GEORGE NEWS - A report tabled to Council in August by Garden Route District Municipality Mayor Andrew Stroebel regarding alleged wasteful expenditure has the stamp of approval from the MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell, who commended the newly appointed Stroebel in the media for grabbing the proverbial bull by the horns.
Bredell said he is in full support of efforts by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) to recover irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure and thanked Stroebel and his team for their commitment to resolving this issue.
Millions
The provincial department of local government concluded that irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure of over R6,6m was made in payments to senior officials of GRDM over a period of several years.
Despite receipt of a notice in May from Province [under the political leadership of former GRDM Mayor Memory Booysen], the municipality showed unwillingness to fulfil its executive obligations, says Bredell's press statement. "This, in particular, included the obligation to recover irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure."
Upper limits
On a question to Stroebel whether Municipal Manager Monde Stratu's top-scale salary forms part of the report, George Herald was informed that GRDM may only be able to provide more information after a council meeting during which the said report will be discussed.
Stratu's salary and his approved waiver applications to receive a salary in the upper limits of over R2,4m made headlines in numerous articles published by George Herald since March 2023, when Bredell issued a section 106 notice to the speaker of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), making it clear that he has reason to believe that maladministration or other serious malpractice had occurred (or was occurring) within the district municipality.
The report related to alleged financial misconduct, such as improper gratuity payments to certain political appointees, and a failure to comply with the Upper Limits of Total Remuneration Packages Payable for Municipal Managers and Managers directly accountable to the municipal manager.
In the latest update on the matter in February this year, GRDM head of communication Herman Pieters said it is common practice for all spheres of government to request waivers because of the structure of salaries.
Pieters said any claims suggesting that Stratu's waivers lacked prior approval are unfounded. "The GRDM Council unanimously endorsed the revised salary package for the municipal manager.
"The waiver for Mr Stratu's previous term (2016/17 – 2021/22) was also reaffirmed.
"Moreover, for his current term, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has endorsed Mr Stratu's waiver. Therefore, any claims suggesting that Mr Stratu's waivers lacked prior approval are baseless."
Andrew Stroebel
Urgent attention
Stroebel said he is committed to "urgently address" the concerns raised by Bredell. He confirmed that the report he tabled in August pertains to alleged wasteful expenditure over the financial years 2017 to 2022 - prior to his appointment - in the form of salary payouts.
"A report will be tabled to Council for consideration and implementation, outlining specific proposed actions to address these alleged overpayments made to senior officials," said Stroebel.
"These identified overpayments specifically relate to benefits that resulted in certain senior officials receiving annual salary packages exceeding the upper limits as set out in the relevant promulgated upper limits document."
He said the GRDM administration, Council and himself will work closely with provincial authorities to resolve the issues and restore public trust in the district municipality.
"Media updates will be provided as this matter evolves," said Stroebel.
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