News
Elias Motsoaledi opposition questions the Mayor’s R115 000-00 monthly protection bill
By Eric Matome Kgomo
The opposition has slammed the use of about R115, 000.00 of taxpayers’ money, on Elias Motsoaledi Mayor Julia Mathebe’s personal protection each month, saying the money should instead be channeled towards service delivery.
According to the opposition, there was no security assessment done by the council to establish that the Mayor should have 24-hour security. Seun Mogotji of the Bolsheviks Party of South Africa says they were reliably informed that security personnel were stationed at the mayor’s house around August this year.
“This was before the issue of the Mayor’s security was tabled in the council for approval. This is yet another example of Mayor Mathebe’s flagrant abuse of state resources for her personal use,” he says.
“During the council meeting, we asked the Mayor to produce a threat analysis report to prove she needs the protection. Nothing was produced to prove a need for private protection,” he explains.
According to Mogotji, letters have been written to the National Cooperative Governance department and the department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional affairs in Limpopo to determine if it is legal for the municipality to spend R115 000-00 to protect the mayor without any security assessment.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Councillor in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality Ali Maloba says, “We were surprised when the money that is supposed to deliver services is now used to protect the mayor. The money that was supposed to install electricity for the community of OR Tambo Extension, Taiwan and Molala villages was diverted to protect the Mayor without a security assessment,” he says.
Director of Executive Support in the Municipality, Mishack Kgwale has refuted claims that Mathebe was not assessed for any risk to determine if she needs protection.
“The Municipality is in possession of the case number and risk assessment report determining that the Mayor is under threat and that her life is at risk. The protection will run for the next four months and it will be re-evaluated if the mayor is still at risk,” he says.
