You Knysna Ratepayers Just Paid Again
“Follow the Green Money Road, follow the Green Money Road
Follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow the N2 over the Garden, follow the witch who follows a theme,
follow, follow, follow, follow,
follow the Green Money Road.”
– (to be sung to the theme of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
Some may wondered why, after all the Municipal Manager talk about Lauren Waring’s resignation and Grant Easton starting his hike to the throne, why Dawie Adonis, the Director of Community Services, was in the hot seat as the Acting Municipal Manager of Oz a.k.a. Knysna this week?
Apparently, so a birdie told me, 8 municipal staff won a free holiday to Cape Town. Hey, some tongue-in-my-cheek is warranted here!
Courtesy of an embattled Knysna Municipality and always forgiving ratepayers, this illustrious group, which included Waring, Easton and Bevan Bellman the Director of Corporate Services (those three control your money), attended a financial conference that cost R8000 per head. Then there’s subsistence (travel, food and accommodation) which we’ll guesstimate at R2000 each.
So a possible R80 000 paid for a trip that seems to have been undertaken by staff without, allegedly, them telling the full details to our Council (of politicians). And that figure is far higher, likely double, if you take into account their salaries they were still earning whilst being out of town.
The most bizarre aspect is that Lauren Waring is on her way out, her resignation effective in 6 weeks time, yet seemed to use your money to pay for her further education… if education is what it was because the first rumours back were that the conference was a waste of time. If true, the trip was an even bigger waste of money.
But never fear, don’t you dare worry, because Mayor Georlene Wolmarans has compensated for the recent holes in the Knysna Municipality’s budget by stopping the free chocolate biscuits and rusks that normally accompany Council meetings – 14 boxes x 12 months x R10 = R1680.
R160 000
– 1 680
= (It Still Doesn’t Add Up)___
= WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE
I’d love to clarify, as i would so many things, but my emails remain banned by the Not-So Wizard of Oz (hey, wasn’t there a witch in that movie too?).
And Rosy is silent.
Rosy or whatever your name is, why are you not admitting or denying that Lauren Warring who resigned a month ago was one of delegates despite the fact that council will not get any value for money from her attending the said conference? That is the issue my dear.
It may be one of the main points but if anyone can give me information or correct my blogs, i’m all for that. The truth will come out in the wash.
Your information is incorrect. 6 Delegates went and not 8 and the cost of it all….you’re just guessing.
The rule here is no fake profiles (your edress is a generalised one that does not appear on the net). You can remain anonymous so long as you, at least, identify yourself in an email to me. I’m hoping that if you have solid information, you will. I’d rather have the 100% facts than information gained on the side. Alternatively, you can remain anonymous to me and simply email me the information. There would be no need for digging for information if the Knysna Municipality chose to be cooperative and always inform the public what was going on.
Lauren must pay back the money! This is fruitless and wasteful expenditure! The DA is building small Nkandlas all over the Western Cape!
She’s an utter hypocrite. First she says there’s no money but that she and Easton will try raise it. Then announces her resignation a month later whilst going on to spend more cash frivolously. So blatant so as to be insulting.