The Democratic Alliance of Mpumalanga calls on the MEC of CoGTA, Mandla Msibi, to conduct a forensic investigation into the affairs of Nkangala district municipality relating to a R254 000 irregular expenditure during the Ndzundza Mabuza Heritage Celebration.
The idea for the event, which was part of the Heritage Day celebrations, came to be when the office of the Mayor received an invitation from the Ndzundzu Mabuza Tribal Council requesting sponsorship from the municipality for the event to take place on 28 September 2019. But just over a year later, on 28 October 2020, Khumalo Masondo Attorneys Inc. were called on to investigate the allegations of irregular expenditure and misconduct committed by senior management of the municipality. This investigation involved the R254 000 of irregular expenditure during the Ndzundzu Mabuza Heritage Celebration as well as the South African Municipal Sports and Recreation Association (SAMSRA) games in to be held in Durban.
In the investigation, the attorneys noted that the municipality made a procurement for sound, stage, marquee and catering for the above-mentioned event; however, none of these items were provided on the day and the delivery of goods and services were not verified by a duly appointed official from the Department of Social Service. Those implicated in the report is Ms Sarah Masilela, Executive Mayor; Dr Tebogo Matoane, Section 56 Manager Social Development Services and Ms Sanelisiwe Mashaba, Director of Supply Chain.
In the report, Khumalo Masondo Attorneys Inc further mention that “there is sufficient evidence of fraudulent/ negligent misconduct by Ms. Masilela, Doctor Matoane and Ms Mashaba to warrant incorporation of their involvement into the terms of reference of the proposed forensic investigation”.
Despite this recommendation being made, Nkangala district municipality has since failed to institute a forensic investigation. Given the above, the DA will liaise with our counterparts in the Provincial Legislature to question MEC Mandla Msibi and ask him to conduct this forensic investigation in order to ascertain:
• What happened to the R254 000 which was meant for the Ndzundza Mabuza Heritage Day event?
• How were the items verified as being delivered, whilst nothing was provided in reality?
• The flow of money between the municipality and the proposed service providers for the above-mentioned event.
• The bank accounts and transactions of all those who have been implicated in this matter.
It is a disgrace that corruption could be involved at an event that needed to celebrate heritage and even more so that nothing yet has been done to identify and bring the perpetrators to book.