Taxpayers had to foot the R200 000 medical bill for Lukhanji mayor Nozibele Makanda, apparently because she did not have medical aid cover when she crashed her official vehicle in November last year.
This was confirmed by cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa, who said the reason the municipality footed the bill at Life St Dominic’s Hospital in East London was that Makanda had been on official duty when the accident happened.
Answering a question as to how the municipality would recover the money, Xasa said insurance claims had been submitted to third party insurance companies to recoup the expenses incurred. “The date of payments from insurance agencies cannot be predicted by the municipality, but all efforts are employed by the municipality to speed up the process.”
However, the gazetted salaries of all mayors included a percentage that is reserved for medical aid.
In their salaries, 60% is reserved for basic salary. The remaining 40% is for other benefits, including medical aid, but it is not compulsory to have cover.
However, DA MPL and shadow MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs Veliswa Mvenya said Xasa’s response was insufficient as Makanda, like all other office-bearers, was supposed to belong to a medical aid scheme.
“We understand that the mayor had belonged to a medical aid before and she failed to make payments, which resulted in her not being covered at the time of her accident,” said Mvenya.
Lukhanji municipal spokesman Fundile Feketshane yesterday confirmed that the municipality paid the initial medical expenses demanded by the hospital before the mayor could be admitted.
A report prepared by Lukhanji municipal manager Nolwandle Gqiba had detailed the series of events that led to the R200 000 expenditure. It was to be tabled at a council meeting, but was shelved.
In the report, Gqiba stated that Makanda was trapped in the car for approximately two hours. “Her condition was life-threatening. There was a need for immediate surgery and the hospital needed guarantees from the municipality before attending to her surgery and treatment.”
Gqiba said she sought advice from her “political principals” as required by law, and decided to authorise the R200 000 payment.
Lukhanji Mayor’s medical aid ‘unpaid’
This was confirmed by cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa, who said the reason the municipality footed the bill at Life St Dominic’s Hospital in East London was that Makanda had been on official duty when the accident happened.
Answering a question as to how the municipality would recover the money, Xasa said insurance claims had been submitted to third party insurance companies to recoup the expenses incurred. “The date of payments from insurance agencies cannot be predicted by the municipality, but all efforts are employed by the municipality to speed up the process.”
However, the gazetted salaries of all mayors included a percentage that is reserved for medical aid.
In their salaries, 60% is reserved for basic salary. The remaining 40% is for other benefits, including medical aid, but it is not compulsory to have cover.
However, DA MPL and shadow MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs Veliswa Mvenya said Xasa’s response was insufficient as Makanda, like all other office-bearers, was supposed to belong to a medical aid scheme.
“We understand that the mayor had belonged to a medical aid before and she failed to make payments, which resulted in her not being covered at the time of her accident,” said Mvenya.
Lukhanji municipal spokesman Fundile Feketshane yesterday confirmed that the municipality paid the initial medical expenses demanded by the hospital before the mayor could be admitted.
A report prepared by Lukhanji municipal manager Nolwandle Gqiba had detailed the series of events that led to the R200 000 expenditure. It was to be tabled at a council meeting, but was shelved.
In the report, Gqiba stated that Makanda was trapped in the car for approximately two hours. “Her condition was life-threatening. There was a need for immediate surgery and the hospital needed guarantees from the municipality before attending to her surgery and treatment.”
Gqiba said she sought advice from her “political principals” as required by law, and decided to authorise the R200 000 payment.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos