DA Fetakgomo-Tubatse accuses municipality of spending over a R1 million in defense of R175 000

Burgersfort

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality says they will write to the MEC for Cooperative Governance Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Basikopo Makamu, to investigate the legal expenditure incurred to defend a claim for R175 000.

According to the party, the municipality’s legal department spent more than R1 144 420 up until August 2022, in defence of a R175 000 bill charged by a service provider for the difference in terms of project value and work completed and certified for the construction and erection of a cemetery fence.

Itumeleng Molapo, DA councillor in FTLM, said the matter was put on the roll in 2018 and after several postponements, it was heard and the judgement was given in favour of the service provider with cost against the municipality.

“While the municipality paid the amount in dispute, it failed to pay the cost and lodged an application to stay the warrant of execution and a taxation application was also lodged upon the execution,” said Molapo.

Molapo said a settlement agreement was reached, however, the municipality appointed yet another attorney to appeal the taxation agreement after their claims that the attorney of record had no mandate.

“The matter was heard on 10 June 2023 before the Magistrates’ Court in Praktiseer and the judgement was handed down on the 28 of June 2023, again in favour of the claimant. Efforts by the DA to obtain the final legal costs have been stonewalled by the Mayor, Eddie Maila,” Molapo explained.

Molapo said the party views this matter as unacceptable that the taxpayers have to fork out exorbitant amounts due to the incompetence of municipal officials and they will get to the bottom of this malfeasance.

At the time of going to press, Thabiso Mokwena, FTLM Spokesperson, could not respond to the publication when requesting a comment.