3 Augustus 2012
015 307 7248
www.bulletin.us.com
Shame on you
Mopani
The Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) points to the Mopani District Municipality (MDM) for its qualified audit opinion. This comes a week after the Auditor General gave the GTM a qualified audit opinion for 2010\11.
R4
Mr Thulani Twala, the GTM spokesperson, says the GTM has to carry the extra burden and provide wate for residents in especially the rural areas. However, this is the responsibility of the MDM. He says the GTM used its own budget to provide water and the MDM does not reimburse them. Twala says this has put the GTM in a difficult position, as they could not justify the expenditure and give a proper account to the Auditor General. He says “although it is not our responsibility to provide water, the GTM cannot and will not turn its head when our people are running out of water due to the failure of the MDM to provide water”. He added that the two municipalities are currently discussing the problem. The Bulletin has information confirming that the MDM’s negligence or unwillingness is not something new and that many talks have been held to discuss the problem. Twala also refuted claims that the GTM owes vari-
Rural areas: FREE • Platteland: GRATIS
Fear lessl y the tr uth
ous companies huge amounts of money resulting from court cases. It is alleged that GTM owes millions of rand to companies, which took the GTM to court on several occasions due to tender irregularities. “We don’t owe anyone. It is just claims aimed at creating false impressions about the municipality,” he said. Asked about Mr Chris Mahowa, a prominent Tzaneen lawyer, who allegedly owes the GTM about R2 million, Twalu confirmed that Mahowa owes the GTM money. However, he refused to disclose the amount, saying the issue is ongoing and would soon be resolved. The Mahowa problem has been ongoing for the last couple of years and it is unknown what makes the GTM optimistic that the matter will be settled soon. — Percy Mthombeni percy@bulletin.us.com
Death Valley Georges Valley is fast becoming a death trap for motorists and on Saturday another two people lost their lives in a horrific accident on this road
Two people died in a head-on collision in George’s Valley on Saturday. Tzaneen Police spokesperson Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe said a third vehicle ran into the two vehicles that had crashed head-on. Ms Johanna Petronella Helbert and Mr Adriaan Jakobus Helbert from Mbombela died at the scene before they could be taken to a hospital. Three other people involved in the accident were rushed to hospital. The cause of the accident is unknown and police are investigating. ABOVE: the mangled wreck of the car in which two people died. LEFT: paramedics attend to one of the injured and on the FAR LEFT a seriously injured Mr Helbert lies in the road after the collision. He died a little while later at the scene and before he could be taken to hospital.