The MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Willies Mchunu has noted media reports alleging that, uMsunduzi Municipality might have used council funds inappropriately. The figure mentioned in media reports is about R1 million.
"The mandate of the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs is to promote co-operative governance and assist municipalities to perform optimally in service delivery. In an unlikely event that constitutional imperative and any legal injunction as contained in all local municipal laws are not followed, the MEC, after following a due process, may intervene, to bring the errant municipality within the ambit of the law," Mchunu said.
"It is neither desirable nor fashionable to fulfil our mandate through discussing individual municipalities in the media. We are therefore appealing to all media to refrain from taking all allegations at face-value. I would like to caution against the media or anybody for that matter jumping into conclusion whenever allegations of impropriety reaches the public domain." he said.
In respect of the Msunduzi Municipality matter, he added:
"The matter was only brought to my attention at an ANC press briefing on Sunday night, 5 July 2009. As a matter of principle, the Premier and the entire ANC Provincial Government are committed to clean governance. All acts of misuse of taxpayers' money will be investigated, and if there is any wrongdoing, punitive steps will be taken after due process. As a responsible MEC, I will request the necessary information from the local municipality and proceed from there.
Legally, the said municipality shall activate its own internal process in dealing with the matter and report accordingly to the department. The MEC will keep a watchful eye on this issue as per the prescripts of the law."
For more information, contact:
Bhekisisa Mncube
Cell: 084 928 4412
Lennox Mabaso
Cell: 082 884 2403
Issued by: Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
6 July 2009
