OR TAMBO municipality disobeyed instructions from the Finance Minister on Madiba’s funeral.
A circular from Pravin Gordhan warned municipalities against spending money on food and other unnecessary items, and yet the municipality spent R410000 on food and bottled water for the late former president’s memorial service in Mthatha a few days before his funeral.
The Department of Water Affairs reportedly sent bottled water to the municipality in preparation for the funeral.
The event on December12 was addressed by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe. A total of 4000 bottles costing R50000 were bought from different service providers and the Dispatch has seen orders requested by the the office of the executive mayor.
The food ordered was for 5500 people. District mayor Nomakhosazana Meth said she had dealt with Treasury’s chief director for local government budget Jan Hattingh about provision of food at the service.
“We engaged with National Treasury, saying this is a rural municipality – if you have to ask people to come all the way from Lusikisiki and not provide food for them it would not be good.
“Hattingh said we should motivate why we want to cater at the memorial service – I personally spoke to him.
“We wrote the letter but I do not know what happened afterwards but I will ask the director in my office and the chief of staff for further clarity,” said Meth.
Treasury director of communications Jabulani Sikhakhane confirmed that Meth had contacted Hattingh about catering requirements. “ indicated to the mayor that no Treasury official has the mandate to overrule a directive by the Minister of Finance and advised the mayor to write a motivation for the proposed expenditure after which would comment on the merits of the case.
“As the council is ultimately accountable for all activities of the municipality, including expenditure appropriations, the mayor was advised that once he received feedback it would be necessary to get council endorsement.
“No motivation by the mayor has been received to date. Nor did Mr Hattingh provide approval for the mayor to incur expenditure associated with catering.”
The DA’s Mbongeni Kotana said his party would probe the matter.
“The death of Mandela gave people an opportunity to embezzle money from the state. It is unfortunate that this happened. We will inquire about this in council.”
COPE’s Mandla Gogo said those who claimed to love Mandela made a mockery of his last days. “They made his funeral a get-rich-quick scheme. Those consulted to offer services decided to inflate prices while others in government wanted to benefit.
“Each and every one of them must be brought to book and account for every cent.”
OR Tambo ‘disobeyed’ Finance Minister’s orders
A circular from Pravin Gordhan warned municipalities against spending money on food and other unnecessary items, and yet the municipality spent R410000 on food and bottled water for the late former president’s memorial service in Mthatha a few days before his funeral.
The Department of Water Affairs reportedly sent bottled water to the municipality in preparation for the funeral.
The event on December12 was addressed by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe. A total of 4000 bottles costing R50000 were bought from different service providers and the Dispatch has seen orders requested by the the office of the executive mayor.
The food ordered was for 5500 people. District mayor Nomakhosazana Meth said she had dealt with Treasury’s chief director for local government budget Jan Hattingh about provision of food at the service.
“We engaged with National Treasury, saying this is a rural municipality – if you have to ask people to come all the way from Lusikisiki and not provide food for them it would not be good.
“Hattingh said we should motivate why we want to cater at the memorial service – I personally spoke to him.
“We wrote the letter but I do not know what happened afterwards but I will ask the director in my office and the chief of staff for further clarity,” said Meth.
Treasury director of communications Jabulani Sikhakhane confirmed that Meth had contacted Hattingh about catering requirements. “ indicated to the mayor that no Treasury official has the mandate to overrule a directive by the Minister of Finance and advised the mayor to write a motivation for the proposed expenditure after which would comment on the merits of the case.
“As the council is ultimately accountable for all activities of the municipality, including expenditure appropriations, the mayor was advised that once he received feedback it would be necessary to get council endorsement.
“No motivation by the mayor has been received to date. Nor did Mr Hattingh provide approval for the mayor to incur expenditure associated with catering.”
The DA’s Mbongeni Kotana said his party would probe the matter.
“The death of Mandela gave people an opportunity to embezzle money from the state. It is unfortunate that this happened. We will inquire about this in council.”
COPE’s Mandla Gogo said those who claimed to love Mandela made a mockery of his last days. “They made his funeral a get-rich-quick scheme. Those consulted to offer services decided to inflate prices while others in government wanted to benefit.
“Each and every one of them must be brought to book and account for every cent.”
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