The removal of the majority of Matjhabeng’s service delivery vehicles, especially those in the newly acquired fleet, on Tuesday by the Matjhabeng sheriff has sent shock waves through the community.
The sheriff was instructed per court order to remove municipal assets to cover the more than R80 million owed to service providers.
Some debtors have been successful in obtaining court orders to have municipal assets seized in lieu of payment.
The three security companies involved in the dispute are: MC Security and Investigations; Puleletso Security and Projects; and Motsewarona Security Services.
Piet Botha, caucus chairman for the Matjhabeng DA, says that the current external legal team could not defend the cases as they did not have the files in their possession.
Botha says the files in question are apparently still with the previous law firm, Bokwa Law Incorporated.
“This firm was apparently never paid for their work. The municipality is apparently in dispute about the account and has asked for an assessed account. Due to the ineptitude of the ruling party in Matjhabeng, residents will not receive any service delivery.”
Botha says this is the third such incident in two weeks where vehicles have been seized by the sheriff.
“I personally warned the executive director of Corporate Services, Dr Vuyo Adonis, four months ago that such an order was coming and he dismissed it as nothing. The municipality’s appointment of cadres in senior positions without them having the right experience has come back to bite them as they do not have the capacity to handle complex matters.
“It is really a shame that Matjhabeng’s residents have to suffer because the ANC is not prepared to resolve matters without going to court,” says Botha.
“This results in huge legal bills and nobody but the lawyers ever win. It is time that well-trained people are appointed. People who will put the interests of Matjhabeng’s residents first.”
Tshediso Tlali, spokesperson for Matjhabeng, says the municipality is looking into the matter, and cannot comment as the matter is subjudice.
Vista has, however, been invited to a press conference called by the mayor today – 21 September – at 10:00 in the municipal building.
Here the mayor will brief the media about his stance on corruption, and will give an overview of service delivery, the unsubstantiated allegations levelled against the municipality, and the recent developments around the municipal fleet.
Due to the ineptitude of the ruling party in Matjhabeng, residents will not receive any service delivery– Piet Botha
