The MEC for local government in the Western Cape, Anton Bredell, is considering a Section 106 investigation into a controversial trip by two senior officials from Theewaterskloof Municipality to the Rugby World Cup Final.

The officials, deputy mayor John Michels and municipal council speaker Derick Appel, claimed it was an "official state visit,"  "official state visit" in a letter to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) director-general Zane Dangor. In the letter, they requested a note verbale from Dirco, stating they would also visit the Embassy in the UK and France for discussions on trade and investment.

But questions arose about the purpose and funding of the trip, after a municipal employee blew the whistle on them.

Bredell has requested answers from the municipality, but they have not responded. The DA's Isaac Sileku raised concerns about public funds being used and lodged a complaint with the provincial treasury. The municipality officials, facing personal legal issues, claim to have paid for the trip themselves.

However, the deputy leader of the GOOD party, Brett Herron believes these individuals should not be investigated, and accused MEC Anton Bredell of hypocrisy, and insists that they should take the officials’ word that they did not use public funds. He elaborated that in the absence of evidence, evidence should not be sought by an investigation, merely on the word of a whistleblower.

According to the official statement from the DA:

“A whistleblower accused the Theewaterskloof’s director for community services, Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, of allegedly misusing taxpayers’ money to pay for two ANC councillors’ flights to the party’s policy conference held in Joburg last year. He was subsequently rewarded and appointed as the Municipal Manager of Theewaterskloof.

• The inability of the Municipality to operate within the legislative framework for Supply Chain management policies, has amounted to deviations of more than a R100 million,

• Collection rates have lowered to 73% and investments have lowered by R150 million.

• Additionally, The Municipality also forfeited R35 million in unused grants, that could have been utilized to provide services to the people of Theewaterskloof.

These are just a few examples of the corruption and maladministration currently plaguing the Theewaterskloof Municipality.”

Herron has accused MEC Bredell of acting illegally in the past, namely of meddling in the selection of an official in George municipality, but Bredell was cleared of the allegations by the Public Protector.

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