Oudtshoorn: AfriForum vs Ronnie Lottering - ARCHIVE | Politicsweb
Oudtshoorn: AfriForum vs Ronnie Lottering
George Kersop - Ronnie Lottering |
George Kersop lays charge of corruption, acting municipal manager responds
AfriForum lays charge against Oudtshoorn Municipal Manager
AfriForum laid a charge of corruption, fraud and financial mismanagement with the counter-corruption unit of the SAPS, the Hawks, against the acting Municipal Manager in Oudtshoorn, Mr Ronnie Lottering, various officials and members of the public.This came after members of the public submitted proof of alleged irregularities to AfriForum.
"Residents are fed up with the way in which the ANC coalition is using various delay tactics to disrupt stability in the municipal management, and then use this instability to strip state coffers," said George Kersop, Chairperson of the AfriForum branch in Oudtshoorn.
Proof of questionable payments of more than R5 million was given to AfriForum, upon which an affidavit was submitted to the Hawks in Cape Town on 1 October 2013. Various officials allegedly refused to authorise payments to companies who had been awarded contracts under questionable circumstances. Payments were allegedly made to companies who had never rendered any services. The most recent payment of R482 000 was made on 25 September 2013.
"AfriForum appeals to councillors, municipal employees and residents to make information on corruption, fraud and mismanagement available, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that the guilty parties are brought to justice and reimburse taxpayers," Kersop said.
The Finance Director at National Treasury was requested to suspend all payments and send a team of auditors to investigate payments. Mr Anton Bredell, Minister of Local Government Affairs, was also informed of the events.
"We believe that we will be as successful as in Cederberg. Our information is that the same individuals who were involved in irregularities in Cederberg and Stellenbosch are also involved in Oudtshoorn," said Pieter Rautenbach, Head of Local Government Affairs at AfriForum.
Statement issued by George Kersop, Chairperson: Oudtshoorn AfriForum, October 2 2013
Reply by Ronnie Lottering:
AfriForum saak van ‘bedrog en korrupsie' ‘n verrassing
Die aankondiging van Afriforum dat hy ‘n saak van bedrog, korrupsie en finansiële wanbestuur teen my aanhangig gemaak het kom as ‘n verrassing omdat ek geen aanduiding van dié burgerregtegroep se beskuldigings gehad het nie - nadat beweringe van ongerymdhede tydens ‘n vergadering op 1 Maart vanjaar tussen die munisipaliteit, die nasionale tesourie en Afriforum geen gronde vir sulke aanklagte kon identifiseer nie.
Kersop wil ook geld verhaal van "die bedrieërs". Bid jou aan. Aanklaer, regter, én laksman; netjies uitgevat in ‘n goedkoop aandpak van vooroordeel.
Afriforum se hoof van plaaslike regeringsake, Pieter Rautenbach, beweer dat mense wat op Cederberg en Stellenbosch by "ongerymdhede" betrokke was, ook op Oudtshoorn by ongerymdhede betrokke is.
Die betaling van R482 797.13 op 25 September waaroor Afriforum ten hemele skreeu is allermins ongerymd. Ek het die ondersteunende dokumentasie persoonlik nagegaan en teenprestasie bevestig! Dat hierdie bepaalde betaling aandag trek is ‘n gruwelike aanklag teen Afriforum en die partye wat die plaaslike voorsitter kwansuis verteenwoordig.
Ek wil ook graag weet watter Afriforum-kundige betalings wat "R5 miljoen" beloop as "verdag" verklaar het.
Die spesiale konsultant van die waarnemende hoof finansiële beampte verteenwoordig ‘n laaste sterk skakel in die ketting van fiskale beheer in die munisipaliteit: Enige funksionaris kan op enige stadium van die betalingsregime ‘n skriftelike beswaar aanteken oor enige betaling - selfs al is dit deur senior beamptes goedgekeur. Ek kon nie ‘n enkele sodanige beswaar opspoor nie.
Ek het geen versoek om inligting te bekom ontvang nie en ek kan dus nie op Afriforum se data pyltrek nie - én ek wil weet hóé Afriforum die inligting bekom het.
Sou dié inligting nie spoedeisend aan my bekend gemaak word nie, sal ek stappe teen Afriforum oorweeg - ek sal nie toelaat dat my administrasie willens en wetens beswadder en ondermyn word nie.
Statement issued by Oudtshoorn Acting Municipal Manager, Ronnie Lottering, October 2 2013
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