"Mayor's birthday a costly bash
15/02/2006 08:40 - (SA)

Linda de Beer, Beeld


Rustenburg - The mayor of the Bojanala district municipality (Rustenburg, Brits, Koster) threw an extravagant birthday party that cost ratepayers about R125 000.

Hundreds of people were bused to Gertrude Tema's party in October last year.

The tents, toilets and chairs cost R25 000, the catering R20 000, and the entertainment R11 000.

An advertisement on a local radio station to congratulate the first lady on her birthday cost another R5 250.

This generosity with ratepayers' money didn't stop with Tema.

Gifts totalling R32 800 were handed out to an unknown number of handicapped children who attended the party.

The birthday expenses are detailed in Bojanala's financial statements for August, September and October last year, which Beeld has in its possession.

They paint a picture of extravagance in various areas.

R200 000 for newsletter

In the same three months, a communications company was paid about R350 000 for, among other things, the ""facilitation of a communication strategy"", letterheads, a newsletter and photos and photo frames.

Impact Communications was paid R200 000 for the municipality's September and October newsletter.

A further R64 000 was paid for a reprint.

The company also received R45 000 to organise a prayer event for the missing policewoman, Frances Rasuge.

Tea, coffee and cool drinks for the municipal offices, and snacks like biscuits for council members and departmental heads, cost more than R45 000.

Gifts worth R25 000 from Woolworths were dished out to those taking part in a walking exercise.

An educational project in which setworks were performed at schools cost R75 000.

The municipality paid for council members to attend a soccer match, with catering to the value of R3 000 being provided.

Not available for comment

Democratic Alliance council member Michiel de Kock said these expenses had nothing to do with the municipality's line function.

According to him, ratepayers' money is meant for the maintenance of services, not for the convenience of council members.

""The mayor's birthday party is almost worse than the deputy president's holiday.""

Tema could not be reached for comment at her office or on her cellphone.

Municipal spokesperson Ngale Tiro also did not respond to any messages."