Pretoria - The Hendler commission of inquiry -- set up to investigate the management of royalties and income derived from mining companies and alleged activities of maladministration of the funds of the Rakotea community near Brits -- is to resume with public hearings next Monday.
The hearing will run until 10 May 2013, the Office of the Premier of the North West Province announced on Tuesday.
The continuation of the commission of enquiry with its original terms of reference was approved by Premier Thandi Modise recently.
The commission was initially appointed in 2008 by then Premier Edna Molewa in terms of the North West Commissions Act, 1994 (Act No. 18 of 1994).
The commission had adjourned in 2010 because the leader of evidence, Adv. Senne, resigned from the commission on the grounds that he had joined government and could not proceed in his role as leader of evidence, without his impartiality being an issue.
The work of the commission was also interrupted because its chairperson, Judge Hendler, had to go for a medical procedure overseas and the Office of the Premier had to wait for his return and full recovery.
The appointment of another chairperson to replace Judge Hendler would have meant that the commission had to start the hearings afresh.
“Family members of the joint co-owners, the family representatives and the residents of Rankotea are invited to the inquiry. The persons who previously gave testimony during the hearings are requested to be in attendance.
“The commission further invites any person who wishes to give testimony at the commission to be in attendance during its sittings to be held at the Madibeng Local Municipality Offices in Brits,” said the provincial government in a statement.
Among its terms of reference, the commission was also appointed to:
- Investigate the functionality of the Executive Committee and other committees or subcommittees entrusted with the general management of the affairs of the community.
- To collect and examine information relating to the administration and management of the financial affairs of the community.
- Investigate the cause of continuous battles between all committees that were ever elected or appointed, and recommend scenarios to be considered to ensure non-recurrence of such problems.
When it completes its investigations, the commission has to make recommendations to Modise on any proposed actions and/or steps to be taken to prevent the mismanagement of the funds of the community, including the appropriate financial and management structures that must be put in place for future management of the funds and general administration thereof. – SAnews.gov.za
