The Democratic Alliance (DA) will table questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) on the continuous flouting of supply chain management processes at the ANC-led Sedibeng District Municipality, which is riddled with corruption, maladministration, the misappropriation of funds and unlawful appointments.
During a recent council meeting where the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) investigation reports were presented, both the African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) voted in favour of the condonation of irregular and unauthorised expenditure incurred where services were rendered.
The parties certified the irregular expenditure of R 9.040.322 and unauthorised expenditure of R12.512.574, R 5.927.088 and R 6.585.486, respectively as irrecoverable and written off by council.
It is unacceptable for the municipality to write off such a large amount of taxpayers money without a single consequence and a detailed report to council.
The Auditor General found that the appointment of Prince Mudau Attorneys to investigate its audit findings in 2017/18 was irregular as they had not been listed on the municipal database as a service provider.
But the Municipal Manager reappointed Prince Mudau Attorneys in 2018/19 to investigate the auditor general’s findings without following supply chain management processes.
The contestation of audit findings in which lawyers are brought in when municipalities contest some findings around the procurement of services is an unnecessary misuse of taxpayers money, as the auditor general is a reputable structure.
The DA will also write to the Public Protector to request an investigation into:
- The irregular, wasteful and unauthorised expenditure incurred by the municipality during 2019
- The irregular appointment of G. Modise to do a forensic report which the DA has never seen for R 3 909.375.00 in 2018/19
- The appointment of the Director in the office of the Municipal Manager and all supporting documents confirming that she was not expelled from her previous employer
- The sudden resignation of the Chief Financial Executive after a 6-month employment stint
- The R1 800.000 annual salary the Municipal Manager paid himself without a waiver from the Cooperative Governance Minister
- The salaries of Executive Directors who earn above their threshold.
It is time for residents to hold the leadership of these failing municipalities to account.