New Oudtshoorn Party Wants Probe Into Municipality
The recently established Oudtshoorn First Party says it will ask the Western Cape government to appoint a commission of inquiry to investigate the town‘s municipality.
Party spokesman Lionel Tait said issues needing investigation included findings by the provincial auditor-general that no fraud prevention plans were in place, there was no risk management policy, unapproved cellphone allowances had not been paid back, retrenchment packages were paid without approval and tenders weren‘t advertised.
Tait said the party could ask that Oudtshoorn again be placed under administration.
Acting municipal manager Thinus Matthysen said yesterday a special council meeting would be held today during which the audit report would be discussed in detail.
Tait said his party was calling for these measures, and possibly new municipal by-elections in the town, to fulfil its mandate to place the interests of Oudtshoorn first, to ensure that the town was managed in accordance with good financial principles and that this management be transparent to root out corruption.
By Garnett Wicomb
www.theherald.co.za
