LOUIS TRICHARDT – The mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr Brighton Tlakula frantically denied any knowledge of Council's intentions to buy him a millionaire's home, shortly before this item was unceremoniously withdrawn from the agenda of Council's monthly meeting. He also launched a scathing attack on this newspaper for allegedly printing "false" information regarding the issue.

Tlakula's public outburst during Council's monthly meeting on Tuesday follows numerous media reports on Council's intentions to buy him a R1, 8 million home in Snyman Street, as well as growing concern over Council's alleged excessive expenditure. Allegations of council's excessive expenditure stems from its member's numerous trips to China and the appointment of six full time directors earlier this year with an additional salary tag of close to R2, 5 million a year. Council is at present planning yet another trip to China for a delegation of twelve councillors and officials for five days at an estimated cost of R700 000. This trip was placed on hold on condition that a delegation from China visits them first.

In addressing Council, Tlakula sarcastically remarked that the newspaper (Zoutpansberger) uses his name to up its circulation figures and that he will tell his people not to buy this paper because of all the lies contained in it. He also said in an intimidating manner that he would get those councillors and officials who leak sensitive Council information to the press. His last remark was reiterated by another ANC councillor who said that he will "crush this person in Council" and that he will "deal with that person" when he finds him. Yet another ANC councillor proposed that the issue of the articles which appeared in both the Zoutpansberger last week, as well as Beeld earlier this week, be submitted to the Portfolio Committee on Corporate Communications. According to this councillor, the Portfolio Committee will then be able to find out who gave out the information. He concluded his proposal by saying that he hopes that it was not a councillor who spilled the beans.

In a most surprising turn of events, the municipality's Municipal Manager, Mr Reuben Rambado, also rose to address Council, not as an administrator, but as a "councillor". He too criticised the two papers for printing the articles and said that he should have been consulted first. He then, in reaction to Beeld's article stated that he too might soon be accused of asking for a house from council. According to him, he has already bought a house with his own money and therefore does not need a council house.

Neither the mayor, nor Mr Rambado, however, deliberated on what exactly the "lies" printed in the media were. Council's Public Relations Officer, Mr Peter Muleya, was, however, instructed to respond to the matter.

It would seem as if Council is now trying to create the impression that they merely discussed the matter at Executive Committee (Exco) level and that it should not have been regarded as a Council decision. This argument is imbedded in Council's official response, which was received late Wednesday afternoon. According to this statement, Council find it very surprising and shocking that the media is reporting on issues that are not yet finalised. The statement goes on to say that the local municipality, like any other municipality has an idea of having Council properties and that the idea of having property for the mayor was not meant only to house the mayor nor the municipal manager, but instead to accommodate guests who visit the municipality.

"It will be naïve and narrow-minded to begin to think that this property is meant for luxurious living," the statement reads. It also states that Council had resolved to withdraw the item on the basis of further investigation, not for the mere fact that the item was wrong.

In regard to the allegations of excessive expenditure, the statement mentions that Council had resolved that the salaries of the directors would be reviewed depending on the upgrading of the municipality and also on the work performance of these directors. It states that the directors are contract employees whose salaries are guided by the guidelines as determined by the consultants appointed by SALGA (Limpopo).

"This is an informed decision which is in line with the Labour Relations Act 55 of 1995 and Basic Condition of Employment Act 75 of 1997. It is also in line with our economic standard of living," the statement reads.

"It is again surprising to find the media reporting on issues out of context. The issue was reported out of proportion and out of context, which is quite irregular and misleading. We believe the task of the media is to report on the true reflection of issues, not to distort the image."

With reference to Council's trip to China, the statement reads that it is quite surprising to find wrong figures reported like R700 000.

"The media must inform the public that the purpose of going to China is not to enjoy, but to sign a twinning agreement which has already brought projects worth more than R38 000 000. It is unfortunate that our media chooses to ignore these bare facts," the statement reads.

Meanwhile it is widely rumoured that, following the publications of the articles both locally and nationally, Council was instructed by senior government officials to immediately remove this item from the agenda or face the consequences. The practice of providing official residences for mayors and municipal managers was suspended more than ten years ago.