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IN what can only be described as a bizarre Special Council meeting, no fewer than seven of only ten items from the agenda were withdrawn when the Kouga Council met in Jeffreys Bay on August 3.
Of particular concern to the DA, was the withdrawal of two items that were to deal with the illegal use of a Council vehicle and petrol card for a period of nearly eight months by the Speaker, councillor Magdalene Dhlomo, as well as the use of Council property, also by the Speaker.
However, after Dhlomo recused herself from the meeting, the chair was irregularly occupied by another ANC councillor, Vernon Stuurman.
Stuurman proclaimed that as there was no prepared written material to table and discuss the matter under the two items in question and abruptly adjourned the meeting. Both items were clearly indicated on the agenda in the confidential section.
“The DA stands for good governance and we will not tolerate the attempt by the ANC to sweep the concerns regarding Dhlomo under the carpet,” said the caucus leader of the DA in Kouga, Chimpie Cawood.
According to Cawood, he will insist that the mandatory Code of Conduct for Councillors, that states: “A councillor may not use, take, acquire or benefit from any property or asset owned, controlled or managed by the municipality to which that councillor has no right”, must be adhered to.
“We have had a response from the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Fikile Xasa, who has undertaken to investigate the matter of Dhlomo’s use of a council vehicle as a matter of urgency. We await the findings of this investigation,” said Cawood
