Mayor's R173k monthly security bill sparks outcry in KwaDukuza
The invoice, which included the cost of four Pro Secure security guards for 24-hour protection at the mayor's residence for March, ignited a fierce debate about municipal spending.
Security costs have often been a controversial topic in council, where opposition councillors have long lobbied for specific line items to detail how the R4-million monthly spend is allocated, but have been blocked.
The municipality's security tender was also flagged in the last auditor-general report.
While confirming the mayor's invoice amount as accurate, KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) spokesperson Sifiso Zulu said the cost was within the municipality's prescribed tender processes.
'The security service is procured in accordance with the annual notice gazetted by the Minister for the Determination of Upper Limits of salaries, allowances and benefits for different
members of a Municipal Council,' he said.
'The contract in which Pro Secure was appointed by KwaDukuza Municipality was done through a competitive bidding process. The tender was awarded in compliance with the municipality's Supply Chain Management Policy.'
Pro Secure has been KDM's sole security provider for a few years and also endured some recent controversy when company owner Ferrell Govender was arrested in connection to an Umhlanga murder in January.
'Any legal challenges or criminal charges against the director of Pro Secure do not invalidate the contract entered into with Pro Secure and KwaDukuza municipality,' said Zulu.
'Contract law has its own requirements for the validity of a contract. The municipality confirms that at the time of the appointment, there was no adverse report in the data base of National Treasury in respect of Pro Secure.'
As for the need for four full time security guards, Zulu said it was 'common cause' that numerous threats had been made against the mayor.
'Some of these issues are in the records of the local police station, and some are before court. It is also public knowledge that there are other councillors whose residences are protected by security personnel, due to threats that have been reported,' he said.
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