to engage with communities at that level and elect ward committee members,” he said.

Maphosa also estimated the money that was spent on the inauguration. According to him, the event was budgeted for and less than R 200 000 was spent on the occasion. ‘No service delivery has been compromised in this regard and the municipality will continue to service all communities as best it can, as it has always tried to do,’ he concluded.