FF Plus councillors were excluded from the training of 50 female councillors from various municipalities across Gauteng. The training event was organised and presented by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) earlier this year at a cost of R682 110.
The purpose of the five-day course was to empower female councillors to fulfil an oversight role and to provide more knowledge and understanding of the municipalities’ programmes related to gender, the youth and people with disabilities.
A service provider was paid R252 000 to present the course and the cost of the conference facilities and accommodation amounted to R430 000.
The FF Plus is of the opinion that this expense was unnecessary as it is the duty of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) to train councillors and present induction courses and not CoGTA.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and the MEC will have to provide more clarity on the matter as well as indicate which councillors attended the course and which parties they represent in the respective councils.
If only ANC councillors were invited to attend the course, the FF Plus will insist that the ANC in Gauteng must repay the money to the Department. The FF Plus would also like to know why no one from the party was invited to attend the course.
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