FORMER Oudtshoorn municipality corporate manager Patrick Nyuka is the latest to benefit from the almost R3,5-million allegedly paid out on disciplinary hearings by the beleaguered municipality during the last few months.
Nyuka, who was found by auditors to have been involved in various irregularities regarding the allocation of houses and land in the municipality‘s housing development scheme, has been paid more than R300 000 in settlement fees and has finally left the body‘s employ.
The latest payout follows severe budget cuts last month, including the Oudtshoorn Tourism Bureau which took a 40% cut this year.
Former municipal head of planning and development Anton Bekker, who was to have appeared as a witness and adviser for Nyuka, said none of the municipality‘s witnesses showed up for the hearing.
The parties involved then held talks and a settlement was reached.
Bekker said he was concerned that the municipality had in recent months spent R3,5-million on internal hearings, but municipal administrator Louis Scheepers refused to comment.
Scheepers also declined to comment on the settlement, saying they were preparing a statement to be issued in the next couple of days.
According to a report by auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers, Nyuka had been involved in various irregularities pertaining to the allocation of houses and land in the municipality‘s housing development scheme.
It was found earlier that Nyuka allocated houses to six people in the Smartie Town area, including his sister. Those people either did not qualify for housing or were not on any official waiting lists.
Apparently only married couples and those with dependants qualified for housing but Nyuka listed his own child as belonging to his sister.
The municipality was put under administration by Local Government MEC Richard Dyantyi in March after it became dysfunctional in January.
At the time the DA dismissed Dyantyi‘s involvement as a “party political ploy”, saying it was ludicrous to put the town under administration while nearby ANC-controlled Bitou had serious problems.
DA spokesman Robin Carlisle said: “The root of the problem was poor management of the council under the ANC. The DA took over the council when it was in serious trouble, but unfortunately did not move fast enough. They (Bitou) have a municipal manager (George Seitisho) who has publicly admitted to (the party) helping itself to council money.” - The Herald
Nyuka, who was found by auditors to have been involved in various irregularities regarding the allocation of houses and land in the municipality‘s housing development scheme, has been paid more than R300 000 in settlement fees and has finally left the body‘s employ.
The latest payout follows severe budget cuts last month, including the Oudtshoorn Tourism Bureau which took a 40% cut this year.
Former municipal head of planning and development Anton Bekker, who was to have appeared as a witness and adviser for Nyuka, said none of the municipality‘s witnesses showed up for the hearing.
The parties involved then held talks and a settlement was reached.
Bekker said he was concerned that the municipality had in recent months spent R3,5-million on internal hearings, but municipal administrator Louis Scheepers refused to comment.
Scheepers also declined to comment on the settlement, saying they were preparing a statement to be issued in the next couple of days.
According to a report by auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers, Nyuka had been involved in various irregularities pertaining to the allocation of houses and land in the municipality‘s housing development scheme.
It was found earlier that Nyuka allocated houses to six people in the Smartie Town area, including his sister. Those people either did not qualify for housing or were not on any official waiting lists.
Apparently only married couples and those with dependants qualified for housing but Nyuka listed his own child as belonging to his sister.
The municipality was put under administration by Local Government MEC Richard Dyantyi in March after it became dysfunctional in January.
At the time the DA dismissed Dyantyi‘s involvement as a “party political ploy”, saying it was ludicrous to put the town under administration while nearby ANC-controlled Bitou had serious problems.
DA spokesman Robin Carlisle said: “The root of the problem was poor management of the council under the ANC. The DA took over the council when it was in serious trouble, but unfortunately did not move fast enough. They (Bitou) have a municipal manager (George Seitisho) who has publicly admitted to (the party) helping itself to council money.” - The Herald
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