More legal action over Memani

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Bitou Municipal Manager Mbulelo Memani's black BMW X3 has been attached by the Sheriff of the High Court in Knysna while his moveable property was attached at his home in Castleton, Piesang Valley Road, on Thursday 17 July in terms of a writ of execution obtained by Bitou Mayor Jessica Kamkam from the Western Cape High Court.

It was granted to recoup R1,6m from Memani - part of a mutual severance agreement that he has not repaid.

Memani's vehicle is now parked at the sheriff's office in Knysna. It is believed that further moves to attach his moveable property were launched by the sheriff in Worcester.

In a new development, all the opposition parties in the Bitou Municipality (ANC, PCB and PA) attempted to lay a criminal charge of contempt of court against Memani on Tuesday 22 July.

'Fraud'

They also wanted to lay a charge of fraud against a Bitou municipal official who had allegedly paid R800 000 to the municipality on Memani's behalf.

However, due to procedural processes, because the charges were being laid by a collective, the matter needed to be placed before the Plettenberg Bay SAPS station commander who was unavailable at the time.

This vehicle is currently being held at the office of the Sheriff of the High Court in Knysna.

ANC chief whip Sandiso Gcabayi said he payment from the official, whose contract in a newly created position had recently been extended by Memani, was "suspicious".

"The official has been appointed in a position that does not exists in the municipality's organisational structure," he said.

"Subsequently, when all other contracts were terminated, his contract was extended for six months by the municipal manager. We want the police to investigate."

'Contempt of court'

Gcabayi said that Memani's failure to pay the money he owed to the municipality was a contravention of the court order, which stipulated that it be paid "forthwith".