OPPOSITION parties have lashed out at the ANC in the Eastern Cape for using state resources to fund last week’s party meeting with its councillors.
The DA said it would table the matter in the legislature next month and ask local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane to account for how much taxpayers’ money was used to host the event.
COPE said it had assigned its councillors to look for evidence that municipal funds were used to transport or accommodate ANC councillors for the meeting. If evidence is found, the party said, the matter will be referred to auditor-general Terence Nombembe and public protector Thuli Madonsela.
But Qoboshiyane dismissed suggestions that the workshop was an abuse of taxpayers’ money.
“It was not a talkshop. Councillors were told to comply with the auditor- general’s report and to employ officials who are qualified.”
The ANC’s provincial executive committee last Monday summoned all of its 1050 councillors to East London and presented a report showing some municipalities were in a state of collapse.
None of the province’s municipalities received a clean audit from the auditor-general.
Opposition parties said indications were that municipalities footed the meeting’s bill, not the ANC.
The DA’s Bobby Stevenson estimated that more than R4-million was spent on the gathering.
“If one adds up the costs of accommodation, meals, transport and subsistence allowances, this event could have cost the taxpayer between R4- and R5-million,” he said.
COPE provincial secretary Archie Ralo said the party would assign its councillors to collect “incriminating evidence” that confirmed municipal funds were used to finance the ANC gathering.
“My understanding is was an ANC meeting for ANC councillors, not the councillors.
“It’s gross abuse of power by the ruling party,” Ralo said.
All East London hotels were booked last Sunday night, with the Premier Hotel and Resort’s Eugene Oelofse describing business as “exceptionally busy”.
At the meeting, ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane pleaded with councillors to settle down after a number of them had walked in and out of the meeting.
On investigating why there was commotion, Mabuyane said councillors had complained that there were no scones or biscuits to go with coffee at tea time.
“You know we don’t have enough budget. We asked you to improvise and assist us,” he said.
Stevenson said: “I challenge Qoboshiyane to deny that no expenses were incurred by municipalities or his department in hosting this event.
“The MEC must explain to the legislature how much this exercise cost municipalities and the department, and why this cannot be categorised as illegal expenditure.”
“We also have other avenues of redress that we will utilise … this is a scandalous misuse of taxpayers’ money. It’s an outrageous abuse of power and shows that the ANC has totally lost the plot when it comes to distinguishing between what is party activity and government activity,” Stevenson added.
Qoboshiyane said it was interesting how there was criticism of the meeting because he has held similar meetings with the DA in his capacity as MEC, after which there had been no outcry.
“I met DA caucus in Kouga, an ANC-led municipality.” — Additional reporting by Sapa
Opposition blasts ANC for ‘costly’ policy jaunt
The DA said it would table the matter in the legislature next month and ask local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane to account for how much taxpayers’ money was used to host the event.
COPE said it had assigned its councillors to look for evidence that municipal funds were used to transport or accommodate ANC councillors for the meeting. If evidence is found, the party said, the matter will be referred to auditor-general Terence Nombembe and public protector Thuli Madonsela.
But Qoboshiyane dismissed suggestions that the workshop was an abuse of taxpayers’ money.
“It was not a talkshop. Councillors were told to comply with the auditor- general’s report and to employ officials who are qualified.”
The ANC’s provincial executive committee last Monday summoned all of its 1050 councillors to East London and presented a report showing some municipalities were in a state of collapse.
None of the province’s municipalities received a clean audit from the auditor-general.
Opposition parties said indications were that municipalities footed the meeting’s bill, not the ANC.
The DA’s Bobby Stevenson estimated that more than R4-million was spent on the gathering.
“If one adds up the costs of accommodation, meals, transport and subsistence allowances, this event could have cost the taxpayer between R4- and R5-million,” he said.
COPE provincial secretary Archie Ralo said the party would assign its councillors to collect “incriminating evidence” that confirmed municipal funds were used to finance the ANC gathering.
“My understanding is was an ANC meeting for ANC councillors, not the councillors.
“It’s gross abuse of power by the ruling party,” Ralo said.
All East London hotels were booked last Sunday night, with the Premier Hotel and Resort’s Eugene Oelofse describing business as “exceptionally busy”.
At the meeting, ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane pleaded with councillors to settle down after a number of them had walked in and out of the meeting.
On investigating why there was commotion, Mabuyane said councillors had complained that there were no scones or biscuits to go with coffee at tea time.
“You know we don’t have enough budget. We asked you to improvise and assist us,” he said.
Stevenson said: “I challenge Qoboshiyane to deny that no expenses were incurred by municipalities or his department in hosting this event.
“The MEC must explain to the legislature how much this exercise cost municipalities and the department, and why this cannot be categorised as illegal expenditure.”
“We also have other avenues of redress that we will utilise … this is a scandalous misuse of taxpayers’ money. It’s an outrageous abuse of power and shows that the ANC has totally lost the plot when it comes to distinguishing between what is party activity and government activity,” Stevenson added.
Qoboshiyane said it was interesting how there was criticism of the meeting because he has held similar meetings with the DA in his capacity as MEC, after which there had been no outcry.
“I met DA caucus in Kouga, an ANC-led municipality.” — Additional reporting by Sapa
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