Councillor to pay back thousands

GEORGE NEWS - Over-payment of about R164 213 by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) to George Councillor Virgill Gericke is under investigation.

The period in question stretches over eight months and dates back to 2017 during Gericke's service at GRDM. Both George and the GRDM are investigating the matter. The GRDM managed to claim back R50 000 from Sars.

District Mayor Memory Booysen said Gericke is paying back a minimum of R500 per month, starting in August 2019, until the full amount has been recovered. As the leader of the PBI, Gericke has a seat on the George Council and also represents George Municipality on the GRDM council.

Gericke said the matter is currently subject to litigation and challenged by his legal team. "The agreement between myself and GRDM is confidential. I confirm that there is an agreement that is strictly adhered to."

He furthermore said the "double prosecution" [launching of two legal disputes based on one set of facts] by both municipalities is a sign of the desperation of the DA-led council to smear his good name and reputation. .

"Crucial information has been withheld from council and the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), therefore their resolution to warrant an investigation was ill-informed. It is clear that this is a political ploy to taint my reputation on the eve of the local government elections."

GRDM MPAC chair, Councillor Clodia Lichaba

Communication

Booysen said, as per their annual report, proper communication was not relayed to the finance salary section regarding Gericke's change of status, which had a direct impact on his remuneration.

"After he resigned as a chairperson of one of the GRDM committees, he was supposed to have earned the normal remuneration paid to GRDM councillors. The finance department continued to pay him as a chairperson of a Section 80 committee and he never reported the discrepancy.

"Upon realisation, it was already months later [eight months] and the difference had amounted to approximately R164 213. Finance managed to claim back the portion from Sars and credited it against the amount; hence the R50 000 decrease in the figures."

Gericke resigned on 31 March 2017 as chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee and was elected as chairperson of the Health and Safety Committee from 29 May 2017.

DA Regional Campaign Manager Tertuis Simmers

Urgency

Asked why the matter is currently receiving so much attention, Booysen said the committees of council, that have been dealing with all council matters, have to finalise all outstanding issues of their term.

"Finality needs to be reached on this. The Annual Financial Statements (AFS) for 2020/21 were discussed at various committees of council and at the previous council meeting. The issue about Alderman Gericke was discussed." He said it is public information and has been reported on the Annual Financial Statements since June 2018.

Concerned about repayment

District Municipality MPAC chair, Councillor Clodia Lichaba, said MPAC is concerned about the repayment of the amount. "We have to look at what the law says. According to the Municipal Finance Management Act, any councillor owing the municipality has to pay back their debt. The amount has to be recovered. Councillor Gericke's term is coming to an end at the end of November and that is why it is important to address the matter now."

George Speaker Gerrit Pretorius said since Gericke represents George Municipality on the district council, an independent service provider has been appointed by the George municipal legal division to investigate the matter. Booysen, too, said the GRDM council instituted an investigation that must deal with all the matters. "Based on the outcomes, remedial action will be taken."

District Mayor Memory Booysen Photos: Michelle Pienaar

Election race

Gericke said it is vividly clear that the DA fears losing power and is trying to eliminate him from the race towards the elections. "I will submit explosive facts on an appropriate platform that will expose the political witch-hunt and bullying tactics of the DA-led council on myself," he said.

"Their statement that I did not report the overpayment is malicious, false, devoid of all truth and meant to portray me as a dishonest person. The contrary will be submitted by documentary proof. The matter has been settled already a couple of years ago. I have written proof that the matter is resolved."

DA Regional Campaign Manager Tertuis Simmers noted Gericke's comments. "All public representatives, irrespective of party affiliation, are held to proper account through processes that deal with facts, not distorted facts to incite and drive a narrow political agenda or seek to find sensationalism," he said.

"The true abuse of power in this matter is to politically seek sensationalism for a narrow political agenda and using different media for it, which is what the PBI is known for since 2011. Processes that seek to give the district electorate the truth in this matter are in place and need to be respected."

Overpayments

According to Gericke, the GRDM has overpaid many councillors and signed agreements with all of them, "some of which only pay one hundred rand a month and some have refused to sign agreements," he said. "They were never charged. The relevant officials responsible for these overpayments are still in their positions and no disciplinary steps have been taken against them. At the George Municipality, an employee was overpaid by R2,6-million at once.

"Overpayment is happening all the time. It is clear that I'm being targeted. This is abuse of power, corrupt and a waste of taxpayers' money. I reserve my right to lay criminal charges against all those involved in this cowardly act of defaming my good name. The matter is in the hands of my lawyers, Stephan Kleynhans Attorneys."

George municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose said Gericke's statement about the overpayment of a certain official is factually correct. "However please note, the bulk of the overpayment (approximately 75%) has been repaid, with legal processes underway to retrieve the balance."

George Speaker Gerrit Pretorius