Stratu stays on, legal costs covered

Update

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Municipal Manager of the Garden Route District Municipality Monde Stratu will stay in office for now.

This was decided at a special council meeting on Tuesday 14 March, following Stratu's appearance in the Knysna Magistrate's Court last Thursday on charges of fraud, forgery and uttering. The GRDM council also resolved to carry Stratu's legal costs.

Stratu and a former municipal manager of Knysna, Dr Sithemebele Wiseman Vatala, appeared in court on charges relating to an alleged property dispute of millions of rands.

A statement released by GRDM on Tuesday afternoon reads that Council unanimously expresses its support for Stratu, "who has been maliciously prosecuted for fraud, forgery and uttering". It is further stated that Council believes that there are no reasonable grounds or evidence available to date to conclude that Stratu has commited an act of misconduct.

Knysna Councillor Susan Campbell of Knysna Independent Movement (Kim) confirmed that she laid charges relating to the matter back in 2020, when she was chairperson of the Knysna Ratepayers Association.

In 2021 the acting Knysna municipal manager at the time, Dawie Adonis, also laid criminal charges regarding the matter.

In 2021 the Acting Knysna Municipal Manager, Dawie Adonis, also laid criminal charges regarding the matter.

"The case was investigated by the Hawks and they found that Stratu was complicit in the case," said Campbell. "The charges were initially laid against Vatala and Mbelelo Memani, the former CEO of Knysna. Memani is currently the municipal manager of Bitou."

Campbell said the dispute involves property valued at about R60m.

GRDM Deputy Mayor Adv Gert van Niekerk told George Herald that the matter was discussed at the special council meeting earlier this week. The factual information that was discussed is that Stratu, as far back as 2017, had received a mandate to talk to the Knysna Municipality and look after the interests of the Garden Route District Municipality relating to the property.

It was again confirmed during a council meeting in 2020. As far as the GRDM is concerned, Stratu had a legal mandate to enter into negotiations.

"With the information available to Council on Tuesday there is no reason to believe that Stratu acted beyond his mandate," said Van Niekerk.

The GRDM believes that the law must take its course. Council resolved unanimously that they take notice of the allegations against Stratu and that he has already appeared in court.

"The decision of the GRDM to grant legal aid is subject to certain conditions. If there is evidence that he has acted outside his mandate, or is guilty of any offence, he will immediately be responsible for repaying the money. The matter is also referred to MEC for Local Government Anton Bredell to give some guidelines. It rests with Bredell's office to provide guidance. If necessary, another council meeting will be held."

According to Van Niekerk it appears that whoever laid the charges is not one hundred percent informed about the bilateral negotiations between the two municipalities.

Former municipal manager of Knysna Dr Sithemebele Wiseman Vatala

Background

Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani provided some background on the case through a statement last week: "It is alleged that between April and December 2019 the accused failed to declare seven municipal contingency assets to the Auditor General which were previously reflected on the 2012 and 2017 financial year audit reports of Knysna Local Municipality.

"These properties were supposed to be transferred from Knysna Local Municipality to Garden Route District Municipality, but the transfer could not take place.

"The value of these properties is R64m. As a result of this fraud the Knysna Local Municipality suffered potential loss. It was further alleged that the accused falsified the 2018/2019 audit report."