Although the Overstrand Municipality (OM) boasts an 11th consecutive clean audit and other accomplishments to its credit, it seems some of the residents are still unhappy about alleged irregularities and unfairness within the municipality.
In her mid-term address, on 25 July, the Mayor, Dr Annelie Rabie, sang the praises of the OM by highlighting some of the achievements but some residents believe these achievements are mere optical illusions to hide the corruption and other problems within the municipality.
“Just think of the whole Paradise Park saga, the sale of De Mond and the new developments around Lake Marina Yacht and Boat Club in Fisherhaven and Kleinmond Caravan Park,” one resident told Hermanus Times.
On 2 July the newspaper asked OM for comment about the controversy surrounding Lake Marina and Kleinmond Caravan Park. Some concerns being raised by residents and members of the Yacht and Boat Club were: Where were the tenders advertised; clarity surrounding the new owners (allegedly from Mpumalanga) of the Kleinmond Caravan Park and the fact that Lake Marina Yacht Club is being sold to a business partner of one of the members of the Mayco.
According to the Municipal Manager (MM) Dean O’Neill the tenders for the Kleinmond Caravan Park were advertised in the Cape Times, Hermanus Times, Die Burger, OM’s web page and notice boards. The tender for Plot 775 Fisherhaven was also advertised on 27 October 2023 in the Cape Times, Hermanus Times, Die Burger and on OM’s webpage.
“We want to make it clear that Kleinmond Caravan Park is not being sold and the tender for the lease was awarded to Gapspot (Pty) Ltd,” O’Neill said. “As for Lake Marina, its lease has expired.”
During the mid-term meeting where the audience also got the opportunity to raise their concerns, advocate Edmund Wessels opened a can of worms when he mentioned the fraud case relating to the alleged use of municipal fuel and maintenance cards. He wanted to know from O’Neill what the case number for the alleged fraud of R47 million relating to Fleet Management that happened in 2022 was. O’Neill said the case was still under investigation.
On 26 July Wessels reminded O’Neill via email about the case number of the alleged fraud of R47 million. He stated in an email: “During the IDP roadshow on 8 April in the Municipal Auditorium feedback was given about the fleet-management investigation. A statement was made on a R47 million corruption relating to fleet management, which was under investigation, but now all is very quiet, and no feedback is being made available. Was this reported to the police and what steps were taken? All I want is a case number and the name of the investigation officer. Other questions are: What civil claims have been introduced to recover the R47 million, and what are their case numbers?”
Hermanus Times is in possession of correspondence between Wessels and Rabie where Rabie sent the following to Wessels via email: “In terms of my fiduciary responsibilities as Mayor I reported the matter to MEC Bredell on 13 December 2022. The possible fraud was also reported to the AG (Auditor-General) during the 2021-’22 audit of the municipality. You will also find reference to this in the Annual Report. I wrote a follow-up email to Minister Bredell on 11 April 2023, to which I attached an internal auditor’s report on alleged fraudulent and/or corrupt conduct committed by a merchant under the RT46/2020 Transversal Contract.
“I also informed the MEC that as a result of the recommendations made in this report, the MM has instructed that a case be opened with the South African Police Service, which case was duly opened. I wish to add that at the time I said that the amount may be as much as R47 million. This quantum has not been confirmed as investigations are ongoing. It may be more, it could be less. Please allow the investigation to take its course.”
In the light of all the events and alleged corruption in the OM, there are some rate payers’ associations that want to establish a similar organisation like Outa where they want to focus on tackling government corruption. “This is the best for our community. No matter how good our municipality looks, corruption is the order of the day and such an organisation will act as a watchdog to protect the rate payers,” a resident said.
