'Councillor must pay up R4.5m'

08 June 2015 - 09:05 By OLEBOGENG MOLATLHWA

The DA is hoping to set a legal precedent by making a City of Johannesburg mayoral committee member personally liable for irregular expenditure. Should the court challenge prove successful, Chris Vondo - member of the mayoral committee responsible for community development in Mayor Parks Tau's cabinet - will have to pay back R4.5-million.This was the amount spent in just 48 hours for the May 2012 opening of the Soweto Theatre, swallowing more than 90% of the theatre's R5-million budget for the entire year.Not only was the launch date brought forward but the programme for the opening was changed and greatly expanded just three weeks prior to the event .The city's spokesman, Nthatisi Modingoane, said its attorneys would oppose the DA's application, adding: "The city has not taken a decision to claim money from councillor Vondo. The matter is under investigation by the public protector and the city has duly submitted its response to the public protector."The DA claims Vondo is liable for the R4.5-million because he improperly authorised the expenditure.The papers state that the expenditure "was not appropriated in an adjustments budget passed within 60 days of the expenditure being incurred" and "no condonation from the Treasury was obtained, as contemplated in section 170 of the [Municipal Finance Management Act]".The DA argues, in its papers, that ANC councillors used their majority to condone and regularise the expenditure.The DA also wants the courts to set aside the council's decision to condone and regularise the expenditure...

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