JEFFREYS BAY – The Executive Mayor of Kouga Municipality in the Eastern Cape has formally requested the Public Protector to investigate alleged misuse of state resources during Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie’s visit to the municipality on 25 November.
Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman submitted a detailed complaint to Public Protector Advocate Nompilo Kholeka Gcaleka, claiming that a handover of state resources took place at a private residence rather than through official government channels.
According to Bornman, the controversial handover allegedly occurred at the private residence of Sakkie Murray, a former Kouga Municipality councillor who resigned to join the Patriotic Alliance.
He said that the timing is particularly sensitive as the municipality faces a by-election today (26 November), where the Patriotic Alliance is contesting the seat triggered by Murray’s resignation.
“It has now been confirmed that a handover of state resources was conducted at the private residence of a Patriotic Alliance activist and former councillor, not at a municipal facility, not through any official departmental process, and not in line with the standards required for National Government engagements,” Bornman stated in his letter to the Public Protector.
He further emphasised that this residence “is widely known to function as a political hub for the Patriotic Alliance in the local area.”
Bornman highlighted that the municipality received no formal correspondence from the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture regarding the ministerial visit.
He noted that neither his office nor the Speaker’s office was invited to or informed about the programme, contrary to established practice for national government engagements.
“It is important to place on record that within the past few weeks, Kouga Municipality has received multiple ministerial and national government visits. Every one of these followed proper protocol, involved the municipality, and respected intergovernmental processes, except this visit by Minister Gayton McKenzie,” said Bornman.
He further expressed serious concerns about the apparent political nature of what was presented as a government programme.
“What was presented publicly as a government programme has now been exposed as an event facilitated and dominated by political actors. The conduct observed demonstrates that state resources were used to advance the interests of a single political party, an act that undermines the principles of fairness, transparency, and constitutional governance,” said Bornman.
In his formal complaint, he has requested the Public Protector investigate several key areas, including the nature and origin of the resources handed over, the involvement of political actors in arranging the visit, and whether any laws or ethical standards were violated.
“These allegations strike at the heart of public trust. They cannot be ignored, excused, or normalised,” said Bornman.
“Kouga Municipality stands firm: we will not allow our community to be used as a staging ground for political manipulation under the guise of government service delivery. We remain committed to clean, lawful, and accountable governance and will cooperate fully with any investigation.”
This is a developing story.
