MBOMBELA – The opposition in the local municipality says the ANC leadership in Mbombela is undermining accountability to protect their own.
According to Mr Werner le Grange, DA chief whip in Mbombela Local Municipality, the executive mayor Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi announced in a closed sitting to councillors on Thursday of last week that he has decided to investigate the allegations of misconduct against municipal manager Mr Noko Seanego and member of the mayoral committee Mr Bheki Zulu.
Seanego had been charged with fraud related to the appointment of specialised security officers in October. Mathonsi indicated during a special council meeting in January that he would not be investigating the allegations against Seanego. His case has since been scrapped from the court roll for further investigation.
Zulu has been charged with malicious damage to property following a fracas between supporters of the ANC and South African Communist Party (SACP) ahead of the latter’s annual Joe Slovo Memorial lecture in KaNyamazane in January.
In terms of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act allegations of misconduct by a senior manager must be tabled by the mayor beforecouncil within seven days of receiving it. Council must then appoint an independent investigator or dismiss the allegations. Disciplinary procedures may also not be dispensed with even if criminal action is instituted.
The DA submitted motions for council to appoint an independent investigator to investigate the allegations against Seanego and for the Rules and Ethics Committee to investigate Zulu during their ordinary meeting on February 26. But Le Grange says the ANC prevented this from being tabled.
“Mathonsi instead submitted a report to council that was discussed in a closed meeting in which he is to appoint his own independent investigator to investigate the allegations against the municipal manager and Zulu.
“However, the decision is in contradiction of all rules and regulations in dealing with misconduct against municipal officials as stipulated in the Code of Conduct, which gives council the authority to deal with these matters as the institution responsible for ensuring accountability by the executive.
“This is proof of an attempt by the ANC to control and influence the investigation to prevent any real accountability from taking place through an open and transparent way.”
Mathonsi’s response was that he would not respond. “Write what you want. You always write what you want. You are a Le Grange person and we are investigating your relationship with Le Grange.
“You are one-sided. Don’t email me again, I won’t respond.”
- Read more on the protests which resulted from the appointment of specialised security officers here.
