The DA in Fetakgomo-Tubatse will write to the MEC for COGHSTA, Basikopo Makamu, to investigate the legal expenditure incurred to defend a claim for R175 000.
The municipality’s legal department spent more than R1 144 420 up until in defence of a R175 000 bill by a service provider for the difference in terms of project value and work completed and certified for the construction and erection of a cemetery fence.
The matter was put on the roll in 2018 and after several postponements the matter was heard, and the judgement was given in favour of the service provider with cost against the municipality.
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 and the judgement was handed down on the 28 of June 2023, again in favour of the claimant.
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 exorbitant amounts due to the incompetence of municipal officials, we will get to the bottom of this malfeasance.