Phalaborwa: Economic Freedom Fighters lays charges against municipality
"There is corruption in the municipality and millions are leaving the municipality on a daily basis."
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has laid criminal charges against the municipal manager, technical director and the project management unit of the Phalaborwa Municipality.
They allegedly were responsible for appointing service providers and fraudulently awarding them with tenders.
The EFF is accusing the municipality of having hired a pool of contractors in order for them to loot money from the taxpayers.
The EFF said that the municipality contravened Section 217 of the Constitution that requires that all public procurement be in accordance with a system which is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective.
“They have also offended the Municipal Finance Management Act; and Procedures for Competitive bids in terms of the Municipality’s Supply Chain Policy,” stated the EFF Regional Chairperson, Pontsho Mashumu.
Mashumu told the Phalaborwa Herald that Municipality hired four service providers on July 29, 2019. He stated the municipality did not go through the normal supply chain process as required by the law.
READ: Municipality officials suspended for alleged tender fraud
According to the EFF, the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), who are in charge of investigating the two tender frauds, have had 30 days to investigate but they came back and told them that they were unable to finish the investigations as they were waiting for more documents from the municipality.
“We said from the start that MPAC does not have the capacity to investigate such criminal activities. That is why we have taken it upon ourselves to open a case against the perpetrators,” continued the regional chairperson of EFF.
“The municipality should have hired an independent investigative body to do the investigation, not a committee,” he continued.
He explained that in the past the EFF was unable to open any cases as they were unable to get the documents, “But now we have found the evidence and we will open a case.”
“The money that is supposed to assist us in fixing the potholes is being taken by these people,” concluded Mashumu.
READ: PHALABORWA: MM’s signature used in tender scam
The Herald has contacted the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality Spokesperson, Jonas Mahesu, and he said that he was aware of the case opened by the EFF.
However, “MPAC has requested an extension into the investigation and thus all media inquiries related to this case will be responded to after the first council sitting which will be held in February,” stated Mahesu.
