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Appointment of former Lesedi Mayor as new Mayor of Sedibeng is a last ditch effort to hold onto power

The failing ANC-led Gauteng Government has once again opted to protect its cadre, former Mayor of the Lesedi Local Municipality, Lerato Maloka at the expense of the voters who entrusted them with a mission to fight corruption, by appointing her as the new Mayor of the Sedibeng District Municipality.

 Maloka has been officially appointed as the new mayor of Sedibeng, despite the recommendations by Advocate William Mokhari that the municipality should be placed under administration.

Advocate Mokhari was appointed to probe allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement in Sedibeng. He subsequently released a damning report last year, indicating that Sedibeng had no financial systems of control put in place by the municipality, including no supply chain management policy, leading to blatant mismanagement, while serious cases of irregular expenditure, procurement deviations, and corruption materialised. 

Placing this compromised Mayor in Sedibeng is confirmation of the ANCs unwillingness to end corruption. The Mokhari report raised serious concerns about the activities of the previous Mayor, yet now she is being replaced by someone with even more serious allegations against them.

As Maloka nears the end if her tenure at Lesedi, the ANC is rewarding her allegedly corrupt behaviour with a promotion, something that the South African taxpayer has become accustomed to.

By placing Sedibeng under administration, the ANC would have saved this municipality from total collapse and ensure that service delivery is restored.

However, the ANC, which is known for its reputation of protecting its cadres, is now shielding Maloka from facing accountability for the R7 billion Aerodrome Project tender which was awarded without following proper procurement processes and ignoring Treasury regulations, while she was Mayor of the Lesedi Local Municipality. 

Appointing Maloka is no more than a desperate move to cling to power and an insult to the people of Sedibeng as she has failed in delivering adequate service delivery in her previous role.

The DA will closely monitor how Maloka is going to govern Sedibeng and we will continue to hold her accountable for the R7 billion Aerodrome Project and service delivery failures in her previous and current role.

The residents of Sedibeng will not be fooled by the ANC’s selfish decisions and will hold them accountable for this disastrous move during this year’s local government elections. 

 

 

 

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Incompetent and failing Lesedi Municipal Mayor, Lerato Maloka not fit to govern Sedibeng District Municipality

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is disappointed to learn that the failing Lesedi Local Municipality Mayor, Lerato Maloka has been chosen as the next Mayor of the Sedibeng District Municipality by the ANC in Gauteng.

The news did not come as a surprise as the ANC has a reputation of protecting its cadres by deploying them to other government posts when they realise that they have messed up in their previous position.

Sedibeng has been without a Mayor since January, following the passing of the former Mayor, Busisiwe Modisakeng.

Lerato Maloka, the Lesedi Mayor is being moved from the municipality as way of protecting her from facing accountability, following the R7 billion Aerodrome Project tender which was awarded without following proper procurement processes and ignoring Treasury regulations.

Maloka must account for this R7 billion project that will not benefit Lesedi residents but will only enrich individuals who are part of the ANC patronage network. The project was advertised by the municipality despite it having already been handed over to the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency (GIFA).

Maloka is not fit to become the new mayor of Sedibeng, as she has failed in delivering adequate service delivery in her previous role.

Sedibeng is on the verge of collapse due to corruption and maladministration. There is a damning investigative reports into allegations of maladministration, fraud, corruption, and serious malpractice that has occurred, and is still ongoing in the municipality, which was released by Advocate William Mokhare last year.

According to the report, no financial systems of control have been put in place by the municipality, such as no supply chain management policy, while serious cases of irregular expenditure, supply chain mismanagement, procurement deviations, as well as corruption have materialised.

Instead of appointing a new mayor, the ANC Provincial Government must place Sedibeng under administration with immediate effect as the new mayor will run this municipality to the drain. The report recommended that Sedibeng must be placed under administration, therefore begging the question as to why the ANC is ignoring the recommendations. This clearly show that the governing party wishes to loot all that remains in the Sedibeng coffers before the local government elections.

The DA calls on the Gauteng ANC to reconsider their decision to appoint Maloka as the new mayor of Sedibeng and instead, put the people’s interest first before the party, by placing the municipality under administration.

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DA calls on MEC Maile to place Sedibeng District Municipality under administration with immediate effect

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling on the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Lebogang Maile to take the necessary steps to place the Sedibeng District Municipality under administration in terms of section 139 (1) (b) of the Constitution with immediate effect.

This follows a damning investigative report into allegations of maladministration, fraud, corruption, and serious malpractice that has occurred, and is still occurring, in Sedibeng which was released by Advocate William Mokhare.

According to the report, no financial systems of control have been put in place by the municipality, internal audits were weakened and incapacitated by the late Municipal Manager, Stanley Khanyile.

Sedibeng does not have a supply chain management policy which provides for a fair, equitable, transparent, and competitive and cost-effective system of the bidding by, and appointment of, service providers.

There are serious cases of irregular expenditure, supply chain mismanagement and procurement deviations as well as corruption.

The municipality was without an Audit Committee for nine months which is crucial to ensure financial checks and balances.

The appointment of the late Khanyile to the Municipal Manager position was unlawful and invalid.

 Furthermore, the Municipal Manager interfered in the functioning of council and its section 79 committees. He also interfered in the functioning of the Office of the Speaker, Executive Mayor and Audit Committee and Municipal Public Audit Committee

The DA welcomes the recommendations of the report which states that Sedibeng should be placed under administration. The MEC should instruct the State Attorney to take steps to recover the monies which were irregularly spent, and disciplinary steps need to be taken against those officials implicated.

However, with regards to the liability of the Municipal Manager and the council for the irregular expenditure, steps should be taken to ensure that the ANC councillors are held accountable in terms of section 32(2) of the MFMA.

During a council meeting where the Municipal Public Accounts Committee investigation reports were presented, both the ANC and EFF voted in favour of the condonation of irregular and unauthorised expenditure incurred where services were rendered.

This clearly indicates that that the ANC should pay back the money which was irregularly spent.

The DA calls on MEC Maile to place Sedibeng under administration with immediate effect and to ensure that all the senior officials and executives implicated are held to account.

We will continue to monitor how the MEC is going to implement the recommendations to ensure that those implicated are held to account.

 

 

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Is MEC Maile shielding the Sedibeng Municipal Manager?

In a response to my written questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Lebogang Maile denied that a service provider was appointed by the Sedibeng District Municipality to provide personal protection to the Municipal Manager.

Yet MEC Maile released a media statement stating that there is an investigation underway into the irregular appointment of the Mafako Security Company to provide personal security for Stanley Khanyile.

This investigation will enquire into the allegations of corruption, maladministration, financial management and acts of nepotism levelled against Khanyile and the municipality.

This clearly indicates that the MEC misled us, knowing full well that there was an irregular appointment of bodyguards for Khanyile.

This also raises the question as to whether the MEC was protecting Khanyile at the expense of taxpayers.

The DA will closely monitor the progress of this investigation to ensure that those implicated pay back the money stolen from the municipality and are a​rrested for corruption.

We also call on MEC Maile to provide a timeframe as to when this investigation will be concluded.

 

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Why did Sedibeng Municipal Manager Stanley Khanyile appoint the Acting Municipal Manager?

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng notes with great concern that the Sedibeng Municipal Manager, Stanley Khanyile has appointed an Acting Municipal Manager to act in his position.

The DA is in possession of a letter from Khanyile dated 17 August 2020 addressed to the following: Mayor, Speaker, Chief Whip, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Directors, Directors, and the staff.

The letter states that Executive Director, Mr Z Majola will be the Acting Municipal Manager from 18 to 28 August 2020 and that he is afforded full delegated authority for the aforementioned period.

It is concerning that Khanyile who is employed by the Sedibeng Council can just appoint an Acting Municipal Manager while the process entails that the Council must be involved in the appointment of the Municipal Manager including the Acting Municipal Manager.

Khanyile does not have the powers to appoint an Acting Municipal Manager.

This clearly indicates that Khanyile is law unto himself and he continues to call the shots even though he is under investigation for corruption, maladministration, financial mismanagement and nepotism.

The fact that the Sedibeng ANC-led Council is quiet about this matter clearly indicates that they condone Khanyile’s actions.

The DA calls on the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Lebogang Maile to intervene as a matter of urgency and ensure that Khanyile is stopped before he collapses this municipality. We also call on MEC Maile to ensure that Khanyile is suspended pending the outcome of his court case and the investigation.

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DA calls for the immediate suspension of the Sedibeng Municipal Manager pending court case

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling for the immediate suspension of the Sedibeng Municipal Manager, Stanley Khanyile pending the outcome of his court case.

The DA notes that Khanyile was arrested last week Thursday for fraud, theft, and money laundering worth more than R29 million which was allegedly committed in the Eastern Cape where he was the Head of Department for the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development.

Khanyile and his accomplices appeared at King William Town’s Magistrate Court last week Friday. He has been charged with two counts of contravening the Public Finance Management Act and two counts of fraud. Khanyile was released on R50 000 bail and the case was postponed to 16 October.

It is worrying that the Sedibeng District Municipality hired Khanyile while knowing that there were investigations initiated against him by his previous employers.

According to the former Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Uhuru Moiloa, the Sedibeng District Municipality was aware of the following investigations against Khanyile:

  • Investigation against Khanyile in 2002 when he was employed at the City of Ekurhuleni
  • Allegations of sexual harassment against Khanyile when he was employed in the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

However, MEC Moiloa stated that both the Sedibeng District Municipality and Khanyile were not aware of any investigations of fraud and corruption by the Hawks against him.

MEC Moiloa was responding to the DA’s written questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in 2018.

This clearly indicates that the municipality did not do a background check before appointing Khanyile or they were aware of these investigations and decided to shield their comrade.

It is also concerning that Khanyile managed to move between different municipalities and provinces governed by the ANC despite all these investigations and serious allegations against him, yet he remains the preferred candidate for top senior positions.

The allegations against Khanyile are serious and he must not continue as an accounting officer for this municipality until all the charges against him are cleared.

The DA calls on the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Lebogang Maile to intervene and ensure that Khanyile is suspended pending the outcome of his court case.

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DA calls on MEC Maile to investigate who pays for Sedibeng Municipal Manager’s two bodyguards

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling on the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Lebogang Maile to investigate who is paying for the Sedibeng Municipal Manager’s two bodyguards.

According to MEC Maile, there is no service provider that was appointed by the Sedibeng District Municipality to provide protection to the Municipal Manager. The Sedibeng District Municipality is not paying for the bodyguards of the Municipal Manager.

MEC Maile was responding to the DA’s written question tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

It is alleged however that a service provider in Sedibeng District Municipality is paying for the Municipal Manager’s bodyguards which contradicts MEC Maile’s response.

Should these allegations prove to be true, the MEC should investigate how this service provider was awarded the tender by the Sedibeng District Municipality. They should also determine whether the Municipal Manager influenced the awarding of the tender to the service provider and what the reasons are for the service provider paying for the Municipal Manager’s bodyguards.

The DA calls on MEC Maile to urgently initiate an investigation to determine who pays for Sedibeng Municipal Manager’s two bodyguards.

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DA calls for investigation after Sedibeng finance officer’s arrest

What is South Africa coming to if municipalities are so lax that a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) could be arrested on the alleged possession of drugs in full view of staff?

When the Sedibeng District Municipality CFO, Johanis Kasvosve, a Zimbabwean national, was selected as the best candidate for the job, the Democratic Alliance (DA) protested that the panel was not representative of Council.

The ANC-led municipality ignored the DA’s protests for a transparent and inclusive multiparty selection panel and chose their own panel that eventually appointed Kasvosve.

He should not have been considered for the job in the first place.

It is alleged that he holds an incorrect work permit as a foreign national.

Kasvosve’s work permit, which the DA has seen, only allows him to work for the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs in the Eastern Cape where he had spend a few years.

It is interesting to note that the Municipal Manager of the Sedibeng District Municipality, Stanley Khanyile, also originates from the Eastern Cape.

Kasvosve, who was suspended from the municipality after his arrest in August, enjoyed a full salary until his official resignation yesterday.

It is extremely concerning that millions of taxpayers money was overseen by Kasvosve.

The DA calls for an immediate investigation into all financial processes at the Sedibeng District Municipality and for Consequence Managment to take place so the relevant parties can be held accountable.

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ANC running Sedibeng District Municipality into the ground

Yet another ANC-led municipality is being run into the ground due to bad financial management.

The Sedibeng District Municipality recently tabled its budget for the 2019/2020 financial year, which will have an operational deficit of R25 million.

This means that this municipality might no longer be financially sustainable due to bad management and poor governance. There is also a lack of internal controls and spiralling employee costs.

In addition, residents will be on the receiving end of poor service delivery.

In order to remedy this the municipality must as a matter of urgency develop a financial recovery plan to demonstrate how the shortfall in operational revenue will be funded.

The recovery plan that is developed needs to have definitive timelines that will indicate by when the operational deficit will be remedied. Furthermore, the plan has to detailed who the accounting officer will be, how much it will cost the municipality and how these funds will be raised.

If this is not done the municipality will not be able to render the very basic of services to its residents.

Overall we have seen District Municipalities in Gauteng failing financially and this needs to be relooked. It has now become clear that it is not financially sustainable have District Municipalities.

I will be tabling questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to ascertain whether the Sedibeng District Municipality will be receiving any financial assistance from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Gauteng Provincial Treasury.

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ANC Regional Secretary Must Pay Back Unlawful Second Salary

Bheki Ngobese

The DA will write to Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Paul Mashatile and ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe to demand an explanation why an ANC official receives salaries from both the party and the Sedibeng District Municipality.

Mr Bheki Ngobese, resigned from the Sedibeng District Municipality after being elected to the position of Regional Secretary for the ANC on 5 November 2014, but still receives a salary from Sedibeng.

The ANC position is a full-time salaried job, and while the exact package is unknown, it is alleged to be similar to that of a Mayor or Member of a Mayoral Committee.

Since assuming his ANC position in November 2014, Mr Ngobesi has reportedly been paid more than R900 000 from Sedibeng.

Mr Ngobesi’s second salary is illegal, and clearly shows how the ANC in Gauteng abuses state resources to enrich its party faithful.

The only way to resolve this is to force Mr Ngobesi to immediately pay back the R900 000.

The DA will continue to pursue this matter on municipal and provincial level, and will not hesitate to lay criminal charges against Mr Ngobesi if he refuses to pay back the money.

 

Media enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Emfuleni

060 558 8299

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