Questions and Replies

With reference to the investigations into the funding of Knysna Tourism, or Knysna & Partners, by attorneys Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr and De Swardt Vogel Myambo:

(1)    (a) What is or was the contact period of the Knysna & Partners contract signed on 11 July 2017, which was the subject of the De Swardt Vogel Myambo report, (b) what payments (dates and amounts) were made to Knysna Tourism and/or Knysna & Partners by the Knysna Municipality in terms of the contract signed on 11 July 2017, (c) why was the contract concluded despite the legal advice of Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, which was dated 23 May 2017, that the contract was illegal and (d) why was a payment made to Knysna & Partners, which requested on 1 July 2017, in the amount R1 million, when the contract was only signed on 11 July 2017;

(2)    whether De Swardt Vogel Myambo was given an additional 30 days, as requested in their report, to complete the investigation into the payments to Knysna & Partners; if not, why not; if so;

(3)    whether the investigation has been concluded; if so, (a) what were the findings and (b) recommendations;

(4)    whether any steps have been taken by the Knysna Municipality to recover any irregular, unauthorised and/or fruitless and wasteful expenditure from Knysna & Partners; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(5)    (a) when did he first become aware of the legal opinions on the funding of Knysna & Partners and/or Knysna Tourism and (b) what steps or actions did he or his Department take?
 

With reference to the appointment of a certain person, whose name has been furnished to his Department for the purpose of his reply, as Municipal Manager of the Knysna Municipality:

(1)    When was this person appointed as Municipal Manager by the municipal council;

(2)    whether the municipal council informed him of the appointment as required in terms of section 54A(7)(a) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000); if so, when was he informed;

(3)    what was this person date of commencement of employment;

(4)    with reference to a report by attorneys De Swardt Vogel Myambo that found that the Municipal Manager’s contract of employment was intentionally and fraudulently backdated, (a) when did he first become aware of the allegation of a fraudulent employment contract and (b) when did he become aware of the report prepared by the attorneys;

(5)    whether he or the Municipality submitted a criminal complaint against the Municipal Manager for the fraud perpetrated in relation to the employment contract, as recommended by the attorneys; if not, why not; if so, (a) when was this done and (b) what is the case number;

(6)    whether he or the Municipality submitted a criminal complaint against the former Executive Mayor, whose name has been furnished to his Department for the purpose of his reply, for the fraud perpetrated in relation to the employment contract, as recommended by the attorneys; if not, why not; if so, (a) when was this done and (b) what is the case number;

(7)    according to the attorneys’ report, the Knysna Municipality paid R85 595,25 from municipal funds for legal services to the former Executive Mayor, which were of a personal nature, and that such expenditure was irregular and/or unauthorised; whether this irregular and/or unauthorised expenditure has been recovered from the former Executive Mayor, the Municipal Manager and/or the Manager: Legal Services, as recommended; if not, (a) why not and (b) what steps have been taken to recover these costs; if so, (a) what amount has been recovered and (b) when?
 

Whether she or her Department have received any concerns or complaints from members of the public or civil society regarding the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa); if so, what is the nature of these complaints

How many learners, as at the latest date for which information is available, have not been placed at (a) primary schools and (b) high schools in the Mitchells Plain district?