LOUIS TRICHARDT – "Furthermore, our Municipality will at all cost refrain from dealing with its affairs through the influence of the media and commonsense." In short, this was Council's response to an article, under the heading DA at loggerheads with "rude" Director, which appeared on the front page of the Zoutpansberger on May 9. In the article a member of the official opposition in Council, Cllr Marie Helm (DA) demanded a public apology from one of Council's controversial new directors, Director Faith Muthambi, after an outrageous display of arrogant disrespect towards her. Cllr Helm also demanded an investigation into Director Muthambi's behaviour.

The furore erupted after a letter directed to the Director : Finance and LED, requesting information to allay serious allegations that certain Directors defraud Council by claiming fraudulent amounts of money under Council's Travel Allowance Scheme, was answered by Director Muthambi (Director : Municipal Secretariat). The answer was given in writing in poor English and in an insulting manner. The request made by Cllr Helm, amongst other things, related to the newly appointed Directors' CVs, the make and engine capacity of their vehicles and the formula used to calculate the allowances.

Council this week responded on the issue by saying that as a municipality they will only consider grievances raised through proper procedures, be it internally or externally. They further stated that on numerous occasions the DA themselves have utilized vulgar words and warned that the DA should refrain from being "players and referees" at the same time. Council also mentioned that they see no reason for Director Muthambi to apologize.

With regard to Cllr Helm's request to view the directors' CVs, Council stated that the directors' CVs had been available during the interviewing process, which Cllr Helm had been a part of. For Cllr Helm to now ask to view the CVs is, according to Council, a "hopeless case". Council went on to say that in as much as the Access to Information Act gives people the right to information, that right is limited and must not be abused. Furthermore, Council stated, the Constitution makes provision for the right to privacy and therefore Cllr Helm must approach the different Directors individually for the requested information.

Council concluded their response by requesting Cllr Helm to refrain from sorting out her differences at a media level and not to treat officials as politicians.