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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for an investigation in the non-payment of salaries of Nala Municipality’s staff and Councillors. The payment of salaries and financial services to residents in the Nala Municipality grinded to a halt due to a payment dispute between the administration and the municipality’s financial services provider, BIQ, as the municipal payment system at the municipality were disconnected over the weekend.

This has resulted in salaries of employees not being paid. This situation was entirely preventable as the workers and citizens should have been protected from the financial mismanagement of funds and mismanaged contractual obligations by the ANC-run municipality.

Yesterday, Monday 27 September, at 15:00 the system was switched back on into operation at the municipality, as a Court order was effected to force the supplier to switch the system on.

Whilst the standoff between the supplier and municipality continues, the DA has now written to the Auditor-General (AG) and National Treasury, as the custodians of the Municipal Finance Management Act, applicable to the financial management of the municipality, to conduct a thorough investigation into a contract between supplier and Municipality. This contract has not been signed by the municipality since 2015.

The DA supports an open tender bidding process to review the situation regarding an efficient and credible financial system at the municipality. The significance of the public audit amendment act is to refer material irregularities to relevant public bodies for further investigation and to take remedial action for failure to implement the AG’s recommendations.

DA governments have a commitment to clean, accountable governance. It is proven that where we govern, we get things done. Residents of Nala Municipality have a choice to implement a capable DA-run municipality on 1 November 2021.

Issued by DA Nala Councillor David Ross