13 June 2022
The South African Communist Party in the Central Karroo District notes with concern the purported fundraising jaunt of Gayton McKenzie in Sandton over a week ago. As part of his dubious Mayor’s 100 days programme, McKenzie claims to have raised one million rands during the lavish fundraising and subsequently an extra two million rands towards a programme of fixing potholes, swimming pools and eradication of pit-toilets.
What is strange is the fact that there is no provision for this so-called fundraising jaunt in the Municipal Finance Management Act. The role of the Mayor is defined in Section 52 subsection (c) of the MFMA to the effect that, a mayor “must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the municipality performs its constitutional and statutory functions within the limits of the municipality's approved budget.” The same Act provides that a Mayor may request provincial government interventions as conditions may dictate.
Nowhere does the MFMA provide for fundraising or donations for statutory duties of a municipality. It is therefore a violation of the provisions of the MFMA which is the principal legislation governing municipal financial governance.
It is clear that Gayton McKenzie is merely extorting money for war chest and seeking popularity for his party, the Patriotic Alliance under the pretext of improving conditions in Central Karoo. This lie is betrayed in a video that is circulating on the social media networks of the national chairperson of the Patriotic Alliance, Marlon Daniels, addressing workers employed to work in Central Karroo District Municipality Mayor’s dubious 100-day program. Marlon Daniels can be heard saying “I can hire you and fire you and there is no forerunning to councillors, the is no forerunning to municipal managers they have nothing to say.”
From the foregoing, it is clear that McKenzie dupped “donors” under the guise of supporting the municipality whereas this is funding a shadow local state to run the Patriotic Alliance’s political campaigns. To say this is blurring the lines between party and state is an understatement, in fact this is tantamount to fraud which is a criminal offense.
As the SACP in Central Karroo District, we call on the MEC and National Minister, respectively, to investigate this scandalous conduct of Gayton McKenzie and his ilk in the Central Karoo District Municipality. The investigation must establish the following facts:
- lawfulness of this so-called fundraising;
- disclosure of the proceeds;
- the accounting protocols of such funds;
- the compliance with municipal employment dispensation and general labour relations including the basic conditions of employment with respect to employees in the Mayor’s 100 day scheme.
As the SACP in Central Karroo District, we call for a speedy investigation before the Municipality is turned into a milking cow for the Patriotic Alliance for its political ambitions.
We remain extremely concerned about the silence of the African National Congress as a coalition partner of the PA which suggests complicity or acquiescence with this unlawful conduct. The practices of the PA in this municipality are turning the municipal system into a mockery and it is unfortunate that the ANC supports, through its silence, the disregard of municipal financial governance and relevant labour laws.
Contact:
Siyabulela Tom - District Coordinator
0836385443
