The Department of Cooperative Governance is deeply troubled by the recent turn of events in Nongoma local municipality, where top-ranking officials were arrested for the misappropriation of municipal funds. This discovery has shocked and saddened us as we take the stewardship of public funds very seriously.
We urge the municipal council to hold these officials accountable for their actions and to fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies as they continue with their investigation. We strongly believe that municipal councils must be committed to transparency and accountability in our municipalities. The interests of our communities should supersede any personal interests.
The misappropriation of municipal funds is a serious breach of trust and goes against the values of integrity and honesty that we uphold as a government. Our communities have entrusted us with the responsibility of using public funds for the betterment of society, not for our agendas.
We urge the public to have faith in our commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and financial responsibility. We further call upon any member of society who has information that might assist the investigation to share that information with the police as soon as possible so that this matter can be expedited and the focus return to the important task of delivering services to our people.
ENDS
Issued by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi.