29 SEPTEMBER 1998
Following a protest march by some residents of Sakhile in Standerton The MEC for Local Government, Housing and Land Administration, acknowledges receipt of the memorandum in dismay. The MEC is at the point of appointing an investigation task team as envisaged in the Local Govt.Transitional Act (LGTA) of 1993. The task team will investigate among other things the Housing development and Awarding of Tenders.
MEC for Local Government, Housing and Land Administration, Mr. Craig Padayachee said "It is surprising that while we are in a process of investigating all sorts of allegations we are pressurized by memorandums that have no clear evidence of accusations".
The MEC appealed to the Sakhile community to bring forward any evidence of mal-administration. "The Director of Management Services who is also the acting Head of Department, Mr. Bruno Vilane, will be going to Standerton on Wednesday 30/9/98. I then expect the residents to hand in any evidence relating to their memorandum for further investigation,"he said.
"We shall endeavor to investigate all allegations of maladministration and corruption in the name of clean governance" he said. The MEC however pointed that commissions of inquiry are too expensive and the taxpayer's money cannot be used to initiate commissions of inquiry without substantial evidence.
Referring to the financial status of Standerton Mr. Padayachee indicated that all people who may be receiving summons are those that have not responded to Council calls for service payments. "No Council can survive and deliver services without financial support of its community. Those who can not afford to pay should always be responsible to communicate with their Councilors" he said. Standerton is one of the towns that received instructions to shape up their finances in terms of Section 109(m)(i) of the LGTA 1993 from Mr. Padayachee.
Issued by Communication Services Contact: Mr. Leon Mbangwa (Spokesperson.) Department of Local Government, Housing and Land Administration Tel: (013)7554810 Cell: 082 569 4021 p/s copies of memorandum available on request