PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The rescinding of a mayco resolution that determined the allocation of R1,9 million in grant-in-aid (GIA) caused heated debate in the Bitou special council meeting on Wednesday 18 September.

The mayco recommendation was made under a different dispensation - and now the new "majority councillors" are pushing back on the item.

The majority councillors (DA, AUF and IPM) voted in favour of readvertising the GIA process by 7 votes to 6 (ANC, PDC and PA coalition).

At the centre of the issue is R280 000 in GIA money that was allocated to the New Horizons Development Agency (NHDA) that allegedly has some Plett Democratic Congress (PDC) office-bearers listed as members of the NPO, according to some social media posts.

'Personally accused'

Former mayor Claude Terblanche (who represents the PDC in ward 4) said during the council debate he felt personally accused regarding the rescinding of the resolution and asked that he be told what he had done wrong so that future mayors could be informed.

ANC councillor Thembela Mhlana said the issue had been raised to a "political level" and that the community of Bitou would "suffer because of what transpired in council".

'Political decision'

"These councillors must be honest and should say rescinding the mayco item was a political decision. They should not lie… it is political. Be honest and say it is political. Don't take a decision and leave here pretending that it was not…"

Mhlana said the council will have to go through the process again "and there will be legal and financial repercussions because many of the recipients have signed contracts".

In all, there were to be 28 recipients of the R1,9m GIA allocations.

Acting municipal manager Mbulelo Memani arrived at council in a change of dress. "No. I haven't converted. I'm celebrating our Heritage Day holiday...." Photo: Chris van Gass

'Extensive consultations'

Bitou mayor Jessica Kamkam (DA) said in a statement issued after the special council meeting she "would like to assure the public that extensive consultations were held with the organisations affected by the decision to readvertise the grant-in-aid".

"We conducted thorough discussions to ensure that approvals would comply with the requirements of the auditor-general. Unfortunately, we could not proceed with confidence, as the verification processes

were not concluded; we sought to avoid any potential irregular expenditure. I want to assure the public that this decision was made in the interest of compliance and transparency," said Kamkam.

'Misinformation'

ANC councillor Sandiso Gcabhayi said he was "not happy" with what the DA had done. He said once the mayco had made a decision, "only a court can rescind that decision".

As far as the NHDA was concerned, Terblanche said he was not the person to talk to.

"We would like to distance ourselves from any speculation."

Two other aspects Kamkam clarified, because of what she said was "misinformation" being spread were: the waiver application for the director of corporate services and the approval for the retrospective payment of the MPAC chairperson, (now deputy mayor Nokuzola Kolwapi).

Kamkam said: "All decisions made by the council align with legislative requirements. The waiver application for the director of corporate services was prepared in full compliance with the relevant legal framework, and there are no irregularities in this process.

"Regarding the approval for the retrospective payment of the MPAC chairperson, it is important to clarify that this matter must be submitted to the MEC for Local Government for final approval. The council does not have the authority to make this decision independently, as it must adhere to strict legal protocols."

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