Cape Town — Two senior officials in the Theewaterskloof municipality in the Western Cape are facing a provincial probe over their visit to France during the Rugby World Cup in October, it has been reported.
The investigation into deputy mayor John Michels and Speaker Derick Appel follows their visit abroad at the time of the World Cup final, in which the Springboks played against New Zealand.
According to News 24, DA councillor Isaac Sileku lodged a complaint with the Provincial Treasury to investigate whether public funds were used.
The Theewaterskloof Municipality – which is run by a coalition of the ANC, Patriotic Alliance and the GOOD Party – said in October that it did not pay for Appel, who is also the Western Cape ANC’s treasurer, and Michel of the GOOD Party to travel to France
“The narrative that the speaker and deputy mayor were ‘sent’ to France by the municipality is wrong. The municipality did not pay for any of their expenses and also did not send them,” Theewaterskloof spokesperson Hugo Geldenhuys was reported in Daily Maverick as saying.
“They decided that whilst they’re in France, they would, on their own accord, visit embassies and potential project partners to investigate and forge opportunities for Theewaterskloof Municipality and the people of this municipal area. They will also discuss sporting opportunities for the youths of Theewaterskloof with rugby and other roleplayers.
“As they intend to have talks with government organs abroad, the municipal manager wrote a letter to a relevant organ of state to request diplomatic support and recognition for the speaker and deputy mayor,” he said.
News 24 reported that attempts by Anton Bredell, the Western Cape’s local government minister, to get clarification about the visit from the municipality had been frustrated.
“The municipality refused to respond to the substance of the allegations, citing that they were not accountable to the Provincial Legislature,” he said.
As a result he said he would use his powers to launch an investigation into the claims.
Both Appel and Michels claimed they were on a ‘state visit’, but both denied the trip was paid for by the municipality. Appel said he paid for the trip himself.
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