GOOD statement by Shaun August
GOOD: National Organiser and Member of the WCPP
19 August 2022
Note: This statement was delivered by GOOD’s National Organiser and Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Shaun August, during the debate on the state of municipalities in the Western Cape.
Hon. Speaker
Corruption and Wasteful Expenditure are extensive in Western Cape Municipalities, at present:
- The Hawks are investigating a dodgy land sale in Swartland Municipality, where both the Speaker and MEC Anton Bredell failed to investigate after GOOD councillor Jeremy Papier handed them evidence of questionable financial transactions relating to this sale.
- In George it was found that a DA councillor, Mr. Stag Cronje, was implicated in the irregular investment of R350m into Old Mutual after GOOD leader Patricia de Lille laid a formal complaint at the Public Protector.
- In Plettenberg Bay, the Bitou Municipality contracted three containers to store emergency housing material; upon investigation these units were found empty, resulting in wasteful expenditure.
- In 2020 the City of Cape Town spent R43m irregularly in response to provide emergency housing for homeless people at the start of lockdown – the SIU investigation comes after a complaint laid by GOOD Secretary-General, Brett Herron.
Speaker
The Auditor-General in its recent audit report states that municipalities in the WC are showing continuing service delivery challenges as they do not have adequate systems and processes in place to measure the number of informal households within its boundaries.
Another finding is that municipalities do not report on the quality of services they deliver.
Irregular expenditure amounts to R1.23bn incurred at 27 municipalities in this Province.
So, here we are to debate a DA-sponsored topic so they can self-congratulate and inflate their toxic political ego.
The DA’s tactic of celebrating clean audits for political mileage is like praising a fish for swimming.
For the rest of this session, let’s not compare this province to ANC-led provinces, as people are suffering here as much as elsewhere in the country.
Media Enquiries:
Shaun August, GOOD: National Organiser & Member of Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Cell: 074 746 7378
Email: shauna@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0733671223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za