GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - In the latest edition of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality's (DBNLM) newsletter, dated 15 October 2021, the municipality confirmed the constant vandalism of municipal property and stated that the most recent attempt of the vandals was to damage the camera and possibly deactivate the electric fence at one of the pump stations.
The issue of vandalism is particularly concerning since the municipality has spent an estimated amount of R6,2-million on the provision of security services during the previous financial auditing period.
In response to concerns raised around incidents of vandalism and theft of municipal assets on 26 August 2021, Graaff-Reinet Advertiser received a letter from Dirk Kotze Attorneys stating that the security service provider, Gap Security Management (Pty) Ltd, "vehemently denies all the allegations pertaining to its operation" and that "these allegations are blatantly false and without merit."
Willem Oliphant, Managing Director of Gap Security, instructed the Western Cape-based law firm to request Graaff-Reinet Advertiser to submit evidence relating to the incidents referred to in the article within five working days, failing which they should proceed with a summons for defamation.
Oliphant added that they see the matter in a very serious light.
Graaff-Reinet Advertiser has referred the matter to their legal team.
The DBNLM has already spent more than R4,6-million on legal costs and civil claims during this financial year whilst being unable to deliver proper services, serve its increasing debts, and pay third-party contributions to SARS and employees' pension and provident funds.
In this regard, Lance Joel, SA Local Government Association Chief of Operations, noted that the municipality would have been in a much better position if the amounts paid for litigation could have been used for service delivery. It is also becoming increasingly evident that municipal assets would have been in a much better condition and not in absentia if the amount paid for security services could have secured the provision of proper security service delivery. It is difficult to dispute that the situation does in fact necessitate enhanced security service delivery.
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