Speaker, last week I raised the issue of the perilous state of municipal finances in the Makana Municipality. In my closing remarks I mentioned that the municipal manager, Dr Pravine Naidoo, had not yet signed his employment contract or his performance agreement and he was holding out for a higher salary, despite having only started work in April this year.
Over the weekend it emerged that Dr Naidoo had been awarded R3 million in settlement of a court case against the municipality by the municipality, a court case which he lost. In addition, the strategic adviser to the mayor authorised the settlement of Dr Naidoo's legal fees in complete contravention of the Labour Court findings, which awarded costs to the municipality. It should be noted that the strategic adviser, who is also the regional head of the ANC, has no delegated authority to give such authorisations. Council has taken no resolution on this matter and the speaker and the mayor acted with complete disregard for the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, supply chain regulations and court rulings.
Given the crisis situation with Makana's finances, we have to ask: When will the Minister take action against this rogue ANC administration? Thank you. [Applause.]