Heads should roll for false payments

The long awaited report on the renovation and upgrade of the council chambers has finally been tabled. Shocking revelations were made where Insimu Investment and Mannes Consulting Engineers were paid R435 655,13 for work never executed but certified and paid for.
How is this possible? It seems that there was collusion and monies were siphoned off in broad daylight. Officials from the municipality failed to play their oversight role in monitoring if there was any progress on the project while payments were processed.
Had council put in checks and balances this disaster would have been avoided. Or was it deliberate?  Although council has taken a decision to blacklist the companies with the national database of SCM (Supply Chain Management) defaulters, we believe they should also be reported to the SAPS to investigate a case of fraud.
While council further resolved to pursue a civil claim to both the companies to recover monies it’s wait and see if any or all monies are recovered.
Important lessons have been learnt and council needs to tighten its internal control and hold officials responsible and accountable for dereliction of duty. There should be no compromise on this. The total renovation and upgrade was completed at a cost of just more than R 1.1 million.
CLLR MADHUN SOBRAM SING
DA Caucus Leader
KwaDukuza