Sir
I refer to the recent article that appeared in your newspaper wherein the Democratic Alliance’s, Dr Bedassi called for a ‘forensic investigation’ into all the allegations of fraud and corruption at the Endumeni Municipality – a move for which Dr Bedasssi was commended as he took the bold step to call for such investigation in the face of such controversy.
However, it has been approximately three weeks since we last saw that article and to date, we have not seen any bid appearing in the newspapers, nor on the municipal website, calling for service providers for the impending investigation. What does this mean?
Does it mean that the said investigation has not even reached the point where it is to go out on a bid and commence as a matter of urgency, as implied by Dr Bedassi, or has this investigation just been swept under the carpet so that everyone forgets about it in time?
What have those Councillors who are against corruption done in the last three weeks to expedite or probe this forensic investigation?
Those Councillors must raise this in a special EXCO meeting with the DA taking the lead as they are the ones who raised it.
We, as the ratepayers of Endumeni are being financially ‘raped’, for want of a better word, when one looks at the rates increases and the rumours of grand imbizos and nepotism where family members of councillors have been appointed and/or promoted without any processes being followed.
Wasteful expenditure is at it’s highest.
There have been so many allegations coming out of this municipality – the allegation of an employee who allegedly made racially insensitive remarks on Facebook – this was reported to the SA Human Rights Commission – and although the allegations have all been rejected, there is yet to be a satisfactory investigation and report back.
We had a glimmer of hope when we saw the article calling for a forensic investigation, and we were more confident knowing that the DA was calling for it and would not allow any interference by the political players, however, we hope that this is not a smoke screen.
The recent letter to the editor clearly exposed the fact that this coalition, which is plundering the Endumeni coffers, is only in power due to the support of the DA.
We wonder what the DA’s next move will be? I feel that the only test with regards to the DA’s stance in this matter would be to see whether the DA still supports this coalition when it comes to voting at Council, or whether it withholds such support until such time as this Forensic Investigation goes out on a bid and an independent service provider commences with such investigation.
These are interesting times at the Endumeni Local Council and I encourage all fellow ratepayers to observe the activities at the Endumeni Council, as party politics and self-enrichment exercises are rife, all at the expense of the over-burdened ratepayer.
Nosihle Mthembu
Fed Up – Empty Promises
