GOOD Press Statement by Rosa Louw,
GOOD George Municipality Councillor
28 September 2023
The GOOD party is deeply concerned about the missing stock that cannot be accounted for at the stores of the George municipality.
At today’s council meeting, we were asked to write off over R700,000 in fuel and oil that seemly just walked out the gate.
The lack of record-keeping at these premises is astounding.
These are public funds that could have been used to better serve our community.
As GOOD we are requesting that this matter be handed to Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPAC) for further investigation.
Despite this blatant lack of control and accountability, there appears to be no subsequent action to combat future losses.
There is also no indication of what action was taken against officials responsible for the management of the stores.
Those who are found responsible for this pilfering of municipal assets must be brought to book.
In terms of section 32(2) of the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 56 of 2003) and regulation 74 of the Municipal Budget and Reporting Regulations, a municipality must recover unauthorised, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
GOOD is concerned that this matter was allowed to escalate over a period of time with no intervention.
Should the municipality fail to have the matter investigated GOOD will have no option but to have the matter handed to the Hawks for investigation in terms of the Prevention of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, which criminalises this type of conduct and creates a duty to report corrupt activities.
As a council, we have a duty to the residents of George to hold this executive to account and ensure good governance in the municipality.
Media Enquiries:
Rosa Louw, George Municipality Councillor
Cell: 082 393 1669
Email: louw88@gmail.com
Samantha Jackson, GOOD Acting Media Manager
Cell: 083 550 9875
Email: media@forgood.org.za