Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Tania Halse
The DA has approached lawyers in Bloemfontein to put Mantsopa Local Municipality on terms to implement the Public Protectors report and to immediately correct the current year’s tariff irregularities.
Since 2021 Mantsopa Local Municipality under the leadership of Mayor Mamsie Tsoene, has ignored instruction from the Public Protector to rectify and implement recommendations presented in a report tabled in the council.
The DA reported Mantsopa Local Municipality to the Public Protector for investigation in 2018 for charging incorrect electricity tariffs and received a positive result in the form of a report. The report instructed the municipality to calculate and repay all losses incurred by residents due to incorrect charges in electricity tariffs. This had to be done in conjunction with COGTA. To date, this has not been actioned.
In July 2022, the acting CFO, Mr Seleke sent NERSA figures that do not represent the electricity tariffs adopted in the Council in May 2022. The newly appointed CFO, Mr Tshikundu, conceded during a Pubic Accounts Committee meeting in September 2022 that the current financial year’s tariffs were recorded and sent to NERSA incorrectly. He also promised, under oath, that the tariffs were going to be corrected, and reversed and that residents would be reimbursed. To date, this has not been implemented. Mantsopa residents and businesses are still being defrauded of their hard-earned income.
We have been forced to take the legal route as it is clear that ANC leaders do not have the work ethic or scruples to stop fraud and corruption in their municipalities.
Only a DA government will bring ethical, good governance to local municipalities. We are committed to change across the country and therefore urge all residents to register to vote in the 2024 National and Provincial Government elections.