DA moves to charge corrupt officials for RDP housing fraud
The Manase Report has fingered a number of officials, councillors both current and former, for allegedly selling free RDP houses. The DA has moved to lay charges against those named in the report.
THE Democratic Alliance in KZN announced this week that is will go ahead and charge former-councillors and corrupt officials who were named in the Manase Report for allegedly selling RDP homes.
In a meeting at City Hall on Thursday, 5 September, eThekwini Chief Whip Councillor Sharon Chetty said that the charges opened at Durban Central police on Monday proved to be a difficult process as SAPS felt Chetty was not the complainant in the corruption allegations and therefore should not be laying charges. A copy of the report was given to police to further investigate the charges.
Chetty said, “Having studied the Manase Report as best I could, I discovered a number of allegations of possible fraud, corruption and maladministration against current councillors and current employees of the municipality. The report also contains allegations of possible fraud, corruption and maladministration against former councillors, employees and two ward committee members.”
As a party representative of the eThekwini Municipality’s Ethics Committee, Chetty said she was aware of charges laid against some current councillors which the Ethics Committee was currently probing, however she was not aware of any charges being brought against former councillors, employees and ward committee members.
“Even if charges of misconduct were brought against them, we believe their alleged actions constitute a criminal act and only the SAPS have jurisdiction in this regard,” she added.
The controversial forensic Manase Report unearthed reports of corruption including the unlawful sales of RDP housing in the eThekwini metro municipality. Eleven people were implicated for illegally selling RDP houses, four of whom are councillors, three former councillors, two officials, and two ward committee members.
Meanwhile DA Caucus leader, Councillor Zwakele Mncwango said he had already requested that municipal speaker, Councillor Logie Naidoo investigate the alleged breach of the Councillors Code of Conduct by the councillors who were investigated.
Mncwango spoke of the emerging allegations where current councillors had allegedly charged between R5 000 and R20 000 for the free houses, while one councillor allegedly received a sum of R1500 for the sale of an RDP house and allegedly also engaged in sexual activity with a resident in lieu of payment for an RDP house.
Chetty said it was time to take a stand and lay charges because there was still no clarity on how many houses were sold. “We want action against these councillors. Even ex-councillors must be charged. Our main focus is to ensure there is accountability. The R40 million spent on the investigation was not done just to be filed, these councillors need to be brought to book because councillors and politicians are not above the law,” she said.
