LOUIS TRICHARDT –The announcement that the Makhado Municipal Council's 44 person delegation to Gwanda in Zimbabwe have been reduced to a delegation of only two, came as good news for taxpayers who argue that Council is spending too much money on trips such as these.

This revelation was made during Council's monthly meeting on Tuesday under Official Announcement. A couple of weeks ago the mayor, Cllr Brighton Tlakula, made a request to Council that as many councillors as possible and officials should attend the inauguration of the Deputy Mayor of Gwanda later this week. In total 44 councillors and officials made use of this all expenses paid trip. It included transportation to and from Gwanda by means of a luxury bus. This announcement, slipped in under Official Announcement and turned into a Council resolution, it immediately sparked widespread public outcry over Council's seemingly excessive expenditure.

Following Tuesday's announcement that only two delegates, namely the Acting Mayor, Cllr Phineas Muladi and the Speaker, Cllr Joan Hoorzuk, will attend the inauguration, Mr Reuben Rambado (Municipal Manager) explained that it was brought to Council's attention that the said function was not that ceremonial to justify such a huge delegation and that a delegation of only two would be sufficient.

Apart from the reduction in the number of delegates to travel to Gwanda, it was also made clear during Tuesday's Council meeting that councillors should not "slip in" issues such as this under Official Announcement and then turn it into a resolution.

Mr Rambado said this was not the right procedure and that decisions such as this could only be taken once it appears as an "Item" on Council's agenda. Prior to Tuesday's meeting, Cllr Tlakula lashed out at the media regarding the publication of negative articles, such as their expenditure on foreign trips, during a press conference. The press conference followed the return of the seven-person delegation from China for the signing of a Twinning Agreement. The trip is said to have cost the taxpayer R300 000. Cllr Tlakula said that money is spend on these trips to secure investments and development in the area. He added that, contrary to what the media would like to portray, these trips are not "parties".