Question NW4157 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
08 December 2015 - NW4157
Robertson, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
(1)Whether any councillors and/or municipal officials that owe any rates and/or taxes to the Mbombela Local Municipality may benefit from any incentive schemes that are designed to incentivise poor rate payers to pay 50% less of the outstanding amounts they owe; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether he has found that it is ethical to benefit from such a scheme when a person (a) is currently employed in the finance department and/or (b) is a councillor that could have known that such a scheme was to be presented to the specified municipality’s Council and that it would ultimately be adopted by the majority; if not, (i) why not and (ii) what steps will he take against the Members of the Mayoral Committee for allegedly indicating to the specified Council that resolutions were passed indicating that councillors and municipal officials were able to benefit from such a scheme despite the resolutions making no mention of said officials; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether he will instigate an investigation into the alleged breaching of the specified legislation in the specified municipality; if not, why not; if so, (a) when and (b) what are the further relevant details in this regard?
Reply:
This information has been requested from the Mbombela Local Municipality and will be communicated to the Honorable Member when it is available.
The Honorable Member should provide CoGTA with any concrete information in his possession that could assist in any investigation – which will be initiated if there is a prima facie basis in existence.