Update

KNYSNA NEWS - A former acting municipal manger of Knysna Municipality, Roland Butler, has called for a thorough investigation into the bugging and sweeping service motivated by Acting Director of Corporate Services, Adv Luvuyo Loliwe.

Butler reacted to a recent report in KPH about the R127 800 that was paid from the municipality's Animal Welfare Grant to Mlindazwe Investments for the supposed debugging service. 

He said such an investigation must be twofold: to scrutinise the legitimacy and adherence to the supply chain management processes, and to investigate the non-compliance and accreditation of the service provider as required by law (Private Security Industry Regulation Act, 2001 (Act No. 56 of 2001).

"The most suitable solution would be to refer the matter to the Provincial Administration for Local Government and Treasury to obtain an oversight view regarding allegations of conflict of interest and fruitless and wasteful expenditure," he suggested.

Putting things straight

The approval for the deviation regarding the debugging and sweeping service, concluded in September last year, was given by Butler's predecessor, Johannes Jonkers - and not by Butler, who worked in this position from 25 October 2022 to 31 January.

Butler pointed out that most of the replies from the municipality's communications department to questions from KPH had been provided by Loliwe, not himself. He said some of the answers "can be interpreted as me trying to cover up for Adv Loliwe, which is nonsense". 

He said the answers stating that Loliwe and Bandile Mlindazwe, the owner of Mlindazwe Investments, simply worked together and are former colleagues, was provided by Loliwe.

He said one response he can vouch for was that he sought an extension in responding to follow-up questions from KPH due to the municipal officials involved only returning in mid-January. 

Butler said he wasn't even aware of some of the responses from Loliwe supplied to the newspaper on issues that took place before he himself became acting municipal manager.

"I hope my elaboration will put to bed any misperception by the public that I was part of this matter," said Butler. He said his good name was used as a "political smoke screen to deliberately mislead the public on the merit of several serious allegations".

"I was totally unaware that my name would be used instead of the name of the particular director, namely Loliwe. The particular transaction was questioned by several stakeholders such as the Democratic Alliance, Kim and Action SA. I firmly believe that this deviation (prior to my term of office) must be investigated thoroughly, together with other similar allegations," Butler said.

"This transaction, together with several other dicey transactions over the past few years, undoubtedly led to the current cash flow problems of Knysna Municipality.

"Ongoing borrowing of external money from financial institutions would not remedy the situation but will rather worsen the current state of affairs and malicious practices (interference of certain councillors in the supply chain management)."

He said the matter must be referred to the internal audit committee and municipal public accounts committee. "A disciplinary process should be taken against the officials and councillors involved if an independent investigation report identifies irregularities and maladministration."

Municipal input

According to the municipality's communications department, the comments were in line with its communications policy.

"In terms of our internal processes, it may very well be that the acting director provided the answers. However, in terms of the municipality's communications policy, the executive mayor and municipal manager are the official spokespersons of the municipality.

"In this case, the response has been signed off by the municipal manager. The communications department cannot issue any statements or responses without obtaining the relevant authority's permission."