The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Kareeberg Municipality has formally requested full disclosure regarding a series of concerning financial and governance matters, including travel claims, inter-municipal agreements, and reporting failures.
It has come to light that the Mayor, Rodney Jikella, previously claimed subsistence and travel expenses for a South African Local Government Association (SALGA) workshop in Durban, despite admitting in a meeting that he did not attend, after being called away by the ANC. The DA is demanding confirmation on whether these accommodation and travel costs have been recovered, and what the total amount was.
Similarly, the Mayor claimed travel and accommodation expenses for a SALGA working group meeting in Port Nolloth, which he also reportedly did not attend. The DA is probing whether these costs have been reimbursed to the municipality and is seeking full transparency on the amounts involved.
Further concerns relate to a July 2023 appointment of a South African Municipal Workers Union shop steward. We request a copy of this agreement, confirmation that invoices have been issued consistently, and clarity on the controls governing the administrative budget for this position.
These concerns are heightened by reports that the same official uses a municipal vehicle daily for trips to places such as Cape Town, Kimberley, and De Aar, including for collecting private items for staff. If this falls outside the agreement, we will demand immediate corrective action.
The failures in financial management and governance are even more concerning given that the required monthly Section 71 financial reports have never been submitted to the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), despite this being a SALGA requirement.
The DA will not allow a culture of impunity to take root. We have submitted detailed questions to the municipality and will pursue all available oversight mechanisms to ensure that public funds are protected and accounted for.