EKURHULENI Metropolitan Municipality has noted the negative media coverage focusing on the integrity of its city manager, Khaya Ngema.
The allegations are strongly rejected as unfounded and baseless. Instead, the whole media campaign seems to be designed to attack the integrity and professional reputation of the city manager, a statement issued on Monday read.
All irregular expenditure that has occurred in the metro, each financial year, has been reported by the city manager through the Annual Report to Council and to National Treasury. Subsequently, council refers it to the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) for further interrogation and recommendations.
The MPAC relies on the findings of the Auditor General, internal audit, finance department, heads of department and the city manager in processing these reports for purposes of determining a final report to council.
The irregular expenditure relating to the approval of tenders above R10 million by the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC), instead of the city manager, did indeed occur. However, all these tenders followed the full Supply Chain Management (SCM) processes and went through the relevant bid committees.
Even in the instances when the SCM process was not followed in full, it was done so in terms of the prescribed deviation process. The only step not followed was the approval by the city manager after the recommendations by the BAC.
No fraud or corruption was involved and full value was received by the metro for those services.
All cases that had fraud and corruption linked to them were also disclosed by the city manager to National Treasury and council. These continue to be processed and council is updated through the Municipal Public Accounts Committee.
There are currently investigations taking place in the roads department. They relate to spending not according to budgets approved as well as not complying to SCM processes by various officials in the said department.
These challenges were found through whistle blowers as well as ongoing investigations by the finance department as part of its normal expenditure control and reporting function.
“Since we are dealing with current and ongoing processes, and to be fair and balanced to all individuals concerned, we do not wish to divulge much as this stage. This despite various people running a disinformation campaign in the media,” the statement said.
“Various investigations are ongoing against particular companies and officials. Some of these companies’ contracts have been terminated for various reasons, including poor contractual performance. Again, the city manager will continue to report on these in the correct platforms.
“And finally, we can also confirm that we are aware of a complaint filed with the Public Protector by Mr Mesuli Mlandu, the former head of strategy. This complaint follows closely on a batch of internal documents he has been circulating to various people, a number of which have “mysteriously” found their way to the media, in particular the Sunday World and New Age.”
The Public Protector has written to the city manager for clarification regarding Mlandu’s allegations and that process is being attended to. Mlandu has himself been a subject of an internal disciplinary action on various acts of misconduct. He has been found guilty on all charges.
“In that hearing Mr Mlandu had an opportunity to substantiate his allegations but did not do so. Instead he chose to peddle them everywhere else where he does not have to substantiate,” according to the statement.
“The metro will continue to deliver on its constitutional mandate to render services to its citizenry without distraction. This includes fighting fraud and corruption at all levels.
