KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube today assigned a team of senior officials to table before the Endumeni council the report on a forensic investigation into irregular expenditure at the municipality in terms of Section 106(1)(b) of the Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000).
The report reveals damning findings of fraud, corruption and maladministration as well as irregular, unauthorised and fruitless expenditure involving a councillor and some former officials of the municipality.
The report has exposed issues such as payments to individuals under the pretext that these were donations to religious organisations, even though such religious organisations were later found to be non-existent, payments to business entities to purchase equipment in contravention of the municipality’s own policies, fraudulent subsistence and travel claims, irregular appointment of service providers in violation of the municipality’s supply chain management procedures, excessive and irregular expenditure on security services, etc.
“This forensic report is proof of our commitment to good and clean governance. As government we are committed to ensuring that our municipalities spend each and every rand on the real needs of communities. We are fighting maladministration, fraud and corruption in municipalities wherever and whenever these occur. All reported allegations are duly investigated without fear or favour and Cogta does regular follow-ups on the progress with implementation of its recommendations,” said KZN MEC for Cogta Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
Upon receipt of allegations of irregular expenditure at Endumeni, the MEC for Cogta designated Mdledle Incorporated to conduct the forensic investigation, the scope of which included suspicious donations and various irregularities. These allegations were directed at some of the most senior elected leaders and appointed officials at the Endumeni municipality and concrete findings have been established.
“I have today assigned a team of senior officials to table the report to the Endumeni council. The council has been given 21 days within which to table the report before full council, deal with specific details contained in the report and thereafter report to the MEC for Cogta on the remedial actions,” said Dube-Ncube.
“We are committed to investigating all instances of wrongdoing, including fraud and corruption, in municipalities that are brought to our attention. The department conducts a multitude of investigations simultaneously and reports on the progress of all ongoing investigations to the Provincial Legislature on a regular basis,” said Dube-Ncube.
For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Senzelwe Mzila 0823023472
ENDS