Yesterday, the ANC caucus in the Joburg Council chose to walk out en masse in an attempt to prevent quorum on two pivotal voting items in the continued fight against corruption.
The first, was a vote to move the anti-corruption unit, headed by General Shadrack Sibiya, within the structures of the City where it would not report to either the City Manager or Mayor’s offices and therefore strengthen its ability to investigate anyone without fear or favour.
Thus far, General Sibiya’s team has exposed over R62 million worth of fraud and corruption committed under the ANC administration in Joburg. Mayor Mashaba has stated that this is just the tip of the iceberg and current investigations are looking into matters valued at billions of Rand.
The second item, was a vote to appoint the new head of the Group Risk Advisory Services (GRAS).
GRAS plays a fundamentally important role in the City as an internal audit and risk assessment body. GRAS has been littered with weaknesses and inefficiencies in the past. Over the past five years under an ANC government, there was disgracefully over R5.3 billion in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the City of Joburg.
The Auditor General in his most recent report, cited that the City failed to even pick up on 69% of the irregular expenditure in the City in the past financial year. It was only identified during the audit process and not detected by the City’s monitoring processes. This perpetuated a culture of corruption and secrecy under the ANC in Joburg.
The DA is attempting to fix this sad state of affairs by appointing a professional accountant to this position.
The DA will not allow the ANC to hamper the fight against corruption in the City of Joburg. If the ANC wants to go to court, let them explain why they are trying to prevent efforts to strengthen the fight against corruption.
Mayor Mashaba has stated publicly that corruption is public enemy number one and it is clear that he takes this seriously with the number of investigations and arrests that have taken place since he came into office.
The DA will continue to bring change to the residents of Joburg by exposing corruption and ensuring that those found guilty are sent to jail.
Every cent of public money must go to those who deserve it, the residents of Joburg.
The ANC’s attempts to prevent progress in the City of Joburg are very telling. Who are they trying to protect? Once again the ANC has exposed their true colours as the defenders of corruption.
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