QWAQWA -The Democratic Alliance caucus leader in the Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality Allison Oates says they will leave no stone unturned and will not rest untill those linked to two major cases linked to possible corruption and non-compliance with supply chain management processes, are held to accoount, arrested, prosecuted and convicted.
Speaking to The Guard on Thursday 12 November following their update meeting with the Hawks officers at Phuthaditjhaba police station, regarding ongoing investigation regarding the R3.37 billion MAP MPAC possible corruption matter they believe cannot be condoned.
Oates said MPAC’s failure to conclude decisive action on two major cases linked to possible corruption and non-compliance with supply chain management processes forced them to involve the Hawks.
She said the decision in 2023/2024 financial year by the municipal manager to appoint a contractor to carry out urgent electricity repairs for R2.6 million, and the appointment of a contractor to install 5,000 VIP toilets for R53.4 million in the same financial year made them to question the lawfulness.
“In both cases, the councillors on MPAC believed that supply chain rules had been ignored.
It was alleged that, as far as the electricity appointment was concerned, the electricity department had not submitted specifications, and the Acting MM pushed through the appointment. It was later alleged that the services paid for could not be verified,”said Oates.
He further alleged that supply chain procedures were not followed in the awarding of a R53 million contract for the supply of VIP toilets, and it is alleged that the contract was not put out to tender.
“VIP toilets are prefab outhouses with no plumbing and an enclosed, small pit that needs to be emptied periodically. The contractor was paid over R10 000 each for these, assuming all 5 000 were installed.
Council agreed that these should be reported for investigation in December 2025, but after five months, with the Chair of MPAC, African Content Movement (ACM), Cllr Holley, and the MM fighting over whose responsibility it was, the DA formally requested that the HAWKS in Bethlehem investigate the issue,” she said.
She said with limited powers the MPAC committee has compared to stronger investigating powers the Hawks enjoye they hope proper investigation will unfold.
She spoke unapologetic that they believe wrong doing had occurred the expect that arrests be made with immediate effect and municipal funds that were misappropriated be refunded back to the municipality to be directed back to service delivery.
“The residents of Maluti-a-Phofung have been robbed blind by criminals working within the municipality, and it is time that accountability is made a priority. It is hard to understand why neither the Chair of MPAC nor the MM felt inclined to take the bull by the horns, but the DA is prepared to do so,”she added.
