THE municipal manager of the Garden Route District Municipality is facing a probe after it came to light that he allegedly earned nearly R5 million in excess of the salary package he was supposed to receive.
The investigation was as a result of the work of the anti-corruption group, Garden Route Corruption Busters (GRCB) which has been looking into the matter.
Monde Stratu, according to insiders received a R2.4m annual salary, when he was only entitled to R1.6m.
“This happened right under the noses of his Garden Route District Municipal administration, the CFO, the mayor, the council and its committees charged with oversight, the auditor general, and the department of local government,” GRCB said.
MEC of Local Government Anton Bredell has since written to the municipality’s speaker, Georlene Wolmarans to account for the allegations relating to the payments of gratuity to Stratu and other political staff who were appointed to the municipality during the last term.
Bredell granted Wolmarans 15 days to respond to the allegations.
During a council meeting last month, Wolmarans said it was alleged that Stratu received a gratuity payment.
Interim Western Cape DA leader, Tertius Simmers said remuneration paid to municipal managers was regulated by the Upper Limits Notice, which is published by the national minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta).
“Municipalities are required to remunerate municipal managers within the ambit of the applicable legislative framework,“ Simmers said. Stratu reportedly received this excessive payments in the past five years that he has served in the municipality.
Mayor Memory Booysen confirmed that he was made aware of the allegations.
“I was copied (in on) the allegations and as the mayor I will do what the law requires me to do. I want to take it to council for all other processes to be activated,” Booysen said.
Stratu denied any wrongdoing but said he would co-operate with the process.
“I’m aware of the allegations and will assist them in the investigation process, I have nothing to hide,” he said.
“I did nothing wrong,” Stratu said.
But Stratu is no stranger to controversy.
In 2012 Bitou municipality levelled charges against Stratu’s irregular expenditure.
“It is not as if Stratu is new to irregular expenditure … exactly 10 years ago the Bitou municipality charged him with irregular expenditure during an acting municipal manager term ,” the lobby group said.
GRCB alleged that Booysen, who was the former mayor of Bitou, protected Stratu.
“Booysen found an ally in Bredell… clear from the fact that no consequences attached to Stratu, or to Booysen. They were both ‘promoted’ to the district,” GRCB alleges.