MBOMBELA – Despite earlier denials by the local municipality, the Hawks this week confirmed that documents related to the permanent appointment of general workers in the municipality earlier this year, had in fact been seized from the municipal offices two weeks ago.
National spokesman for the Hawks, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi, has confirmed that they took the documents. This follows the laying of charges by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who also staged a march about the matter as well as service delivery issues in May.
Municipal spokesman Mr Joseph Ngala had previously denied that documents had been confiscated, but confirmed that two officials from the Hawks had indicated to Mbombela that they were investigating the appointment of general workers.
As of April 1, Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) appointed permanent workers in positions previously held by temporary employees to comply with an amendment in the Labour Relations Act.
In terms on this, employers may not appoint workers on a temporary basis unabated to prevent exploitation. At the beginning of that month the municipal libraries, with the exception of the Mbombela and White River, closed pending the appointed of new staff.
Ngala says library services have recommended that funding be requested from the provincial government to assist with the training of the 13 new employees on the Sita Library and Information Management System, as the provincial government had also trained the former temporary employees.
Brig Selvy Mohlala, police spokesman, said at the time that SAPS’ commercial-crimes unit was investigating a second case of fraud against the municipal manager, Mr Noko Seanego, who had been arrested on a fraud charge in January over the appointment of specialised security officers in MLM while he was still corporate-services manager in October of last year.
The case was struck off the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court’s roll for further investigation in February.
Mr Luvuyo Mfaku, spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority, says the matter on whether or not to place the charges back on the roll was referred to the office of the director for public prosecutions for consideration.
In April an investigation, commissioned by executive mayor Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi, cleared Seanego of misconduct, but found there had been weaknesses in the recruitment process. According to the mayor the employees who had attempted to influence it to the benefit of their girlfriends and family members had failed.
