Officials choose Fish River Sun again

Makana officials have done it again, this time slipping off and booking in at the luxurious Fish River Sun hotel for a strategic planning meeting, while opposition councillors are left at home and in the dark.

Grocott's Mail understands that the Mayoral Lekgotla, which started on Sunday and is expected to end today, involved Mayoral Committee members and directors at the municipality.

Yesterday local Democratic Alliance chief whip Xolani Madyo told Grocott's Mail that no one belonging to his party attended the lekgotla because none had been invited.

"None of us in the DA caucus knew about the lekgotla, we were in meetings at the city hall last week but nobody informed us about it. Nothing official came to us," Madyo said.

There was no official notice about the lekgotla on the municipality's website.

In a telephone interview with Grocott's Mail, municipal spokesperson Mncedisi Boma said he was at the lekgotla at Fish River Sun and "all of us are here".

A quick visit to the Mayor's office confirmed that all officials, the Mayor and the speaker were indeed away.

Boma said Executive Mayor Zamuxolo Peter would call a press briefing at the end of the lekgotla to outline Council's plans.

Late last year they municipality's directorates also scooted off to different luxury resorts for strategic planning sessions.

The Local Economic Development directorate, under Riana Meiring, booked in for a day at Temba Game Reserve and Olive Park Lodge outside Grahamstown.

At the same time early in December, 26 officials from the offices of the Mayor, municipal manager and speaker spent a night at the Mpekweni Beach Resort, which was also the venue for the Mayoral Committee's last strategic session.

Thembinkosi Myalato's technical and infrastructure directorate's strategic planning session was held at the Fish River Sun.