The Rep 22 October 2021

18 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 22 October 2021 THE R E P R ES E N TAT I V E
DA questions two
appointments
BOK IN TOWN
Continued from PAGE 1
bill is exorbitant and a
‘consulting company’ has been
appointed to assist with fleet
m a n a g e m e n t .”
The DA says maintenance of
municipal buildings is nonexistent.
“Buildings are falling apart
due to unchecked vandalism
and uninvestigated arson.
“Halls have non-functional
ablution facilities. Security is
absent. We request the MEC to
conduct unplanned oversight of
municipal facilities as a matter
of urgency,” the statement said.
“In 2018, a VAT recovery
‘expert’ was appointed without
any tender process. He was paid
25% of the recovered funds.
“The same consultant has
been appointed by Chris Hani
District Municipality to perform
similar services.”
On road maintenance, the
statement says the function has
been delegated to a
construction company that gets
paid more than R1m per month,
but a separate company
repaired potholes in Ezibeleni to
the tune of more than R3m.
EQUIPMENT DONATION
“The potholes are back, worse
than before.”
In response to the alleged
illegal appointment of Bolani,
EMLM spokesperson Lonwabo
Kowa said: “This matter is
subjudice and only after
conclusion of the investigation
will information be shared.”
On the “non-functional”
municipal fleet, he said the
municipality had concluded the
process of sourcing a company
for fleet management and this
would help improve the
delivery of basic services,
including refuse collection and
electricity services.
“Specialised vehicles for
electricity services are part of
the package,” Kowa said.
On municipal buildings
allegedly falling apart, he
blamed vandalism.
“Community halls, sports
fields, buildings, and electricity
infrastructure have all
experienced theft and
vandalism. Unfortunately, the
municipality is unable to have
sufficient security 24/7 for all
facilities due to known financial
c o n s t ra i n t s .”
Responding to claims that a
VAT recovery expert was
appointed without a tender
process, Kowa said the
municipality had realised the
urgent need for a VAT recovery
expert, mainly aimed at
enhancing revenue collection
by ensuring monies lost since
2016 were recovered.
“To deal with it, a risk
appointment of a company was
made and the process was
above board.
“The services are still needed
and the municipality has since
advertised, calling for interested
parties to express their interest
and a new appointment is
expected soon.”
He rejected allegations that
a road maintenance company
was being paid R1m monthly.
“There is no company being
paid R1m monthly for road
maintenance. The municipality
had applied for funds to
construct the old Fikile
Gwadana road but only R3m
was acquired and it was only
used to patch potholes. Funds to
reconstruct the roads have been
sourced and procurement
processes to appoint the
contractor will soon ensue.”
GAME TALK: Springbok and Twizza ambassador Makazole Mapimpi, left, with local
Progress Rugby Club chairperson Basil Bosch at the Twizza sport activation event at Maria
Louw High School on Friday Picture: SUPPLIED
SPECIAL MOMENT
SPORT ACTIVATION: Maria Louw High School teachers with Springbok and Twizza ambassador Makazole Mapimpi
during his Twizza sport activation trip on Friday. From left, are SGB member Anthony Ross, acting principal Nonkosazana
Simanga, Mapimpi, sports master Tembela Fani and school principal Sandile Mata Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA
MEETING MAPIMPI: Shanley Coetzee, left, having a moment with
Springbok rugby player Makazole Mapimpi, who visited Maria Louw
High School last week as an ambassador of the Twizza Sports
Activation Picture: ZINTLE BOBELO
MOVING TOGETHER
IN SYNC
STEP BY
STEP: Senior
citizens
participating
in line dancing
classes at the
We s l e y
Methodist
Church hall in
Ebden Street.
The classes
are held every
Tuesday and
i n t e re s t e d
parties are
welcome to
join P i c t u re :
ZINTLE BOBELO
DANCING ALONG: A group of women keeping healthy through line dancing at Wesley
Methodist Church every Tuesday Picture: ZINTLE BOBELO