2 Tel: (045) 839-4040 Emergency: (A/H) 083-272-0955 ° Editorial: sonjar@timesmedia.co.za - advertising: charodinev@timesmedia.co.za THE REPRESENTATIVE <strong>20</strong> <strong>October</strong> <strong>20</strong>17 Poisoning of dogs escalate SONJA RAASCH A WEEK after dog owners in the Weshof area found eight dogs dead in their back yards, another nine dogs have been reported as poisoned – this time in the Komani Park residential area of Komani. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Rep</strong> reported (“Tragic poisoning of Weshof dogs”, <strong>October</strong> 13) that eight dogs had died after suspected cases of poisoning in the residential area over the previous weekend. A double cab bakkie was stolen from a nearby premises at the same time. An irate dog owner called <strong>The</strong> <strong>Rep</strong> on Monday to report that nine dogs had been poisoned in Komani Park at the weekend with another two vehicles stolen. She said the family had found their beloved pet lying dead outside on Monday morning and had taken it to a vet for a post-mortem. <strong>The</strong> findings had proven that the dog had ingested poison.She said she would be laying charges with the police this week. Isebella Blignault, who lost two sausage dogs, said their bakkie was stolen on Saturday night. Both their dogs had succumbed to the poison, believed to have been ingested through pellets thrown onto the front lawn. Blignault said residents were also concerned that a child could easily ingest the poison with fatal results. Unconfirmed reports yesterday were that a further four dogs had been poisoned at Amberdale just outside the town and that a bakkie had been stolen. State vet Dr Alan Fischer confirmed that he had performed post-mortems on five dogs to date. <strong>The</strong> dogs had ingested a poison in the form of a blue-gray granule. <strong>The</strong> results of the post-mortems were being awaited, but Fischer said it was suspected that the poison was either Aldicarb, a poison used as an insecticide, or Sodium Fluro Acetate, also known as Two-step. He confirmed that the poisons could be fatal to humans if ingested. Komani vet Elreza Klopper said 23 dogs and two cats in total had been reported as poisoned. Three dogs were treated but failed to survive. <strong>The</strong> poison may be a combination of different poisons mixed together and was extremely fast-acting. She urged home owners to inspect their yards and to consider any strange substances/food thrown into their yards as possibly dangerous and lethal. Police spokesman Captain Namhla Mdleleni confirmed that cases of theft of a vehicle and of cruelty to animals were under investigation. Community Policing Forum chairman Andries Schlebusch said the CPF was aware of the poisonings and asked residents to report suspicious activity to him on 072-242-3261 or to the police on 10111. DO NOT GO OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE TO INVESTIGATE SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS OR NOISES (WHETHER IT IS DAY OR NIGHT), REMAIN IN THE SAFETY OF YOUR HOUSE AND CALL THE POLICE OR YOUR SECURITY COMPANY 35 Ebden Street, Komani Tel: 045 839 7228 | 044 010 0541 | Fax: 045 838 2430 Lack of agendas halt meeting ANDISA BONANI A N ENOCH Mgijima Local Municipality meeting turned to chaos soon after it started on Friday as councillors raised queries about the lack of agendas. <strong>The</strong> bickering started when EFF councillor Luthando Amos asked whether the meeting was an ordinary or a special meeting since councillors had not received agendas. Speaker Mzoxolo Peter said, “I signed off the agendas the previous Friday, therefore I do not understand how the agendas could not have reached councillors in time.” He said the meeting was a special council meeting. Acting municipal manager (MM) Mzoxolo Dingani claimed to have received an instruction from someone, whose name he did not reveal, whom he said had told him not to hand out the agendas. Peter said such an instruction would be out of order and that he would follow up on the matter. DA councillor Chris de Wet said there could be no official meeting as councillors had not received the agendas in time and therefore could not prepare. Council agreed to a 10-minute recess for members to familiarise themselves with the agendas. <strong>The</strong> media was told not to return to the special closed meeting. A copy of the agenda was however leaked with one of the issues the contracts of senior managers which had expired.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Rep</strong> has copies of letters written by mayor Lindiwe Gunuza-Nkwentsha informing former Tsolwana Local Municipality officials Similo Dayi, Mountain Siqaza and Zandisile Nxano about the termination of their contracts. Officers recover stolen trolleys RED Guard response officer recovered two trolleys stolen from a local cash and carry last week. <strong>The</strong> suspects were released after the owner declined to open a case, operations manager Willie Reynecke said. Two suspects who had tried to break into a home in Top Town were apprehended and handed over to the police last Wednesday. A staff member who had allegedly stolen goods at a local store was handed over to the police and the items returned to the store on S at u r d ay. An off-duty response officer apprehended a man following the theft of money from a business in Ezibeleni, but the suspect was released after the owner declined to open a criminal case. On Sunday, security officers on duty at a local retail store apprehended a suspect for theft and returned the goods to the manager. – <strong>Rep</strong> reporter ... while contracts take centre stage in EMLM council discussions In a letter dated September 26, Gunuza-Nkwentsha wrote to the acting MM, instructing him to investigate how Dayi had been reporting for duty and had received a salary in September despite being informed about the end of his fixed-term contract on August 31. <strong>The</strong> mayor wrote to the acting MM again on <strong>October</strong> 4, stating that her office still had not received a report with regard to how Dayi had received a salary after his contract had been terminated. <strong>The</strong> letter reads, “Kindly advise as a matter of urgency what steps you have taken to remedy the situation and in particular the irregular payment of a salary for a senior manager whose contract expired without any alternative arrangements being agreed upon.” In a legal opinion document from Dayi’s lawyers, Ntsiki Pakade Attorneys, it was stated that Dayi had been working after his contract had ended, subjectively created an expectation that the contract would be renewed and that the municipalit y’s silence on the renewal of the initial fixed-term contract left a lot to be desired. In another letter to the MM dated <strong>October</strong> 4, the mayor queried why Siqaza and Nxano had been reporting for duty after council had resolved on June 7 that their contracts be terminated. <strong>The</strong>ir last working day had been on September 30. Gunuza-Nkwenstha wrote, “I am afraid that the two managers may take decisions, make agreements or involve themselves in supply chain management processes which could stand to be challenged in future. <strong>The</strong> municipality will not be liable for any claims of compensation to the two managers for any period during which they reported for duty during <strong>October</strong>. Any person who acts contrary to what council resolved, will be personally held liable for all and any costs that may arise from such.” Dayi declined to comment as he was seeking legal advice. An e-mail was sent to EMLM spokesman Fundile Feketshane for comment on the contracts of the officials, including Siqaza and Nxano, but no comment had been received at the time of going to press. During Friday’s council meeting it was resolved that the contracts of senior managers should be renewed for a further three months. WE HAD A GREAT TIME: Participants in the first Hangklip cartoon fun run, hosted by the school’s Interact Club, after finishing the event on Friday Picture: SIMTEMBILE MGIDI Infrastructure woes at EMLM SIMTEMBILE MGIDI CONCERN over the state of infrastructure in the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) area took centre stage in a crisis meeting attended by executive mayor Lindiwe Gunuza- Nkwentsha, and acting municipal manager Mziwoxolo Dingani in Komani on Monday. Businessman Ken Clark said electrical infrastructure and roads seemed to be the worst hit. “<strong>The</strong> municipality is not budgeting the 6% required by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa [Nersa] for infrastructure repair. <strong>The</strong> result is that the infrastructure is going b a c k wa r d s . ” Input of between R22-million to R25-million could make a difference in preventing an electrical crisis should another transformer blow. An amount of R128-million over three years could get the electrical system back on track. Clark said the Waterdown Dam could only supply 60% of the town’s water and that the Bonkolo Dam was virtually empty. Both dams could no longer supply in the long-term demands of the town and it was essential for the Xonxa Dam pipeline to become operational. “My business relies on water and if I do not have water, I do not have a business and 500 people will go without jobs.” Concern existed about the deteriorating state of roads with some which would have to be rebuilt. Dingani acknowledged that EMLM was facing problems but, he said, the authority was doing everything possible to address the situation. “We have drafted a plan to address the infrastructure in Ezibeleni, Queendustria and other areas. We need a lot of money to address the situation and currently we do not have it.” He said the previously established idea of a task team needed to be revived. Relevant posts, including that of the municipal manager, had been advertised. Councillor Pamela Xelo, who is in the CHDM office of Integrated Planning and Economic Development, was in accordance that the task team needed to be revived. “We need to say what needs to happen and it needs to happen fast.” Resources, skills and capacity remained an issue. “<strong>The</strong> ANC-led government is clear on this, so when we talk capacity, we mean we will be critical in EMLM when it comes to employment.” Border-Kei Chamber of Business chairman Les Holbrook said, “<strong>The</strong> only way we are going to solve these problems is if we have the right leadership. I recommend that we choose two captains – one from the private sector and one from the municipality.” <strong>The</strong> representatives would establish a team to address the crisis. ýRead report page 1. ORDER NOW WE SUPPLY: Wheelchairs, Crutches, Walking Sticks, Mobility Aids, ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS, Compression Stockings, Custom moulded innersoles for painful feet, Moonboots ALL MEDICAL AIDS ACCEPTED Cell: +27 84 352 8896 . Tel: 045 838 1187 Email: eschutze90@gmail.com 24 Ebden Street, Queenstown, Eastern Cape GREEN CROSS APPLY IN STORE
THE REPRESENTATIVE <strong>20</strong> <strong>October</strong> <strong>20</strong>17 Tel: (045) 839-4040 Emergency: (A/H) 083-272-0955 ° Editorial: sonjar@timesmedia.co.za - advertising: charodinev@timesmedia.co.za 3