The investigation into Zululand mayor’s conduct completed

The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has completed its investigation into the alleged misconduct of Zululand District Mayor, Cllr Thulasizwe Buthelezi, Zululand Observer reports

Cogta spokesperson, Senzelwe Mzila, said the report is being processed and will be presented to MEC Hlomuka for consideration soon.

‘Once Hlomuka has considered the report and recommendations therein the relevant parties will be notified,’ said Mzila.

Buthelezi was accused of interference in the public procurement processes.

The investigation was ordered by former Cogta MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, in October 2018, after her department had received numerous allegations against Buthelezi.

One of the allegations was that Buthelezi participated in formal public procurement processes of his municipality on at least two occasions in 2018, said to be in transgression of government legislation which seeks to promote clean governance.

He was also accused of attending and participating in a briefing session held in April 2018 in respect of two municipal tenders, namely the Rudimentary South Water Supply (drilling of the borehole) project and the Rudimentary North Water Supply (drilling of 60 boreholes) project.

Dube-Ncube said the main role of local government institutions is to ensure that all municipalities in the province run clean administrations in which all elected public representatives abide by all applicable laws, including the Municipal Finance Management Act

‘These are serious allegations and us as Cogta appeal to the Zululand District council to investigate them without fear or favour and act in the best interest of the people of Zululand,’ she said.

Last week, Zululand District Democratic Alliance leader, Sibusiso Nkosi, urged Cogta to speed up its investigation.

‘We have been waiting a long time for this investigation to be concluded. We have not heard about any progress in the matter and those implicated are still employed by the municipality. This allows them to still interfere and tamper with evidence,’ said Nkosi.