The mayor of a cash-strapped KwaZulu-Natal municipality is demanding ratepayer-funded bodyguards following two allegedly threatening incidents, including one in which assailants demanded her address from a relative.
Greater Kokstad municipality mayor Nosisa Jojozi claims her life is in danger after an incident about two weeks ago, according to her deputy, Bheki Mtolo.
Mtolo, also the municipality's head of safety and security, told Sowetan that about three assailants assaulted and threatened the mayor's relative who brought the incident to the municipality's attention.
"[In] early 2014, the mayor got home and found her house had been broken into and opened a case," he said.
Mtolo said a threat analysis was conducted by the police's crime intelligence unit and confirmed the threat after the housebreaking.
But DA councillor Lwanda Madikizela said the mayor had not produced a threat analysis report or informed councillors of her need and denied that a detailed and comprehensive threat analysis was done as required.
According to the cooperative governance and traditional affairs department, personal security to mayors is subject to a threat and risk analysis by the police crime intelligence division.
"The majority of councillors were not aware of it [the threats]. It's an exaggeration. Council never took such a decision," Madikizela said.
Mtolo said the municipality was forging ahead with providing security for Jojozi as an emergency.
"We've instructed the municipal manager Thobela Nota to do a deviation, which is allowed by the Municipal Finance Management Act," he said.
Mtolo said the matter would be finalised at a council meeting next month.
According to Madikizela, the municipality has financial constraints and took a decision a while ago for its officials to tighten their belts.
The municipality's own approved 2015-2016 budget shows that its revenue will grow by zero in the outer years of its medium-term revenue and expenditure framework.
"Total operating expenditure for the 2015-2016 financial year has been appropriated at R322.7-million and translates into a budgeted deficit of R27-million," reads the document.
Its capital budget of R37-million for 2015-2016 is 58% less when compared to the 2014-2015 adjustment budget.
Madikizela said Kokstad was behind in terms of delivery of services.
"This [provision of bodyguards] is abuse of power," he said. Madikizela said they valued people's safety but proper processes should be followed before the mayor is allowed ratepayer-funded bodyguards.
sidimbal@sowetan.co.za
Broke municipality to give scared mayor bodyguards
The mayor of a cash-strapped KwaZulu-Natal municipality is demanding ratepayer-funded bodyguards following two allegedly threatening incidents, including one in which assailants demanded her address from a relative.
Greater Kokstad municipality mayor Nosisa Jojozi claims her life is in danger after an incident about two weeks ago, according to her deputy, Bheki Mtolo.
Mtolo, also the municipality's head of safety and security, told Sowetan that about three assailants assaulted and threatened the mayor's relative who brought the incident to the municipality's attention.
"[In] early 2014, the mayor got home and found her house had been broken into and opened a case," he said.
Mtolo said a threat analysis was conducted by the police's crime intelligence unit and confirmed the threat after the housebreaking.
But DA councillor Lwanda Madikizela said the mayor had not produced a threat analysis report or informed councillors of her need and denied that a detailed and comprehensive threat analysis was done as required.
According to the cooperative governance and traditional affairs department, personal security to mayors is subject to a threat and risk analysis by the police crime intelligence division.
"The majority of councillors were not aware of it [the threats]. It's an exaggeration. Council never took such a decision," Madikizela said.
Mtolo said the municipality was forging ahead with providing security for Jojozi as an emergency.
"We've instructed the municipal manager Thobela Nota to do a deviation, which is allowed by the Municipal Finance Management Act," he said.
Mtolo said the matter would be finalised at a council meeting next month.
According to Madikizela, the municipality has financial constraints and took a decision a while ago for its officials to tighten their belts.
The municipality's own approved 2015-2016 budget shows that its revenue will grow by zero in the outer years of its medium-term revenue and expenditure framework.
"Total operating expenditure for the 2015-2016 financial year has been appropriated at R322.7-million and translates into a budgeted deficit of R27-million," reads the document.
Its capital budget of R37-million for 2015-2016 is 58% less when compared to the 2014-2015 adjustment budget.
Madikizela said Kokstad was behind in terms of delivery of services.
"This [provision of bodyguards] is abuse of power," he said. Madikizela said they valued people's safety but proper processes should be followed before the mayor is allowed ratepayer-funded bodyguards.
sidimbal@sowetan.co.za
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