Serious allegations of financial mismanagement and possible corruption have emerged from a Section 132 Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) hearing involving Endumeni Municipality.

Tim Brauteseth, KZN spokesperson on COGTA in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, says yesterdays’s hearing exposed serious concerns about the municipality’s financial controls and governance. Endumeni is already under Section 139 intervention, with the possible dissolution of council following the Council’s failure to pass the budget.

Among the issues raised was an alleged R237 000 payment to an individual for one day’s work. The DA has also questioned the circumstances surrounding the payment.

“The DA further alleges that R500 000 worth of disaster-relief materials – following severe weather in the Glencoe – Wasbank area in December -failed to reach beneficiaries, despite R747 000 being allocated for the programme, ” Brauteseth said in a statement.

Questions were also raised over the sale of a municipal grader – in 2022 – reportedly valued at R1.8 million but sold for R550 000, as well as alleged fuel-card abuse, irregular appointments and supply-chain management concerns.

The party says R17.6 million flagged by the Auditor-General has also not been recovered.

“The DA is calling for criminal investigations where warranted, the recovery of irregular expenditure and disciplinary action against officials found to have acted improperly.”

The Courier has approached Endumeni Municipality for comment and this will be published when received.