More uThukela staff suspended?
An inside source has said that things have been tense at the district municipality offices since the crackdown on corruption, with more staff being investigated. At least one of the suspended staff members was receiving R40,000 back-pay on a monthly basis.
More corrupt uThukela District Municipality staff members have been suspended, according to an employee at the district municipality who does not wish to be named.
Last week’s front page article told of at least 17 uThukela officials being suspended after a report by the Auditor-General revealed that “they were being paid exorbitant allowances and salaries”.
An inside source has said that things have been tense at the district municipality offices since the crackdown on corruption, with more staff being investigated. At least one of the suspended staff members was receiving R40,000 back-pay on a monthly basis. The corruption is suspected to have started as far back as 2010. Criminal charges are expected to be laid against the culprits and the masterminds behind the salaries fraud.
Complaints concerning lack of service delivery are rife in the uThukela district and this corruption has compounded people’s dissatisfaction with the ‘powers that be’. “Now that we know what has been happening in the uThukela offices, it’s no wonder there is such a lack of service in this area. Officials are only interested in feathering their own nests. It’s a money-making game and to hell with the people they are meant to be serving. We suffer while they get rich through fraudulent means. It’s nothing short of shocking,” said one angry resident.
uThukela communications officer Lihle Mbanjwa commented that she only knows of the 17 officials who are currently under investigation and has not heard of more staff being suspended.
