The Fetakgomo-Tubatse Municipality, Limpopo has allegedly spent more than R1 million in defence of an R175 000 bill by a service provider. According to the DA in Limpopo, the amount was spent for the difference in terms of project value and work completed and certified for the construction and erection of a cemetery fence.
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The matter was put on the roll in 2018 and after several postponements, the matter was heard. The judgement was given in favour of the service provider with cost against them.
While the municipality paid the amount in dispute it failed to pay the cost and lodged an application to stay the warrant of execution and a taxation application was also lodged upon the execution.
A settlement agreement was reached. But the municipality appointed yet another attorney to appeal the taxation agreement after their claims that the attorney of record had no mandate.
The matter was heard on 10 June 2023 before the Magistrates’ Court in Praktiseer. The judgement was handed down on the 28 of June 2023, again in favour of the claimant.
A MILLION SPENT BY FETAKGOMO-TUBATSE MUNICIPALITY TO CLAIM R 175 000
The DA said they would be writing to the MEC for COGHSTA, Basikopo Makamu, to investigate the legal expenditure incurred to defend a claim for R175 000.
“Efforts by the DA to obtain the final legal costs have been stonewalled by the Mayor, Eddy Maila.
“It is unacceptable that the taxpayers have to fork out amounts due to the incompetence of municipal officials. We will get to the bottom of this malfeasance,” said the party on Tuesday.
In 2022 the Municipality allegedly paid a service provider R2 000 for a container of five litres of oil.
The payment was for a service rendered in December 2019. They also paid another service provider R16 250 for five units of Epson fx-2190 ribbon cartridges.
The funds were rendered outstanding by the Apel Regional Office. According to the opposition parties, the service had already been rendered and the FTLM had to pay for it.
