North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs Manketsi Tlhape has delivered on her promise of dealing and putting to rest concerns raised by Lekwa-Teemane residents.
The department has in terms of Section 106 (1) (b) of the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, appointed an audit forensic investigating firm namely Greentime Management Consulting to conduct investigations on allegations of maladministration, fraud, corruption or any serious malpractice at Lekwa Teemane Municipality. The firm is expected to complete their investigations within two weeks, after which it will present its findings to the Department within a week thereafter.
MEC Tlhape said the firm has already been introduced to the municipality on Friday, 9 May 2014.
“Their terms of reference are to interview any person in the municipality deemed pertinent to provide information and to request and seize documents relevant to the investigation. We are looking forward to the completion of the investigation because we want to put this matter to rest. We will adhere to the agreed time within a week of completion of the investigation the audit firm will make recommendations and submit a report to my office” said MEC Tlhape.
Amongst others the firm will investigate the lease agreements or sale of municipal farms, allocations of stands and alleged undertaking by the Mayor to allocate 1000 units, malpractice in allocation of RDP stands, the International Angling Tournament and other current projects arranged through Local Economic Development - LED unit, investigate nepotism in appointment of staff and contractors, the awarding of sewerage tender, mentioned labour cases in the municipality and to provide progress report on a criminal case of corruption against Mayor, Municipal Manager and other municipal employees.
The investigations at Lekwa Teemane local municipality follows violent protests in Boitumelo near Bloemhof and Christiana last month which saw houses belonging to the Mayor, her relatives, councillors and police officials torched. These violent protests also saw the N12 road between Kimberley and Johannesburg barricaded with burning tyres and stones thrown at passing cars and trucks.
Dineo Lolokwane
Spokesperson
Cell: 072 542 8444
