The DA in Mpumalanga has approached the police to investigate former Municipal Manager of eMalahleni, Theo van Vuuren, and former CFO, Jabulile Hlatshwayo, relating to the municipality’s fixed travel allowance. (Inquiry number 04/04/2022)
DA Councillors from eMalahleni accompanied by Member of Parliament, Henro Kruger, went to the eMalahleni Police Station calling for an investigation into fraud to be instituted by the HAWKS against van Vuuren and Hlatshwayo. This is based on a Forensic Investigation indicating that between 2014 and 2017, they fraudulently claimed for travel allowances.
As Senior Managers, they were only entitled to claim travel allowance for 3000 km, but they claimed and paid themselves more than the set limit. This is contrary to the provisions of the Local Government Regulations on the appointments and conditions of Senior Managers 2014, and the retrospective application of the travel policy.
In 2019, on the basis of s106 (1) (b) of the Municipal Systems Act no 32 of 2000, Analytical Forensic Investigation Services (AFIS) was appointed to investigate allegations of maladministration, fraud, corruption and any other malpractice in eMalahleni local municipality.
AFIS found that there were additional travel claims paid to van Vuuren and Hlatshwayo on top of the stipulated 3000KM. The AFIS report also noted that there was a contravention of the municipality’s own travel policy, the Municipal Systems Act 2000, and the Local Government Regulations on the appointment and conditions of senior managers.
Van Vuuren and Hlatshwayo should have known not to willingly incur irregular expenditure and that their actions would be contrary to the Municipal Finance Management Act, most specifically sections 62 (1) (d) and 78 (1) (c).
After the investigation, a damning report by was released by AFIS in which it recommended that charges must be brought by the Municipality against van Vuuren, Hlatshwayo and a Mr. Vilane for their actions surrounding the municipality’s fixed travel allowance. Mr. Vilane has since passed on. The municipality is yet to press charges.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has thus taken upon itself to approach the police to investigate van Vuuren and Hlatshwayo as the municipality is failing to follow recommendations of AFIS. We call on the HAWKS to investigate the actions of van Vurren and Hlatshwayo, to determine how much claims were made in excess of the travel allowance, and to ensure the recovery of travel claims which were paid to them over and above their allocated 3000KM.