OudtshoornOnline

Bredell joins Paulse’s action

Red/Ed — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:48:39 +0000

Municipality asks for further postponement

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Oudtshoorn. 23 February 2012. 13h50. In a rather dramatic development in the Allen Paulse vs Oudtshoorn Municipality et al, the Western Cape Minister of Local Government has joined Paulse’s action and lodged papers with the High Court in support of Paulse’s application to have the appoinment of Thandekile Mnyima as Municipal Manager set aside, and in the alternative to have the appointment of Francois Human as Director Corporate Services set aside.

Paulse argues in papers before the Court that Mnyimba’s appointment was clearly fraught with reviewable irregularities.

The decision to appoint Mnyimba, says Paulse, was based on misinformation and irrelevant considerations.

“A more obvious case of political manipulationand machinations, aimed at procuring the appointment of a lesser qualified but politically preferred municipal manager at the expense of a better qualified candidate, is difficult to conceive”, says Paulse in a letter to Bredell on December 8 last year.

The Council Paulse’s botched its initial response to the action quite spectacularly and again asked for a potsponement of the matter subsequent to the Minister’s joining.

On a lighter note OO has not yet been able to confirm that Anton Bredell’s energy expending in joining this application has resulted in his ministry leapfrogging Eskom as the planet’s second biggest polluter among power companies (210mt of CO2 per annum).

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It’s the DA, says Putco!

Red/Ed — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:41:41 +0000

Bitou service delivery protestors are DA members!

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Oudtshoorn. 23 February 2012. 13h45. The ANC’s Regional Secretary for the South Cape and Klein Karoo, Putco Mapitiza, informed OO at 13h14 that “we have no records or whatsoever of Mr Mpumelelo Majamawi as members of the ANC but aware of the leaders of the service delivery protest as members of the DA. They said that in public platforms.” (sic)

It is indeed so that the second accused is the brother of the boyfriend of a DA member, but the reach, my dear Putco, is ginormous!

Plett… It’s going to get worse before it gets better, to be sure.

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Is the ANC behind the Bitou violence?

Red/Ed — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:44:20 +0000

Surely Africa’s oldest liberation movement turned government would not stoop this low in its centenary year!?

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Oudtshoorn. 23 February 2012. 08h50. Putco Mapitiza, the ANC Regional Secretary for the Southern Cape and Klein Karoo, called last year for all DA-led councils to be made ungovernable.

When OO discovered that one of the accused in the arson case resulting from Saturday nights’s fire at the Bitou municipality was an ANC cadre, two and two was threatening compellingly to make four.

Mapitiza had this comment on OO’s report of the Bitou violence yesterday, at 08h10:

Just need to understand whether the aforesaid publication by OO suggest that ANC are the perpetrators of the service delivery protest in Bitou???

OO responded at 08h36:

Putco, the ANC perpetrating violence!? Never! How could you even think that OO would suggest such nonsense!?

The ANC would never be violent! That was the domain of the Nat regime, and of Inkhata in KZN and on the mines, in the Aparthate Era.

The second accused, Putco, and his name is known to OO, is an ANC acolyte.

R50,000, Putco, so OO hears but can not yet confirm, was transferred into a certain attorney’s account on Sunday – Sunday! – the day after the arson, for the accused’s defence… OO can only surmise that one of the Bossiegif residents effected the transfer from an iPad when news of arrests became known.

There’s more, Putco.

But OO would never think the ANC able of violent and riotous behaviour!

Never!

At 08h55 OO fired off this email to Mapitiza:

Dear Putco

Our brief exchange on OO this morning refers.

Please confirm the position of Mr Mpumelelo Majamawi, of 1244 Qolweni, employed as a cleaner in the Kwanokuthula Clinic, in the Bossiegif/Qolweni ANCYL.

Putco responded evasively at 08h58: Answer my questions as to whether you’re implying that ANC is instigating violence in Bitou.

OO’s reply at 09h22:

Putco, I am appalled that you can even consider the possibility that I may think that the ANC is capable of organised violence!

Hell no!

I put a simple question to the Regional Secretary of the South Cape / Klein Karoo and I trust a simple answer is imminent.

Surely the ANC will not disavow a comrade!?

Mapitiza did not respond, so OO promted him at 11h16:

Surely the ANC’s records are such that the most senior regional administrator can access information, especially membership data, expeditiously – at the punching of a button even!

Please respond to my enquiry about Mpumelelo Majamawi soonest.

I can think of no-one better to ask than you as the happenings of the night of May 3, 2007, and resident Vicky Mangqwengqwe, speaks to your comprehensive knowledge of the people of Bitou!

And again at 15h28:

Now we have a serious problem.

It turns out that Mr Mpumelelo Majamawi is an influential advisor to the ANCYL in Qolweni and surrounds.

This is the same Mr Majamawi who was arrested on Sunday in connection with the arson at the municipality.

Putco, we have a solemn responsibility to the youth. We must guard them and guide them. I suggest you investigate Mr Majamawi and act decisively if he is found to subvert the youth.

As we both know, the ANC will never be a party to violence as a means to an end and we can not have individuals such as Mr Majamawi undermine the reputation of the oldest revolutionary organisation in Africa.

As I see it, Putco, either the ANC distances itself from Mr Majamawi, or tacitly accepts responsibility for outcomes of Mr Majamawi’s influence and instigation.

What say you, Putco?

No response.

So OO sms’d Mapitiza at 18h49: Putco, why don’t you answer my simple question about Mpumelelo Majamawi? What are you hiding, Putco?

Mapitiza emailed at 18h53: Answer mine (by illusion on OO are you implying that the ANC is instigating violence in Bitou. What do you want me to say about Mpumelelo Majamani?

OO replied at 18h56:

O, please, Putco! Your silence screams the answer!

Is Mpumelelo Majamawi an ANC member, or leader!?

Easy question for someone who has nothing to hide.

O well, read the facts on OO tomorrow, my good man!

It is clear that Mapitiza is prevaricating, equivocating, paltering, tergiversating, and weaselling.

The DA Leader, Helen Zille, released this media statement on the Bitou violence yesterday:

Is the ANC attempting to make Bitou ungovernable?
22 February 2012
Release: immediate

I will be requesting a meeting with the Western Cape Police Commissioner, Arno Lamoer, to discuss the problem of politically-motivated violence perpetrated against the DA-governed Bitou municipality after the alleged arson at the council’s head offices in Plettenberg Bay in the early hours of Sunday morning.

This follows the call last year by the ANC’s Southern Cape Regional Secretary, Putco Mapitisa, for all DA-led councils to be made ungovernable. The effects of this call were acute in the first few months of the new DA-led Bitou council’s term, with the municipality being forced to get a court interdict to stop the ANC from disrupting council meetings.

Sunday’s fire was started in the wing where both the mayor and municipal manager’s offices are based. A window was broken and flammable liquid was poured into a ground floor office.

This part of the building was probably targeted due to the highly-flammable dry-wall petitions used in the offices. Extensive damage has been caused to the building, including smoke damage stretching some 50 metres down the corridors.

This is just the latest incident in the continuing trend of political violence in Bitou:

- Criminal charges have been laid against local ANC leaders in Qolweni for demolishing shacks belonging to supporters of other parties and forcibly removing people from the area

- Executive Mayor Memory Booysen has received numerous anonymous phone-calls by people referring to him as a “dog” and threatening to kill him. Mr Booysen currently is forced to wear a bulletproof-vest.

- Local business leaders have gone on record during a meeting with the council to say that the ANC ward councillor in Qolweni is actively involved in orchestrating the violence

- Recently, security has been stepped up at the home of Deputy Mayor, Adam Van Ryhner, after death threats were received

It is clear from recent events that the ANC is actively involved in attempting to make the council ungovernable. This campaign aims to use violence and fear to undermine the work of the elected DA-led council. The DA will not be deterred by attempts to stop us from delivering opportunities and better services for all the people where we govern.

I look forward to taking this matter up with Commissioner Lamoer before it spirals out of control and lives are lost.

OO has uncovered alarming circumstantial evidence about the Bitou violence, indicating political motive.

OO also knows that Mapitiza himself is not above violence.

Neil Oelofse, of Garden Route Media, reported in the E P Herald of May 12, 2007, that on the night of May 3 that year, while still working for Bitou, Mapitiza and a number of colleagues, Kenny Leluma; Andile Mbali; and Peter Lobese, “trashed” the house of a local teacher, Vicky Mangqwengqwe, smashing all the windows and breaking household items because they suspected her brother of damaging the house of the then Mayor.

Mangqwengqwe said that the men left, saying they were going to find an activist, one “Rasta”. She saw Rasta’s house go up in flames minutes later.

As Bitou Executive Mayor, Memory Booysen, said in a media statement Tuesday, there are people in Bitou with much to hide and more to lose now that the ANC no longer governs Bitou.

Is the ANC behind the violence?

Nobody’s saying.

But Mapitiza’s silence is more than telling. It’s yelling.

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Tips for Pravin

Red/Ed — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:55:43 +0000

Have your say!

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Oudtshoorn. 22 February 2012. 10h00. Journalists are heading for lock-down where the Minister of Finance’s Budget speech will be handed out so that they can release reports as soon as the speech is delivered in Parliament this afternoon.

Many have offered tips for the Minister.

Here’s a few from David Bullard:

1. Close all those tax sapping boondoggles like NGO’s, Centre for this that and the other and make the loafers find real jobs.

2. Try and get the message into the thick heads of COSATU that jobs are not a human right.

3. Listen to the DA. They don’t live in an economic fairy land like the ANC seem to do.

4. Be honest and tell the delusional people that the govt has no money. Other than what it borrows or raises in taxes.

5. Why do MP’s need not one but two expensive luxury vehicles? Does this happen in the Indian parliament?

6. Don’t make any jokes during the budget speech. You’re trying to take my money… that’s not funny.

Have you any advice for Pravin?

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Life-threatening politics

Red/Ed — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:47:22 +0000

It’s all out war in Plettenberg Bay

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Oudtshoorn. 22 February 2012. 06h00. After rioting on the N2 and in the industrial area in Plettenberg Bay earlier this month, an attempt to burn down the Bitou municipal building on Saturday night is thwarted.

It’s all out war in the beautiful coastal resort town.

Some two years ago a DA leader told OO that the party was concerned about Oudtshoorn and that the unthinkable may happen: The DA looses Oudtshoorn and wins Bitou.

Then Memory Booysen happened.

The former ANC Mayoral candidate became a DA member and delivered the Plettenberg Bay vote for his new party.

Bitou used to be the ANC’s Western Cape pride. And the comrades to this day cannot cope with the loss.

The ANC will, apparently, stop at nothing in attempts to destroy the DA/Cope government in Bitou. And if lives are lost… The disaster would probably be chalked up to “another struggle sacrifice” and be spinned as necessary.

Following the violence since early February, Executive Mayor Memory Booysen issued this media statement yesterday afternoon:

My worst fears were confirmed this morning (Tuesday) when alleged arsonists and accomplices appeared in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on charges relating to the fire damage to the Bitou municipal buildings on Saturday night.

Accused number 2 was arrested at his house which can only be described as a shrine to the ANC.

It is clear that particular individuals and a political collective are desperately attempting to prevent the DA/Cope Coalition government of Bitou to realise the best service delivery to which the government has committed.

A known pattern of serial disruption is hideously evident.

The present DA/Cope investigations into corruption and maladministration in Bitou generally, and the investigation of the Lefatshe Technologies contract entered into by the previous ANC Council specifically, threaten the political careers and the very liberty of a number of current and former councillors and officials, and of both professional and other contracted service providers.

These investigations correspond with the government’s known and stated objection to the leadership of the Audit Committee.

The threat to those with much to hide and more to lose is aggravated by the acceptance of the Adjustments Budget by the Bitou Council this Thursday last. The budget, which rights numerous wrongs and several blatant mistakes of the original ANC version, finally gives the DA/Cope-led Council the means to deliver promised and needed services and solutions to a Bitou community at large eviscerated by the self-serving policies of the previous ANC Council. Political promises can only be kept with money.

This new-found, self-made power – the means to deliver to the dictate of DA/Cope policy, threatens the opposition and appears to bring out the worst in those with most to lose.

The dreadful facts of this February attack on democracy are as follows:

On February 3, and again on February 7, lawless groups, apparently incited by the government’s political enemies, disrupted traffic on the N2, burning tyres and smashing windscreens. One can only surmise that the main access route to Bitou was targeted to achieve maximum exposure for what otherwise would have been a mute internal snivelling at the loss of power.

On February 8 the violence flowed into the industrial area where attempts at occupation and the general disruption of business activities resulted in damage to property, bottom lines and political egos.

The vile campaign came to a dangerous and near fatal head when the municipal buildings were set alight on Saturday night, causing extensive damage to one office, and lesser damage to the adjacent areas; and complete disruption of municipal activity due to soot and foul odour throughout the building.

It would appear that the ANC is misleading Bitou’s people by forcing falsehoods about a supposed lack of service delivery down the throats of unsuspecting portions of the community…

On February 1 a delegation from the Bossiegif/Qolweni residents handed me a Memorandum of Grievances to be addressed within 7 days. Not 48 hours later the arrangement to address specific concerns within the agreed period were unilaterally broken by what can only be described as troublemakers and certainly not solution seekers bent on sowing chaos to dubious ends.

On February 10 the so-called ‘Qolweni Group’ and the ‘Justice & Equality Front’ (JEF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to similar affect of the Memorandum handed to me on February 1, adding demands not originally raised.

On February 11 Mr Hardy Mills of attorneys Mills and Lombard emailed me the Qolweni-JEF Memorandum and put me on terms to meet their demands by noon on Friday, February 19.

One of the arrested men told investigators that he overheard the accused, travelling together to the municipal buildings with petrol in their possession, agreeing on Saturday night that “the seven days” have lapsed.

This is, of course, an utter and complete falacy. I have responded, within 7 days, to the first set of demands – in person, accompanied by the Deputy Mayor, Adam van Rhyner of Cope, at the Qolweni Sports Centre. And I have responded to the Mills demands in writing within 7 days.

It is abundantly clear that a political conspiracy is afoot.

This is no way to ensure service delivery.

Yet the DA/Cope government in Bitou is now, as ever, committed to service delivery, especially in the light of the means afforded it by the Adjustment Budget.

All residents remain welcome to share their inputs with me and can be assured of my personal commitment, and the commitment of the DA/Cope government to serve all the people of Bitou, even in the face of blatant thuggery.

South Africa deserves better than ANC thugs loosed in its towns and cities.

Freud het gesê dat die neiging tot aggressie die grootste hindernis van die beskawing is.

In Plettenbergbaai word beskawing bedreig.

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Avontuur vir Valke

Red/Ed — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:56:53 +0000

Beslag gelê op honderde lêers van regsfirma

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Oudtshoorn. 21 Februarie 2012. 09h00. Die Valke het gister op honderde lêers van die plaaslike regsfirma, en die munisipaliteit se jarelange adviseurs, Avontuur en Genote, beslag gelê.

Die destydse waarnemende munisipale bestuurder, Mpho Mogale, het op 9 Desember R313,267.99 aan Avontuur betaal (klik hier vir die besonderhede) en nog geen verduideliking verskaf oor die redes vir die betaling nie.

OO verneem dat die betaling gemaak is na ‘n onvolledige taksering en dat daar geen oorweging geskenk is aan die meer as R600,000 wat Avontuur aan die raad verskuldig is nie.

Mogale het glo ook die betaling toegelaat omdat Avontuur bepaalde lêers van die munisipaliteit weerhou het! Bid jou aan!

Avontuur en Genote moet verduidelik!

Hel, die raad moet verduidelik!

Maar soos gewoonlik is daar net stilte oor die belangrikste sake wat belastingbetalers se sak raak.

Ten minste word Avontuur nou in ‘n hoek gedryf. Wat sal die raad se reaksie wees?

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Jordaan cleans up Lott’s mess

Red/Ed — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:46:01 +0000

Oudtshoorn’s ex CFO fixes the Bitou mess of Oudtshoorn’s current CFO;
and the DA/Cope government refuses a salary increase for Councillors!

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Oudtshoorn. 20 February 2012. 05h45. If I were to cuss for an hour without repeating an expletive, and I think I can manage that, I’d still be miffed.

Ye gods!

The half-wits of Verwoerd Square got rid of Keith Jordaan – yeah, yeah, I know, I know; it’s all ancient history – and appointed Deon Lott – Deon Lott! – in his place… and Lott’s previous employer, so keen to be rid of him that they promoted his appointment in Oudtshoorn, had to ask Jordaan to come fix Lott’s budgetary mess in Bitou.

And Jordaan did just that. In double quick time too, and in the process Bitou became the first municipality in the Western Cape to approve its Adjustments Budget for 2011/2012… probably the first municipality in the country to do so.

Bitou’s original budget was drafted by Deon Lott and approved by an ANC Council.

“It has been found to be a totally unrealistic budget”, said Mayor Memory Booysen this Thursday last.

Income, for instance, was overstated by R27.1m!

The municipality’s original R44m Capital Budget has been expanded to R53.6m because of roll-overs from the previous financial year and additional funding received.

The capital budget cash flows were reviewed and adjusted to ensure that all projects are to be completed by 30 June 2012 at the latest.

Booysen observed that capital spending to date stands at R17,451,967 or 32.69% of the adjusted budget which is unacceptably low.

“I have challenged the Municipal Manager and this administration to ensure that all funds made available are expensed so that much needed services are delivered to the community and value for money is obtained”, said Booysen.

The allocation of MIG funding was adjusted and approval granted for R5m be transferred from the waste transfer station for the installation of bulk infrastructure in Kranshoek.

The Operating Budget now makes provision only for currently employed staff and Council ruled that critical posts be identified, budgeted for and filled only when the organisational review is completed. Personnel cost has been reduced by R11,018,925, translating into a 10.3% reduction in the salary bill.

The ruling DA/Cope Coalition has decided that the current poor economic conditions and the dire financial position of the Bitou community at large call against a salary increase for Councillors. This decision makes an additional R421,358 available to the Mayoral Intervention Fund (MIF).

The original budget provision for special programs was consolidated into the MIF vote, amounting to R2,683,248, to be utilised for the expanded public works program and other interventions that are deemed necessary to address the current poverty related needs of indigent households in Bitou.

The original budget provided for traffic management income of R3.25m, but had to be shrinked to R1.1m. This discrepancy led to a decision by Booysen to have the traffic management contract entered into by the former Municipal Manager, the recently convicted Lonwabo Ngoqo, investigated.

The original budgeted services income was found to be overstated, and a downward adjustment of 8.47%, or R2.1m, was necessary.

Deon Lott’s poor financial management record in Bitou continues to make a mockery of his ANC machined appointment in Oudtshoorn. Lott’s premier qualification appears to be his ANC atunement. And Oudtshoorn’s ratepayers are the losers.

In his closing remarks tabling the budget, Booysen said that the ruling coalition has made a valiant effort to correct the unrealistic original budget approved by the previous regime.

He said that the ruling coalition plans to turn Bitou into an engine of growth and economic development by delivering sustainable services to all.

Future budgets, said Booysen, will be drafted for the creation of an open opportunity society for all.

“We must thus ensure that this municipality is managed efficiently and effectively and services will be rendered to all at a sustainable level”, he concluded.

DA National Spokesperson, Mmusi Maimane, yesterday issued a statement to the effect that DA municipalities are best in SA for financial management.

Maimane said that Cape Town was rated best metro for financial management and that the difference between Cape Town and Joburg is like night and day.

“DA-run municipalities have scored the highest in the latest Ratings Afrika Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI)”, the statement claims.

Ratings Afrika defines financial sustainability as:

“The financial ability to deliver services, develop and maintain the infrastructure required by its residents without unplanned increases in rates and taxes or a reduction in the level of services and the capacity to absorb financial shocks caused by natural, economic and other adversities without external financial assistance.”

Midvaal, the only DA-governed municipality in Gauteng, was ranked the best municipality in the province by Ratings Afrika. This is the latest in a string of accolades for Midvaal that includes awards for job creation, service delivery and quality of life.

Johannesburg was rated the worst-performing metro in the country with a ranking of 26 index points. DA-governed Cape Town, by contrast, was rated the top performing metro with a ranking of 63 index points.

Read the full statement here.

Booysen’s reference to the “open opportunity society for all” is the DA mantra and perhaps needs be revisited here…

“Open”, stands for a society in which people have the right to be themselves and follow theirown path in life. An open society is founded on a bill of rights, the rule of law, democratic decision making, transparency, accountability and tolerance.

“Opportunity”, stands for a society in which people are given the means to use their rights and improve their circumstances so that they can live lives they value. The state recognises its duty to do for people what they cannot be expected to do for themselves. We believe this includes creating opportunities for redress. We cannot, and do not, ignore the legacy of apartheid. At the same time, we believe every citizen must take responsibility for using the opportunities provided.

“For all”, stands for a society which truly belongs to all who live in it, in which all South Africans – regardless of the colour of their skin or the circumstances of their upbringing – have the same rights and access to the opportunities that they need to improve their lives. In a society for all, redress of past discrimination is essential, and is aimed at those who still suffer the effects of that discrimination.

Motherhood and apple pie. Yet again. The proof, and even I think I’m taking the metaphor too far here, will be in the pudding.

Enough with the promises; results pray!

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Another fraud – more than R150,000

Red/Ed — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:38:00 +0000

Municipality botches disciplinary hearing on Day 1!

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Oudtshoorn. 19 February 2012. 09h40. When Derick Welgemoed, originally seconded to Oudtshoorn to implelent an elusive Recovery Plan; and subsequenlty appointed as Acting Head of Housing by the then Acting Municipal Manager, Trevor Botha, when Gavin Juthe, the incumbent, was suspended, resigned on 29 November 2010 in appal of administrative torpor, inefficiency and peculation.

Yeah. It is a long sentence. But worse is coming. Much worse…

Enters Persens Heinse, next in line after Juthe, and assumes responsibility for Housing as Acting Head.

By the intervention of that fraudster, Noël Pietersen, re-appointed by the ANC as Municipal Manager after he was originally summarily dismissed by a unanimous Council Resolution after being found guilty of misconduct (for which he was eventually send to jail for 5 years this Wednesday last!) Gavin Juthe was aquitted and reinstated as Head of Housing.

But Heinse continued to receive an additional R25,435.00 per month (his additional remuneration as Acting Head) for six months after Juthe’s return.

If Heinse was oblivious to this monthly windfall for six months running, he should not manage an abandoned longdrop.

Heinse knew he was being paid in eroror – how could he possibly not know!?

Eventualy – some 6 months after the event, Heinse’s disciplinary hearing was scheduled for this Tuesday last.

And then the presiding officer, Corrie Greeff, of the technical department, so fouled up proceedings that the matter was dismissed… yet at least only to be reinstated by the Acting Director of Community Services, and Heinse’s boss, Ron Lottering this week.

Greef; and the prosecutor, another municipal official, Robert den Drijver; and the Municipal Manager, Thandekile Mnyimba, did not return OO’s calls or respond to sms and email queries in the matter.

On Saturday OO fired off this letter to Mnyimba and cronies:

The Municipal Manager
Mr Thandekile Mnyimba
Oudtshoorn

Dear Mr Mnyimba

The scandalous performance of the presiding officer, Corrie Greeff, that resulted in the breakdown, albeit apparently temporarily, of the Persens Heinse disciplinary hearing, calls for a public explanation from you.

In the incandescent light of the Pietersen verdict this Wednesday last, where a senior municipal official in a position of trust was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for stealing R17,542.45 – which he paid back, the ratepayers must be informed without fail of the prosecution of a man who allegedly stole more than R150,000 over six months since December 2010!

Furthermore, you are obliged by s.32 (6) (b) of the MFMA to report to the South African Police Service all cases of alleged theft and fraud that occurred in the municipality.

If you do not rise to this duty by noon on Monday, 20 February 2012, I will have you charged for breach of s.32 and report you to the Minister and the Public Protector.

I will, however, not alert the Western Cape Minister of Local Government and so spare you the indignity of receiving a slap on the sleeve with a shoot of wilted asparagus by the turn of the decade. This drift is not a function of impuissance, but a misgiving of the Minister’s management quotient.

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Ramp voorkom!

Red/Ed — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:48:12 +0000

Oudtshoorn se rampbestuur keer katastrofe!

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Oudtshoorn. 00 Februarie 2012. 13h45. OO vra verskoning vir die laatte van hierdie berig, maar was die afgelope 3 ure in ‘n vergadering oor ‘n soveelste bedrogsaak wat in die Eden munisipale gebied ontbloot word.

Dié storie moet nog geskryf word.

Maar hier is lekker positiewe nuus!

Blitsvinnige reaksie van Oudtshoorn se rampbestuurspan en ‘n trokdrywer wat kop gehou het, het vanoggend ‘n katastrofe in St Johnstraat verhoed.

‘n Brandstoftenkwa van Freight Dynamics het Wes in St Johnstraat gery, net nadat hy sy tenks by Martin Bekker Motors in Voortrekkerweg leeggemaak het, toe die turbopomp ingegee het.

Die enjin het oorverhit terwyl die toere hemelhoog gedraai het. Die drywer, Jantjie Plaatjies, het sy nege jaar ondervinding gebruik om eers die turbo by die aansitter te probeer staak, en toe dit nie werk nie, om die turbo by die hoofskakelaar af te skakel. Ook dít wou nie werk nie.

Teen dié tyd het die vlamme al by die uitlaatpyp geslaan en die bedrading van die onderstel begin brand; ‘n massiewe swart rookwolk het die straat gevul.

Plaatjies het 10111 geskakel en die rampbestuur het blitsvinnig opgedaag om die vlamme te blus en die straat te beveilig.

Harold Lekay van die rampdienste het OO gevra om die SANW te bedank wat ook hulle brandweer en hyskraan na die ramptoneel gehaas het.

Man, dis lekker om so ‘n heerlike uitkoms te kan berig!

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Die DA wys ‘n middelvinger vir Oudtshoorn

Red/Ed — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:45:59 +0000

Diane de Jager by Helen Zille se provinsiale rede;
Die voormalige burgemeester se rol in die Pietersen-debakel

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Oudtshoorn. 18 Februarie 2012.

06h45. Diane de Jager se bywoning gister van premier Helen Zille se provinsiale rede spreek van algehele stompsinnigheid en ‘n volslae afwesigheid van poliltieke inbors.

Dit was skaars 48 uur nadat Noël Pietersen skuldig bevind is aan bedrog op De Jager se wagbeurt.

Die hof het bevind dat De Jager se raad eintlik heimlik Pietersen se regsrekening wóú vereffen; en die Pietersen-misdryf met leuens en horisontale politieke tolvlugte probeer toesmeer het.

Die hof het na De Jager se raad verwys as “a nest of rotten fish” en selfs op Shakespeare probeer verbeter: “something is ‘very, very’ (sic) rotten in the State of Denmark”.

OO het in Maart 2009 nie minder nie as 4 (viér) uiteenlopende weergawes van De Jager oor hoe sy van die Pietersen-betaling sou verneem het, berig.

De Jager het selfs op of naastenby op 2 Oktober 2008 by Pietersen aanbeveel dat ‘n kollega en mede DA-raadslid, Pierre Nel, aangekla word vir die bekendmaking van sogenaamde “gepriviligeerde” raadsdokumente wat met Pietersen se uiteindelike skuldigbevinding verband gehou het!

Nadat Nic Barrow in Mei 2008 die bedrogklagte teen Pietersen gelê het, het De Jager geweier om tersaaklike dokumente aan die ondersoekbeampte te oorhandig. Twéé a.205-aansoeke om die inligting te bekom was nodig voordat sy gehoor gegee het!

In ‘n epos v an 29 Oktober 2009 skryf Barrow: “Die ondersoek van die saak is vir langer as ‘n jaar en ‘n half deur De Jager se late vertraag. Head Office in Cape Town het al die tyd hiervan geweet maar haar nooit rigting gegee nie.”

‘n Voormalige burgemeester, Angeline Lekay, het op ‘n mediakonferensie van Pietersen, op 26 Februarie 2009, in die openbaar verwys na ‘n gesprek tussen haar en De Jager.

De Jager sou aan Lekay gesê het dat sy “drie regsmenings” oor Pietersen se optrede rondom die Smith Tabata-betaling ingewin het en vir Pietersen gesê het: “Noëlie (Lekay het die troetelnaampie beklemtoon) jy’t niks verkeerd gedoen nie.”

By navraag hieroor het De Jager aan OO gesê: “Dis haar (Lekay se) interpretasie. Wanneer inligting tot die raad kom, moet daarop reageer word en dan onderskei word tussen reg en verkeerd.”

Maar in ‘n epos aan OO op 4 Maart 2009 skryf De Jager: “Ek glo meeste raadslede was simpatiek teenoor Pietersen totdat die brief van Millers (Barrow se prokureurs) dit uitgewys het van betaling deur Pietersen.”

Diane de Jager verteenwoordig Oudtshoorn by die 2012 provinsiale rede!?

Het die DA geen politieke maniere nie!?

Het die DA geen skéútjie gewone vanielje gesonde politieke verstand nie!?

Het die DA geen skáámte nie!?

En veral: Het die DA werklik géén respek vir die mense van Oudtshoorn nie?

Hóé op dees áárde gedoog ‘n premier en ‘n partyleierskap wat hoogheilig opgee oor “skoon regering” De Jager se teenwoordigheid by die belangrikste, of naasbelangrikste, parlementêre event van die jaar!?

On-gé-lóóf-lik!

En hoe op áárde regverdig die DA-leierskap op Oudtshoorn De Jager se bywoning van die 2012 provinsiale rede!?

Die DA minag die mense van Oudtshoorn met Diane de Jager se voortslepende teenwoordigheid in die raad.

En die plaaslike koukus hou eenvoudig aan om De Jager in openbare rolle te gebruik: Voorsitter van die koukus; verteenwoordiger by openbare geleenthede; gereelde deelnemer aan spesifieke beleidsbepalende gesprekke…

As die DA nie eens die teenwoordigheid van gees het om sy eie beeld en brand te beskerm en te bestuur nie, hoe kan die DA met die bestuur van Oudtshoorn vertrou word?

Die DA vergat sy plaaslike, provinsiale en selfs nasionale reputasie met die onnadenkende gedoog van onkapabele politici.

Ag nee wat, nóú het ek alles gehoor!

Die DA kry mý stem nooit weer voordat die party Oudtshoorn nie met die respek en omsigtigheid wat die dorp se mense verdien, behandel nie.

Noël Pietersen het die mense van Oudtshoorn bedrieg, en Diane de Jager en haar DA-raad het dit gelate toegelaat!

Wanneer gaan die DA se kiesafdelingsbestuur op Oudtshoorn by die party se federale raad aandring op die verwydering van Diane Nicolette de Jager!?

14h00. The DA’s Constituency Chairman, Hannes Barnard, replied by 10h42.

Drewan

Thank you for the opportunity to respond. I believe you attach greater significance to attendance of the event than is justified.

You are at liberty to prejudge. I am not. I refer you to my letter of yesterday. Besides my commitment to acting upon facts and not reports, I also endorse the audi alteram partem rule.

Regards

Hannes

Editor’s note: The audi alteram partem rule describes the principle in law to “hear the other side”. Noting would give OO greater pleasure, well, a few things would, but what the heck, to “hear the other side” – which will happen when Diane Nicolette de Jager is charged and appears before the DA’s tribunal. Roll on, I say!

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Die DA wys ‘n middelvinger vir Oudtshoorn

Diane de Jager by Helen Zille se provinsiale rede; Die voormalige burgemeester se rol in die Pietersen-debakel

Oudtshoorn’s ex CFO fixes the Bitou mess of Oudtshoorn’s current CFO;
and the DA/Cope government refuses a salary increase for Councillors!

Diane de Jager by Helen Zille se provinsiale rede;
Die voormalige burgemeester se rol in die Pietersen-debakel