Illegal R110 000 bonus probed
2003-11-10 15:50
Sizwe samaYende
Makhado - Makhado municipality in Limpopo has launched a probe into various irregularities within the administration, including a R110 000 performance bonus that was illegally paid to municipal manager Reuben Rambado.
Makhado (formerly Louis Trichardt) mayor Sariel Nkuzana said on Monday that he had appointed a five-member ad hoc committee to also look into allegations of nepotism, "jobs-for-sale" and "sex-for-jobs" scandals.
"The bonus issue will part of package," Nkuzana said. "The municipality has been in the news for the past ten months. There have been allegations and counter-allegations so the committee will investigate and see if there are hard facts to appoint a commission of inquiry."
Rambado has insisted, however, that he deserved the money and will not reimburse the taxpayer for the bonus he received behind closed doors from former mayor Brighton Tlakula in November last year.
The council was not given a chance to ratify the bonus nor was Rambado's performance ever evaluated before he pocketed the money.
"Shocking political strategy"
Independent labour law experts who were hired to advise the council on the matter, concluded that the manager didn't deserve the bonus, and recommended that he should be charged for misconduct.
Lawyers pointed out that Rambado only signed an employment contract on August 2 last year and it was impossible that his performance could have been assessed by November since assessment takes place over a one-year period.
Opposition parties had accused the majority ANC council of trying to bury the matter after refusing to put it on the council agenda and said the committee was biased.
"This is a shocking political strategy," complained DA councillor Timothy Maanda.
"We had the last council meeting for the year two weeks ago, but they didn't table the matter for discussion despite the fact that I had also submitted written questions to the council on October 10."
Maanda added that Rambado should be immediately suspended and the matter be investigated.
Tlakula unceremoniously resigned as a mayor about two months ago, apparently under pressure from ANC heavyweights during the party's shake-up in municipalities that saw two mayors being axed.
- African Eye