Ratlou Local Municipality Justifies R730,000 Laptop Purchase Amid Service Delivery Struggles

The Ratlou Local Municipality in North West Province has come under scrutiny for spending a staggering R730,000 on 22 laptops for senior officials. The purchase, which includes a high-end MacBook Pro for the municipal manager priced at R77,800, has sparked outrage, particularly as residents in the area continue to face significant service delivery challenges, including inadequate water supply.

The Controversial Laptop Purchases

Among the laptops acquired is a MacBook Pro 14-inch with 500GB of storage, purchased for the municipal manager. This single laptop cost the municipality an astonishing R77,800. A search by IOL revealed that the same model is available at the iStore for around R35,000, raising questions about the procurement process and the justification for such a high expenditure.

Additionally, the municipality purchased several HP EliteBook laptops with touch screens, each costing R39,471. These laptops were intended for newly-appointed senior managers and other staff members.

Municipal Manager’s Defense

In response to the public outcry, Municipal Manager Lloyd Leoko defended the expenditure during an interview with Newzroom Afrika. Leoko asserted that the laptops were essential for the municipality to perform its duties effectively, emphasizing the need for “tools of the trade” to deliver services to the community.

“Let me confirm that there is nothing wrong about that. You have touched on the issue of service delivery, and for us to render services to our people, we must have tools of the trade that will enable us to render our services to those communities,” Leoko stated.

Leoko further explained that the laptops needed to meet specific technical requirements to handle the municipality’s workload, particularly when dealing with complex server modules used daily by senior officials such as the accounting officer and the chief financial officer. He insisted that different roles within the municipality necessitate different specifications, which contributed to the high costs.

Public Outrage and Service Delivery Concerns

The laptop purchase has ignited widespread criticism, particularly given the ongoing service delivery issues plaguing the municipality. Residents have been grappling with a lack of basic services, including water supply to their homes. The extravagant spending on laptops has therefore been viewed as a misallocation of funds that could have been better utilized to address the pressing needs of the community.

Conclusion

The justification provided by the Ratlou Local Municipality for the R730,000 expenditure on laptops has done little to quell public anger. As the municipality continues to struggle with delivering essential services, the high-cost procurement raises serious questions about the prioritization of resources and the transparency of the municipality’s spending practices. With residents facing ongoing hardships, the controversy over the laptop purchase serves as a stark reminder of the broader challenges within local governance.