MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and CoGTA Lebogang Maile, has written a formal letter to the Sedibeng District Municipality, Mayor Cllr. Busisiwe Modisakeng, concerning serious allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement and acts of nepotism.
The Task Team has unravelled serious allegations of misconduct and abuse of power by Sedibeng’s District Municipality’s accounting officer - the Municipal Manager.
MEC Maile has this morning, Tuesday 21 July 2020, dispatched a formal letter requesting written representations from Mayor Cllr. Modisakeng, on these gross allegations.
In the letter, MEC Maile seeks clarity from Mayor Modisakeng if these allegations are true and a detailed explanation on corrective measures taken by the municipality.
The allegations against the Municipal Manager ranges from (1) Salary payment to the Municipal Manager exceeding the amount for which concurrence was received; (2) Employment of a Director in the Office of the Municipal Manager, despite previous record of dismissal for fraud and corruption by Mnquma Local Municipality (Eastern Cape); (3) flouting supply chain management processes; (5) irregular appointment of five (4) officials and 10 Licensing Examiners; (5) irregular appointment of service providers; (6) abuse of power with respect of the dismissal of eight employees for embarking on a industrial action, and illegal suspension of a senior Manager; (7) Re-writing minutes of Municipal Council.
As part of the 6th administration’s concerted effort to root out corruption and maladministration, and place service delivery at the epicentre of government’s work, MEC Maile has committed himself to execute his work without fear or favour, irrespective of one's political hat.
“The allegations are deemed serious with far-reaching ramifications on both the integrity and governance of the Municipality. In this regard, Section 106(1)(b) of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act. No. 32 of 2000 (as amended) empowers the MEC of CoGTA to designate a person or persons to investigate if the MEC has a reason to believe that maladministration, fraud, corruption or any other serious malpractice has occurred in a municipality in a province”, wrote MEC Maile.
In terms of section 105(1)(a) of the Local Government Systems gives the MEC authority to monitor municipalities in the province in managing their own affairs, exercise their powers and performing their functions.
“It is appropriate before exercising my powers in terms of Section 106(b) to afford you with an opportunity, as I hereby do, in accordance with the Audi alteram partem principles (rules of natural justice) to provide me with a comprehensive response to all the above allegations levelled against the Municipal Manager and the Sedibeng District Municipality within seven (7) days of receipt of this letter. In included in your response and or
representation, kindly provide adequate reasons as to why I should not discharge my statutory powers in invoking the above-mentioned provisions”, concluded MEC Maile.
MEC Maile is committed in rooting-out acts of impropriety, maladministration and corruption across all municipalities, irrespective of the party in office, in the interest of improved service delivery.
In the next coming few weeks, MEC Maile will update communities of Gauteng regarding the state of their municipalities.
For Enquiries:
Castro Ngobese
Spokesperson: MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and CoGTA
Mobile: 0609977799
Email: Castro.Ngobese@gauteng.gov.za
