ERMELO – Highvelder received a tip-off from a reliable source that the Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM) mayoral chain of office has allegedly gone missing.
The chain of office represents the responsibility, authority and dignity which are attached to the Office of the Mayor.
Mayoral chains are formal, full-dress type of regalia and feature the engraved name and term of each successive mayor.
According to an article by Independent Online, a new phenomenon of corruption has been uncovered in some local municipalities in South Africa, whereby municipal officials, in collaboration with councillors, allegedly enrich themselves by stealing the mayoral chains, some of which are worth up to R1 million.
These are ornamental chains worn by mayors at official events as a sign of dignity.
ALSO READ: Is the Msukaligwa mayoral chain of office missing?
Highvelder has it on good authority that the chain went missing in 2017, two weeks after the inauguration of the current executive mayor, Cllr Buti Joseph Mkhaliphi.
The newspaper has reached out to the municipality’s spokesman, Mr Mandla Zwane, to enquire about the chain’s whereabouts and the allegation about it being missing.
He confirmed that it has indeed been missing since 2017.
It was also established that it is worth about R400 000.
“It went missing during and/or (sic) after the inauguration of the executive mayor on 27 October 2017,” said Mr Zwane.
According to him, it was reported to the police on 15 October 2018, nearly a year after.
He responded to the questions via WhatsApp, but not all of them were answered.
When asked whether he could also address the outstanding questions and a few follow-up ones, he phoned Highvelder and corresponded telephonically.
He was also asked whether the chain went missing before or after it had been placed around the mayor’s neck on the day of the inauguration.
“Apparently, after the mayor took it off, he gave it to a person.” Mr Zwane did not provide the person’s name.
Highvelder’s source also stated that the chain of office is kept in a safe, with access limited to only a select few; the mayor, the municipal manager and two mayoral assistants.
According to Mr Zwane, this is not completely true. He confirmed that only a select few high-ranking officials had access.
He did not wish to disclose their names and said they had allegedly been passed on to the police.
When asked who would be footing the bill for the replacement of the missing/stolen item, or whether it would be paid from municipal funds, he said it depended on the outcome of the police’s investigation.
“All municipal capital is, however, insured,” Mr Zwane said.
What is puzzling though, is that the police are apparently still investigating the case, yet reliable intel indicates that an in-house tender for the chain’s replacement has been issued.
Make sure to read the complete article on the Highvelder’s front page this week.
