Council still funding fired top official

A municipal manager fired by President Jacob Zuma two months ago continues to receive benefits from the council.

Mbizana local municipality manager Simphiwe Thobela, mayor Zoleka Busuku, council speaker Phikolomzi Siramza and chief whip Justice Madikizela were fired in April.

But on June 20 municipal official Khayakaza Ndava booked flights to Johannesburg and Durban, accommodation for five days and car hire for Thobela. The cost of the trip was R17313.

The council also paid for Thobela's flight from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth, and accommodation and car hire, when he attended the ANC provincial elective conference last week. Thobela denied that the council had paid for the Port Elizabeth trip.