The Democratic Alliance calls on the Hawks to investigate Nkangala District Municipality, Executive Mayor, Sarah Thembi Masilela, for financial misconduct for funding a trip she undertook.Masila allegedly violated section 10 (5) of the Municipal Cost Containment Regulations which stipulates that, “an accounting officer must ensure that social events, team building exercises, year-end functions, sporting events and budget vote dinners are not financed from the municipal budget or the municipal entities budget or any suppliers and sponsors”.The Mayor has also allegedly violated section 52 (b) of the Municipal Finance Management Act No 56 of 2003 when she drafted letters to request sponsorships and holding of meetings with the Supply Chain Management department to secure sponsors for the SAMSRA games which were held in Durban in 2019, which she allegedly used for personal gain.The alleged investigation into financial misconduct relates to the Mayors overstepping her administrative role when she misused her power as a mayor by securing R201 520 from municipal funds to fund a trip to the SAMSRA games. In addition to this amount, an amount of R248 000 was obtained from the municipality sponsors for the social event.Section (14) of the Municipal Cost Containment Regulations stipulate a “failure to implement or comply with these regulations may result in any official of the municipality or municipal entity, political office bearer, or board of director who authorized or incurred any expenditure contrary to these regulations being held liable for misconduct or a financial offence as in the case of a political office bearer.Financial misconduct is a serious offence. This could mean the Executive Mayor has failed to comply with municipal regulations and will have to face the consequences.The DA will monitor the Hawks investigations into the matter and make sure Executive Mayor, Masilela is brought to book if the investigation reveals that she is found guilty of any financial misconduct. No one is above the law.