More chaos at local municipality

AN ATTEMPT will be made to remove the Speaker of Thembelihle Municipality, Danny Jonas, in the Northern Cape High Court today, as a councillor and Speaker.

This follows a council meeting that was disrupted on September 23 that was convened to table a forensic investigation into irregular tenders that were awarded by the municipality.

In lawyer’s letters, the ANC in the Pixley ka Seme region stated that Jonas had acted unlawfully.

“There is an urgent court application set for Friday (September 30) concerning the status of Jonas and his unlawful attempts to continue to act as the Speaker.”

Calteaux and Partners attorneys stated that Jonas did not have the authority to call a special council meeting on September 23.

Magoma Attorneys, in correspondence, pointed out that Jonas has been reinstated as the Speaker by way of a court order.

They indicated that notice was given of the council meeting on September 20.

“Your client (the ANC) was well aware of the investigation and the resolution to allow National Treasury to table the forensic report as far back as August. It is our instructions that the only reason why your client threatened to interdict the meeting was to block the efforts of our client to root out years of corruption, financial irregularities and maladministration in the municipality.”

Thembelihle municipal mayor Xolile Phillips said an application would be heard in the Northern Cape High court today to interdict and remove Jonas as a councillor.

“Jonas is not listed as a councillor on the Independent Electoral Commission although he is enjoying all the benefits of a councillor.”

He indicated that the council meeting could not sit as the ANC and DA were not in attendance and a quorum could not be formed.

Jonas explained that only five councillors signed the attendance register, where he refused to allow them to turn the special council meeting into an information session.

“I invited them to the meeting so that National Treasury, who was in attendance, could hand over and table the forensic report. The meeting was sabotaged as municipal officials are implicated in the report. The ANC and DA walked out of the meeting.”

He stated that the forensic investigation was commissioned in August into tenders that were awarded for the stadium in Hopetown and an electrification project.

“I opened criminal charges because R2.2 million was paid over to a service provider when only 18 to 20 electrical poles were installed. A R11 million tender was awarded to renovate the Hopetown stadium while it cost the municipality only R3 million for construction. It cannot be right that it would cost R11 million for some paint and to repair a ceiling. These irregularities were never reported by the municipal public accounts committee.”

Jonas believed that arrests would have been executed by now, had the council meeting proceeded on September 23.

“The wheels of justice would have already started turning. There are secret meetings between main political parties and allegations of money floating around. The report must come out so that those who have been implicated in the report can provide answers. If there is corruption and/or maladministration under the watch of an accounting officer or chief financial officer, they will also be expected to account.”

He added that he would bring a review application against any attempt to remove him as Speaker or councillor.

“I have opened a case regarding threats and intimidation that were made against me. I have also laid charges of perjury and fraud against a police officer and a municipal official as well as charges of fraud and corruption in 2021 with the Hawks and police although to date, no arrests have been made.”