The Hawks still have not returned documents seized at GTM
The municipality argued that the due channels in instituting the investigation had not been properly followed and that made the Hawks investigation illegal. The move was criticised by opposition parties as they claimed it was a bid by municipal bosses to conceal their bad deeds.
BURGERSFORT – The chaos at the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) seems to be escalating as it was recently revealed that the Hawks have not yet returned the documents seized from this beleaguered institution.
The Hawks bombarded the GTM on July 15, searched the offices and seized documents, which were taken in order to verify whether the allegations of corruption and maladministration in the municipality were true or not.
Last month the special police unit was ordered by the North Gauteng High Court to return the documents as it ruled that they had been unlawfully seized. The GTM management fought hard to stop the Hawks from continuing with the investigation. The municipality argued that the due channels in instituting the investigation had not been properly followed and that made the Hawks investigation illegal. The move was criticised by opposition parties as they claimed it was a bid by municipal bosses to conceal their bad deeds.
Spokesman for the municipality, Mr Thabiso Mokoena, confirmed to the media that the GTM was still waiting for the documents.
“The police unit hasn’t returned the documents as per the court order, and we have instructed our legal representatives to write a letter to them asking when they are going to return them,” he said
GTM had previously made headlines for wrong reasons. Corruption, maladministration and financial mismanagement amounting to violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act and supply-chain policies, have been at the centre of the municipality’s crises.
GTM has spent almost R3 million on attempts to get its books in order while, according to communities, service delivery has suffered. This resulted in numerous protests at the civic centre.
The president Mr Jacob Zuma signed a proclamation on July 21 ordering the SIU to investigate the municipality.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News contacted the SIU spokesman Mr Boy Ndala who said the investigations were continuing but were still in their early stages.
Opposition parties also highlighted the fact that water and lack of electricity was a concern to residents, who alleged services delivery was suffering because of corruption in the GTM.
Meanwhile the ANC councillors at the municipality chose to shun the special council meeting that was scheduled for Friday August 30, for the second time in less than three months. The meeting was called off as the speaker felt there were not enough councillors. The ruling party’s councillors reportedly chose to go to the boardroom and discuss issues which were supposed to have been discussed in the council meeting – among others, the failure of operation mabone and the demand of the people that the acting municipal manager, Adelaide Monyepao, be sacked. Steelburger/Lydenburg News understands that there are political factions in the ANC at the municipality. Opposition parties compared the GTM with the Tlokwe and Mokgalakwena municipalities.
