Eskom is cutting electricity in November because they are not paid in time.
The city’s infrastructure is falling apart and there is no money to keep up with the demanding upgrades and yet R1.6-million can be spent on bodyguards for the mayor.
Documents in WITBANK NEWS’s possession show that six protection officers were deployed by a private security company, Track Optimum International, from October 4 to November 2 last year to Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, executive mayor of Emalahleni’s house in Phola at a cost of R64 350 per day.
The director of Track Optimum International, Mr Verne Clark previously made headlines when it was discovered that Mr Theo van Vuuren, who filled the shoes of administrator then, hired bodyguards to protect him and a few key personnel at a cost of R20-million.
It was later exposed that Clark’s company, Guardian Concepts International, was not registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira). Clark later pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of operating without registration.
The opposition party, the Democratic Alliance is now calling for the auditor-general to investigate the circumstances surrounding the exorbitant bill.
“Both Mr Van Vuuren and Cllr Ntshalintshali have brought nothing but misery and gross financial mismanagement to eMalahleni. Van Vuuren has left Emalahleni Municipality technically bankrupt and his departure should be followed by that of Mayor Ntshalintshali. It is time that Emalahleni gets new administration that will put the best interest of the residents first,” Dumisile Masuku, DA Provincial Communications Manager said.
Municipal spokesperson, Mr Kingdom Mabuza said the whole context of the protection service needs to be looked at.
He mentioned that the volatile situation at Ogies and Phola is September last year necessitated the appointment of Track Optimum International.
Read more in WITBANK NEWS on Friday, October 6.
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