Durban - The KwaDukuza Municipality has defended the decision to spend R1.1 million of council funds on a four-day lekgotla for councillors and officials.
The DA in the municipality had described the event as a “holiday in the Drakensberg”, masked as a mid-term lekgotla.
The DA vehemently opposed the ANC's proposal for this four-day holiday, stating, "It is simply unconscionable that R1.1 million that could have been used for services will be used to fund this breakaway taking place from January 21, 2025.
“While we recognise the need for a review of the council's five-year strategic objectives, we cannot agree with public funds being expended in this manner. The DA's proposal to utilise a local venue for the mid-term review was rejected by the ANC, who want to continue plundering funds for the purposes of this gathering.”
The party said in addition to a delegation of councillors and an undisclosed number of close protection officers, the proposal calls for 71 municipal officials to attend the session.
However, the municipality has defended the spending. It denied that this is a holiday, adding that the lekgotla was within the scope of government work.
It stated that the position taken by the DA on the matter is a result of sour grapes after it failed to have its candidate elected as mayor of the municipality recently.