The Lekwa Council convened on Tuesday, 31 October at the farm of Mr Gert du Preez as part of their aim of taking government to the people.
According to Mr Rosier de Ville, caucus leader of the DA, it could be described as a good meeting with ANC-councillors realising the Lekwa Municipality’s debt is getting out of hand.
Mr De Ville said everybody is worried about the Eskom debt.
The Eskom report for the first quarter mentions an amount of R374 121 349,19 as of the end of September, but when Mr Louis Janse van Rensburg, DA councillor, asked the question, a reply of R417 694 038 was forthcoming.
The report also shows debts of R160 522 071 and R239 729 294 respectively owed to the Department of Water Affairs and Department of Transport.
The municipality is without the services of the Chief Financial Officer, Mr RA Morris, and the Executive Manager of Planning and Economic Development, Ms ST Matladi, since their resignations.
According to Mr De Ville, the posts will be advertised.
The quality of the Eskom report however, raised some eyebrows, both on a linguistic as factual level.
“It was the worst report I have seen in years and totally nonsensical,” he also said.
The municipality’s legal department is challenging the direct payments to Eskom and trying to compel the respective companies to make payments into the trust account of their lawyers, Mohlala.
The Standerton Advertiser has reported extensively on the positions of Standerton Oil Mills, Goldi and Meadow Feeds.
The caucus leader was of the opinion that the judge in the Supreme Court will take a dim view of the report.
“No court will accept it,” Mr De Ville said.
Although he made a suggestion that the report be referred back to the municipality, the councillors were not in agreement.
Mr De Ville also pointed out the wording of article 6.9 of the Service Charter which states that municipal employees commit to not abuse their positions to promote or prejudice the interest of any political party or interest group.
The Standerton Advertiser sent an e-mail on 3 November to two addresses of Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, communications manager of the municipality, and is awaiting comment.
