02 Aug 2017

 Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development says the Local Government Act, 2012 under Part VII entrusts the town clerk or council secretary with  full accountability over the council, including the staff who are answerable to the council through the town clerk/council secretary.

Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said the town clerk or council secretary has been bestowed with several functions including advising the council on legal and administrative matters.

She added that in that respect, legal advice rendered to mayors and council chairpersons as a matter of procedure was sought from the town clerk or council secretary who may elect to get it in-house or engage a private practitioner whatever he/she deems fit.

She further noted that councils had the prerogative to enlist legal services if they considered it necessary to do so, and in the same manner pay for services rendered.

The MP for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked the minister if it was procedural for city mayors and council chairpersons to disregard legal advice rendered by council attorneys and engage the private sector instead.

He also asked who paid the bill in the event they got legal advice from the private sector.ENDS