The DA in Mkhondo welcomes the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ long-awaited intervention on corruption.
The DA has, for years, been urging the department’s MEC, Mandla Msibi to consider implementing section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act in Mkhondo.
It has now emerged that the MEC and his department have heeded the call and appointed a team of forensic investigators to conduct an investigation on the alleged maladministration, fraud, corruption, and other serious malpractices that has occurred or is occurring in the municipality.
The DA has learnt that the investigation commenced on Monday, May 22 and it will be conducted within 60 days.
It has also come to light that poor workmanship that was displayed when repairing potholes during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial year will be investigated.
The scope of the investigation will also cover the following:
- Allegations of fruitless, wasteful, irregular and unauthorized expenditure of R260 million in the 2018/19 financial year.
- Illegal and irregular appointment of acting municipal manager, Mr. B Maseko.
- Allegations of R700 000 being spent on a strategic planning workshop in Durban.
- Allegations of improper tender services and unfair recruitment of Transnet employee.
- Allegation that an amount of R77 million was received by the municipality and not spent properly.
- Allegations of persistent failure by the municipality to provide reliable electricity provision, constant water supply and refuse collection bribes.
- Allegation of reliable maintenance plan and servicing of road networks within the municipality.
- Dismissal of councillors without following due legislative process.
- The non-compliance with the prescribed local government legislation by councilors and officials from 2021/22 and 2022/23.
The DA along with other stakeholders and the Mkhondo community have been up in arms over some of these discrepancies. The ANC administration has been running amok for far too long.
We hope that the appointed team of investigators will carry out their tasks with independence vigilance and that the municipality prioritise and respect their work.
Mkhondo Municipality has been on autopilot for the longest time; therefore, this might be the breakthrough that residents have been waiting for. The DA remains adamant that justice will prevail, corrupt individuals will be identified and eliminated. Most importantly, the wheels of service delivery will once again be in motion.