TWO MONTHS into his term as Mayor and fraud allegations have risen against AbaQulusi Mayor, Martin Mtshali.
According to the allegations, the Mayor used schoolfees from Lindumthetho Primary School, where he was the principal, in order to fund the IFP’s election campaigning.
According to officials at the Department of Education there was a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, October 13, where a case of mismanagement of funds was discussed. The Mayor is said to have handed over his resignation as Lindumthetho’s principal recently.
According to the Democratic Alliances Constituency Chairperson for Zululand, Sibusiso Nkosi, this matter has never been raised in council meetings and they know nothing about it.
“This is just another political ploy to discredit the Mayor,” said Mr Nkosi.
According to Mr Nkosi, there is no surprise in the fact that the Mayor resigned from his position as a principal in order to focus on his mayoral duties.
“Once you are elected as a full-time or executive councillor you cannot hold two positions. The reason for the mayor’s resignation was that he had to take up his mayoral duties, there was nothing shady about it,” said Mr Nkosi.
Mr Nkosi went on to say that anyone who had proof about these allegations was encouraged to come forward with proof.
Local ANC Spokesperson, Zakes Buthelezi, said that although the information he had had not yet been confirmed, it was alleged that the mayor had been found guilty and was expelled from his position.
“Although the allegations that the mayor used the school-funds to campaign for the IFP have been raised, nothing has been proven as yet. Investigations are still underway and should we find proof, the mayor will be charged with fraud and only then will further steps be taken,” said Mr Buthelezi.
With many of the facts being sketchy, it seems that the Department of Education’s ruling will shed some light on whether or not the mayor is guilty of having embezzled R400 000 from the school funds to give the IFP a boost during the elections.
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