Chaos erupted on 27 May 2020, during a council meeting of the Matlosana Local Municipality (Hartbeesfontein, Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein) after the FF Plus caucus demanded that the exorbitant accommodation of six ANC councillors at an expensive, luxurious guest house in Stilfontein, paid for by the council, must immediately come to an end.
These councillors have been staying at a guest house since September 2019 at an expense of R94 000 per person per month. The temporary accommodation was initially approved after their houses in the nearby Khuma residential area were damaged during protests about poor service delivery.
The legislation on the compensation of public officials makes provision for such an arrangement for accommodation for a maximum of two months.
In the context of nearly nine months that have passed and this irregular expenditure increasing with nearly a half a million rand per month, the FF Plus requested a division of votes, which was ignored by the Speaker of the council, Washington Ntozini.
The FF Plus objected yet again and only then the Speaker formally noted the FF Plus’s objection. Councillors who do not at the very least ensure that such an objection is noted on the record, could be held individually and collectively accountable for irregular expenditure. In response to this, the meeting got so out of hand that the Speaker was forced to adjourn the meeting.
The FF Plus will not allow irregular expenditure to continue in Matlosana at the expense of taxpayers. The time has come for councillors in the council to be held accountable, both individually and collectively, for these types of expenses.
Read the original article in Afrikaans by Fanie Kloppers on FF Plus
South Africa Today – South Africa News
