The IFP has made calls on the MEC of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nomsa Dube, to urgently investigate serious claims of corruption raised by workers in Mthonjaneni Municipality, in Northern KwaZulu Natal.
IFP Spokesperson on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Peter Smith, MP, said “Workers are claiming that there is rampant corruption within the municipality.”
For example, workers claim that:
- Six catering tenders were awarded in December at R10 000 each “for dignitaries on World Aids Day” but that no food was served.
- The Mayor’s daughter had a lavish birthday party later in December, and the catering may have gone towards that function.
- The Municipal Manager bought a road grader for reasons that are not clear.
- The Municipal Manager has stopped presenting Council with complete statements on financial expenditure.
- There were allegations that the Mayor took kickbacks on tenders while he was a Municipal Manager in Ntambanana, and his actions suggest all is not well in his present position.
“While the IFP is not pronouncing on the veracity of these allegations, we are worried that nothing is being done to test them. If this were an IFP-led municipality, intervention by the MEC would have been swift,” said Smith. “She needs to get moving on this without delay.”
