Meeting on ‘salary fraud‘ by former Bitou worker

Janine Oelofse GARDEN ROUTE BUREAU CHIEF

DA MPL for Knysna and Plettenberg Bay Alan Winde will meet Bitou salary officials today to discuss “alleged fraud” concerning the pay of a former local economic development employee.

Winde said Pucto Mapitiza, who was elected last September to serve as ANC regional secretary of the Southern Cape, allegedly continued to draw a salary until December.

“This election took place on Saturday, September 6, 2008, and he took up his duties on Monday, September 8, by reporting for duty at the ANC‘s George office. He only notified the municipality in a letter dated November 3 that he was tendering his resignation, effective from December 1 – almost three months after he stopped working at the Bitou council.”

Winde said although he had raised the matter with Western Cape Premier Lynne Brown during the state of the province debate in the legislature, no action had been taken.

Bitou‘s municipal manager referred a media query to the mayor‘s office, but his adviser did not comment.

Mapitiza said he felt it best the municipality respond to the allegations.

In a council meeting last week, mayor Lulama Mvimbi said the town‘s DA councillors seemed to think “we are afraid of the provincial legislature. If Winde wants to serve Bitou, he should stand for election”.

He was referring to a phone call Winde made to him to discuss travel expenses after local councillors had complained to Winde.