The process to investigate the two municipal officials who travelled to France to allegedly watch the Rugby World Cup final has begun.
Also read: DA requests probe into municipal officals’ visit to France for RWC
The spokesperson for Anton Bredell, MEC for local government, environmental affairs and development planning in the Western Cape, confirmed to the Daily Maverick that efforts to probe the allegations surrounding the trip have begun.
‘We have started the process to determine if a Section 106 investigation into the matter can be launched,’ says Wouter Kriel, Bredell’s spokesperson. ‘The legislative framework requires that before the Minister can initiate an investigation he is required to afford the municipality with an opportunity to comment on the allegations and then conduct an assessment to determine if a provincial investigation is necessary.’
According to the Daily Maverick, Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act enables the MEC for local government to request information, and designate a person or team to investigate if the MEC is aware of allegations of maladministration, fraud or corruption in a municipality.
Although Bredell reportedly requested answers from the Theewaterskloof municipality regarding the visit, the municipality declined to respond.
John Michels, the deputy mayor of Theewaterskloof Municipality and speaker Derick Appel reportedly planned to visit embassies and discuss potential project partners during their trip to France.
A letter dubbing the trip as an ‘official state visit’ was sent to the Department of International Relations and Cooperations (Dirco) director-general Zane Dangor.
In this letter, the municipality’s municipal manager Wilfred Solomons-Johannes requested a note verbale be provided by Dirco for the pair, who planned to pay a ‘courtesy cisit to the Embassy in the UK and France and meet with the relevant officials to discuss the trade and investment’.
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In response, the Democratic Alliance’s constituency head in Theewaterskloof, Isaac Sileku, raised concerns about whether this was the real reason for the trip. Sileku also questioned who was paying for the trip.
‘Should you believe the National Treasury should investigate this matter, to determine whether this proposed excursion genuinely serves the interests of the people of Theewaterskloof, you are welcome to escalate it to the relevant officials.
‘The citizens of Theewaterskloof deserve clear and honest explanations regarding this trip and its implications for their municipality.’
Mireille Wenger, Western Cape Finance and Economic Opportunities MEC, referred Sileku’s request to Bredell’s office in a letter dated 2 November.
‘The Municipal Finance Management Act does not provide powers of investigation. However, the Provincial Treasury will be monitoring the municipality’s monthly financial reports for any indicators of financial mismanagement or any possible violations of the cost containment regulations.’
Kriel says the issue is about who funded the trip, and whether financial regulations were followed if it was the municipality.
However, both Michels and Appel claim to have paid for the trip themselves.
Appel is also the treasurer for the Western Cape ANC and is currently facing a criminal case linked to an assault of three law enforcement officers during centenary celebrations in Riviersonderend in September, as per News24.
Furthermore, Michels faced charges of sexual harassment earlier this year, causing the Good party to institute a hearing against him.
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