Umzinyathi District Municipality, which has been without a Mayor and a Council since last year’s local government elections, is now without a municipal manager.
This follows the suspension of Dr EMS Ntombela on charges of gross conduct related to ‘irregular expenditure’, according to a report released by the Auditor General.
One allegation is that on December 12, 2016, Dr Ntombela appointed a company called Tsotesti and Mchunu for debt collection and other litigation services for the municipality. The contract was for three years but it is alleged that the documents related to the contract were not all properly assessed as required and the contract was not reported to the relevant ministry.
However, just three days later, Tsotesti and Mchunu, submitted an invoice of R4,9-million to the municipality and six days later on December 21 the invoice was paid.

It is alleged that there was an ulterior motive to appoint AquaPlant and flout regulations.

The report implies that about R600-million was collected from municipal debtors within three days when Dr Ntombela had no authority to agree to such a contract.
It is further alleged that Dr Ntombela cancelled the tender process for work to be done on the Msinga Regional bulk water project on January 21 that was to install a water treatment plant. It is claimed that a company called AquaPlant was instead appointed to undertake the work without any procedures being followed. It is alleged that there was an ulterior motive to appoint AquaPlant and flout regulations.
The report further states that Dr Ntombela appointed AC Industrial Sales (Pty) Ltd to drill boreholes in the district also without following procedures. The project was said to be valued at R80-million. However, a verification survey showed that the expenditure did not match the supporting list of boreholes that had been drilled. The report claimed that ‘some boreholes never existed’ although payment in full had been made.

More on Umzinyathi District Municipality:

Umzinyathi District Municipality cuts water tank deliver

The Courier was told that there were about 150 boreholes and each borehole cost R292 000. It was said that this amount ‘was too high and unjustifiable’.
It was also alleged that Dr Ntombela, as the accounting officer, had approved the purchase of municipal water tanks which were also not budgeted for or authorized.
The previous Umzinyathi municipal manager, Mdu Mngomezulu was also suspended on misconduct charges and later resigned. Last year the Technical Services Manager, Thami Malunga, was also suspended and resigned early this year.