GEORGE NEWS - A special council meeting of the Garden Route District Council, scheduled for last week Friday 13 May, was cancelled half an hour before the meetings' starting time at 10:00.
However, a preliminary council meeting took place on Monday afternoon 16 May. The meeting was closed to the public and the media.
Although expected, it was uncertain whether Speaker Georlene Wolmarans would have used the opportunity during last Friday's meeting to give feedback on a recent matter raised by Western Cape Minister Anton Bredell, for which a notice for more information was issued.
Bredell granted Wolmarans 15 days to respond to seven allegations of maladministration, corruption, fraud and/or serious malpractice at the GRDM.
One of the allegations pertains to gratuity payments made to the municipal manager, Monde Stratu, and political staff members in the previous term of office.
Asked about the preliminary meeting, GRDMs communications officer Herman Pieters said it is a standard meeting and always takes place before any council meeting.
"Agenda items planned for last Friday were in-committee items and the communications department is therefore not aware of the contents of the items," said Pieters.
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