LazyLion
King of de Jungle
Johannesburg - A Limpopo mayor who presides over one of the worst-performing municipalities countrywide has spent thousands of rand of taxpayers’ money attending a private political meeting, saying the ANC had given her the “mandate”.
Mayor Ivy Phaahla, of the Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality, insists her position gives her the privilege to use public funds on private matters.
She has admitted to using R14 000 of municipal funds on flight tickets, an “executive” hotel room for two nights and a shuttle between the hotel and the Kings Park stadium for the ANC’s 101-year anniversary celebration in Durban in January.
“As the mayor, I went there because of certain privileges and expectations from the office that I hold,” Phaahla said.
She denies accusations that attending ANC meetings at the expense of the council amounted to misuse of public funds.
“That is where we get our mandate from. I did not misuse public funds,” Phaahla insisted.
However, her actions apparently violate the provision of a municipal public office-bearers’ handbook, which states: “Councillors and their families are not entitled to domestic or international flights for private use at municipal expense.”
While the mayor was at pains to justify the expenditure, residents make do with sparsely tarred roads and a shortage of water and electricity.
Phaahla’s council is also counted among those that frustrate Auditor-General Terence Nombembe. In his last provincial general report on local government for the financial year that ended June 2011, he lamented non-compliance at Phaahla’s municipality.
“Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality failed to submit annual financial statements within the legislated date of August 31 for two consecutive years,” said Nombembe.
“Although consultants have been assisting the municipality for the past two years, no visible improvements were noted,” he said.
Residents now plan a march to demand Phaahla’s resignation. “People don’t have water. Even here in Lebowakgomo township, specifically units B and F, we struggle with water,” said Phauwe Mphahlele, chairman of the Lepelle-Nkumpi Development Forum.
“Everyone is tired here. In some parts of the municipality, people still don’t have electricity and water,” he said.
Phaahla is not the only government official who is implicated in the alleged misuse of state funds on private matters. Last month, Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale spent R111 000 of taxpayers’ money to attend the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.
After he had initially refused to comment, Mathale later claimed he had been in Cape Town on official duty and that he personally paid for his stay in the Mother City.
North West Social Development MEC Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi, reportedly used R174 000 of taxpayers’ money to pay for herself, a friend and department officials’ stay in Bloemfontein during the ANC’s national conference in December. She denies any wrongdoing on her part, claiming she took “political responsibility for the actions of my department’s officials - that of including themselves in my travel bookings without my knowledge and approval”.
[email protected]
Source: The Star
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-afr...dium=facebook&utm_source=dlvr.it#.UZnxppzpx8E
Mayor Ivy Phaahla, of the Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality, insists her position gives her the privilege to use public funds on private matters.
She has admitted to using R14 000 of municipal funds on flight tickets, an “executive” hotel room for two nights and a shuttle between the hotel and the Kings Park stadium for the ANC’s 101-year anniversary celebration in Durban in January.
“As the mayor, I went there because of certain privileges and expectations from the office that I hold,” Phaahla said.
She denies accusations that attending ANC meetings at the expense of the council amounted to misuse of public funds.
“That is where we get our mandate from. I did not misuse public funds,” Phaahla insisted.
However, her actions apparently violate the provision of a municipal public office-bearers’ handbook, which states: “Councillors and their families are not entitled to domestic or international flights for private use at municipal expense.”
While the mayor was at pains to justify the expenditure, residents make do with sparsely tarred roads and a shortage of water and electricity.
Phaahla’s council is also counted among those that frustrate Auditor-General Terence Nombembe. In his last provincial general report on local government for the financial year that ended June 2011, he lamented non-compliance at Phaahla’s municipality.
“Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality failed to submit annual financial statements within the legislated date of August 31 for two consecutive years,” said Nombembe.
“Although consultants have been assisting the municipality for the past two years, no visible improvements were noted,” he said.
Residents now plan a march to demand Phaahla’s resignation. “People don’t have water. Even here in Lebowakgomo township, specifically units B and F, we struggle with water,” said Phauwe Mphahlele, chairman of the Lepelle-Nkumpi Development Forum.
“Everyone is tired here. In some parts of the municipality, people still don’t have electricity and water,” he said.
Phaahla is not the only government official who is implicated in the alleged misuse of state funds on private matters. Last month, Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale spent R111 000 of taxpayers’ money to attend the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.
After he had initially refused to comment, Mathale later claimed he had been in Cape Town on official duty and that he personally paid for his stay in the Mother City.
North West Social Development MEC Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi, reportedly used R174 000 of taxpayers’ money to pay for herself, a friend and department officials’ stay in Bloemfontein during the ANC’s national conference in December. She denies any wrongdoing on her part, claiming she took “political responsibility for the actions of my department’s officials - that of including themselves in my travel bookings without my knowledge and approval”.
[email protected]
Source: The Star
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-afr...dium=facebook&utm_source=dlvr.it#.UZnxppzpx8E
