PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Bitou Municipality has been served with a court order from the Knysna Magistrate's Court to provide a breakdown of political staff and salary costs hired by the mayor, deputy mayor and speaker.

The court order was obtained by the Plett Ratepayers Association in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia). 

It was granted on 21 July and the municipality has 14 days from that date to relate the requested information on political employees, outside contractors and municipal employees to the association.

According to association chairperson Steve Pattinson, they launched the Paia application after the municipality failed to provide the information the association requested.

They had asked for information spanning three terms of office between 2012 and 2022, including the previous ANC-controlled council, in order to make a comparison.

"The association won the court order with costs on Friday 21 July against Bitou Municipality, giving Bitou two weeks to provide information on political appointees, otherwise they will be held in contempt of court," said Pattinson.

Municipal Manager Mbulelo Memani did not want to comment as the matter is sub judice. Pattinson said they asked for a breakdown of political staff and salary costs hired by the mayor, deputy mayor and speaker nine months ago.

"Political staff include office managers, political advisors, spiritual advisors (in the case of ex-mayor Lobese), personal communication managers, drivers, bodyguards, and anyone who works exclusively for elected officials. 

"We asked for this comparison to see if the current costs are in line. One of the reasons for asking was that, at the time, Bitou was in financial distress and this could have been an area for potential cost reductions. This is information which DA leader John Steenhuisen said would be made public after the 2021 municipal elections. It raises red flags when elected officials refuse to tell us how our money is being spent."

Pattinson said the association regrets having to go through the lengthy Paia process and unnecessary expense to get basic information that he believes they are entitled to. "We sincerely hope that going forward, our requests will be met with more openness."

Pattinson said that, "regrettably", the association has two more Paia applications in the pipeline.

Mbulelo Memani

These are:

• A copy of the agreement between Bitou Municipality and A&N Property Developers regarding the controversial erf 1725. "We want to understand the specifics regarding the terms of the agreement, its current validity and whether it pertains to all of erf 1725. We are particularly interested as to whether the price agreed in 2008 is locked in as opposed to current market value, which is what the MFMA requires."
• A copy of the contract, company records and performance reports on Isolomzi Security Services, to determine why Bitou's municipal security costs are so much higher than Knysna's. "The vandalism of municipal assets over the years has cost us millions and we need to get assurance that the R20m plus contract with Isolomzi provides the necessary level of security."

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