POLOKWANE – Ward councillors are not bound by law to confirm proof of residence of people residing in his or her specific ward.
This was according to DA ward councillor Franco Marx, who tabled a motion in this connection at a council meeting on Thursday.
Marx said the practise of ward councillors verifying a person’s physical address could lead to the ward councillor, and ultimately the municipality, being liable for claims instituted against them should this information prove to be false.
Marx suggested that a letter be drafted by the mayor, municipal manager or chief financial officer, that proof of residence letters should no longer be issued by the municipality, its officials or councillors.
He said financial institutions should be requested to refrain from referring clients to the municipality.
They should rather refer them to the applicable banking regulations of July 18 2005, which gave banking institutions guidance on customer identification and verification.
Marx further said ward councillors could also not act as commissioners of oaths as the relevant legislation had been repealed in 2008.
Polokwane mayor Thembi Nkadimeng said the matter was under investigation.
She said guidelines would be issued to ward councillors regarding the outcome.
