GEORGE NEWS - An increase of theft at Eden District Municipality, fifteen years' worth of sick leave taken in a single financial year and rumours of arson by contract fire workers are some of the issues raised by opposition councillors during the Eden Council Meeting on Monday.

The tabling of the municipality's draft annual report and a review of the Audit Committee Charter formed part of the agenda. 

Councillors used the opportunity to reflect on these reports and a report by the auditor-general. 

Eden District Municipality received an unqualified audit report, "with matters", from the Auditor General for the 2016/2017 financial year. 

The "matters" refer to a wide variety of issues within the municipality's financial statements which raised questions during the audit process.

ANC Councillor Piet van der Hoven raised his concern over "hair-rising issues" which he strongly feels the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (Mpac) must consider. 

The increased occurrence of theft at Eden DM is a matter Van der Hoven asked Mpac to investigate. 

He also asked Mayor Memory Booysen to reconsider Eden's contract with Working on Fire, an organisation contracted to distinguish fires. 

According to Van der Hoven it is rumoured that workers might be involved with the starting of fires.

ANC Councillors Piet van der Hoven (left) and Stephen de Vries (middle) asked that the reasons for the Knysna fires and the issue over Eden's water supply be investigated.

Working on Fire responds
Media liaison officer for Working on Fire, Lauren Howard, said the allegation that these firefighters would start fires to obtain work is a false statement, as they are employed in the Working on Fire programme regardless of the amount of fires they attend.

"Working on Fire draws their firefighters from the poorest of the poor. They go through extensive training, and are characterised by their fitness, discipline and exceptional work ethic and bravery," said Howard. 

"These brave young men and women spend hours upon hours in hot, windy and dangerous terrain risking their lives to save human and in some instances animal lives, as well as properties."

"Thanks to their employment in the Working on Fire programme as an extension of the Expanded Public Works programme of government they have been given a work opportunity to earn a living and to put food on the table."

It was announced that ANC Councillor Clodia Lichaba has been elected as the treasurer of the National Association of Municipal Accounts Committee (Nampac) and a member of Nampac's Executive Committee.

Irregular expenditure and sick leave
Other issues mentioned include irregular expenditure of over R31-million; lawsuits in which Eden is a defendant, including a lawsuit from Lefatshe Computer Systems (over R9-million), a possible dispute with B-municipalities regarding properties registered in Eden's name (over R68-million) and a lawsuit from Uniondale corrections facility on behalf of the Department of Public Works (over R8-million).

ANC Councillor Stephen de Vries asked for a thorough investigation into the cause of the Knysna fires and the water situation in Knysna and the whole Eden district.

PBI Councillor Virgill Gericke pointed out that an extreme amount of sick leave was taken by employees of Eden DM - a total of 5 484,45 days. 

"If divided by 365 (days in a year) it amounts to just over 15 years of sick leave taken in a single financial year," said Gericke. Management Services tallied up the second highest amount of 977,42 days of sick leave for one year, with Roads Services in the lead with 3 564,18 days.

Booysen said his understanding of a tabled report is that it is tabled and then goes through different committees. 

PBI Councillor Virgill Gericke (back, standing) asked for a detailed report on some of the financial statements. Seated are Icosa Councillor Theresa Fortuin (left) and court interpretor Bonisile Desha.

"But because of the way we do things we table the report, and some of our heads get chopped off immediately. We need to get things straight. When we table we table, when we indulge, we indulge. 

"So, don't cut my head of if I'm supposed to table it. I get crucified for things I am only supposed to table."

Speaker Mark Willemse said, "I don't think it's a crucifixion of yourself, they're just concerns of council with regards to issues that have been raised."

ARTICLE & PHOTOS: MICHELLE PIENAAR, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST

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