The Renosterberg Municipal Manager (MM) Morné Hoogbaard is alleged to have accused the MEC Bentley Vass and premier Zamani Saul of interfering in the affairs of the municipality following a meeting in which various issues, including debt owed to Eskom by the municipality, were discussed. In response to the said allegation, MEC Vass brushed the allegation aside and said this is an attempt to cast doubt on the integrity of Saul and her office respectively. 

Meanwhile, the municipal spokesperson, Sandile Dick, confirms to OFM News that the MM did accuse both the MEC and premier of interfering in the business of the municipality.

Dick also confirms that during the meeting, the MM was asked several questions about the staff components in response to the municipality's measures set to address the debt owed to Eskom. 

However, MEC Vass says the allegations levelled against them by Hoogbaard will not deter the provincial government from playing its role in assisting municipalities. 

"This serious allegation made against the MEC as a custodian of local government in the province and the premier as the head of provincial government cardinally warrants not only a factual sequence of events but equally a demystification of untruths which are magnified to maliciously create a certain public narrative aimed at casting aspersion on the decorum of these two offices," she further says.

The municipality is also alleged to be amongst few in the province which owes the struggling power utility Eskom. 

"All the questions posed during the interactions with the municipality on Monday the 29th are legitimate and many are related to the fiduciary duties of the municipal manager in his capacity as accounting officer, it would be diversionary to establish malice on the basis of these.

"The Premier and the MEC are steadfastly committed to work with the municipality in finding solutions to the governance impasse and will not be discouraged by melodramatic side-shows which have nothing to do with bettering the lives of the community of Renosterberg," she adds.

OFM News