“Nkangala District Mayor must do the right thing and step down with immediate effect”
The DA applauds the Hawks for the arrest of Nkangala District Municipality Executive Mayor Sarah Masilela over financial misconduct allegations, and calls for her to do the right thing and step down from her position with immediate effect.
A breakthrough has finally come after six months since the DA opened a case calling for the Hawks to investigate Ms Masilela over allegations relating to over R200 000 irregular expenditure during the Ndzundza Mabuza Heritage Celebration.
Ms Masilela appeared in the Middelburg Magistrates Court with eight co-accused, who she allegedly colluded with and ensured that fraudulent documents were processed for payments for services which were never rendered.
The idea for the event, which was part of the Heritage Day celebrations, came to be when the office of the Mayor received an invitation from the Ndzundzu Mabuza Tribal Council, requesting sponsorship from the municipality for the event to take place on September 28, 2019. But just over a year later, on October 28, 2020, Khumalo Masondo Attorneys Inc. were called to investigate the allegations of irregular expenditure and misconduct committed by senior management of the municipality.
This investigation involved the R254 000 of expenditure during the Ndzundzu Mabuza Heritage Celebration, as well as the South African Municipal Sports and Recreation Association (SAMSRA) games to be held in Durban.
In the investigation, the attorneys noted that the municipality made a procurement for sound, stage, marquee and catering for the above-mentioned event.
However, none of these items were allegedly provided on the day and the delivery of goods and services were not verified by a duly appointed official from the Department of Social Service.
Those implicated in the report are Ms Sarah Masilela, Executive Mayor, Dr Tebogo Matoane, Section 56 Manager of Social Development Services, and Ms Sanelisiwe Mashaba, the Director of Supply Chain.
“The mayor has failed and brought disgrace to the people of the Nkangala District. It is of urgency that she steps down immediately and opens the opportunity for new leadership to come in and serve the people,” said Cllr Joseph Sibanyoni, DA Chief Whip in Nkangala District Municipality.
