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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality (EMLM) is seeking clarity and disclosure on the institutions’ expenditure for the ward committee conference held at the Forever Resort in Bela-Bela between March 17 and 19.
According to the DA, the “poor and misguided” decision to host the conference outside the borders of the municipality came at a great cost, which could have been avoided.
The party further raised concerns over what it terms seemingly inflated figures and costs, citing the hiring of 15 22-seater taxis for 330 ward committee members while there are only 310 members.
Furthermore, the DA ventilated concerns over the cost of hiring the 22-seater taxis, highlighting that the amount doubled from R142 000 in 2025 to R302 000 in 2026.
The DA indicated that R1.3m was spent for the accommodation of 330 ward committee members who should be 310 in number and 330 gift bags were purchased instead of 310.
According to the party, the municipality spent R106 000 on 330 gift bags and a further R149 000 for the debossing of the municipal logo.
The party said the municipality further paid R448 000 for the conference package. DA Councillor in EMLM Sipho Mmaboko said it is also concerning that the 15 taxis transported the ward committee members to Bela-Bela on March 17 without an order for the service from the municipality, sharing that the order was only done on the following day.
“The DA has consistently proposed and maintained that such events should be held at a municipal building at no cost or at a more cost-effective locations within the municipal boundaries in order to contain costs, support local businesses and grow the local economy. Alternatively, the ward councillors can attend the workshops and later share the lessons with their ward committee members. This waste of limited financial resources is unacceptable, especially when EMLM residents are deprived of basic services such as roads, reliable water supply, adequate sanitation services, cemetery fencing and high mast lights for security,” Mmaboko stated.
He stressed that the DA councillors did not form part of the conference in protest against the unnecessary and wasteful spending.
Mmaboko informed that the party has written to Municipal Manager Reginah Mahlakwane on the matter. The municipality had not provided a response at the time of publication.
