A storm is brewing in the embattled Ventersdorp Municipality that is set to merge with Tlokwe in August.
In the middle of the storm is the acting chief financial officer, Mr Kgosietsile Kgosimang whom the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) alleges is guilty of misconduct and wasting R50 000 from the municipal coffers.
The SIU report seen by The Herald says there is evidence to prove that, while he was the CFO, Kgosimang and two fellow employees in the finance department processed an overpayment of R50 000 to a service provider. The municipality’s main contractor had subcontracted the company to erect palisade fencing and Kgosimang received an invoice for R116 280 for services rendered.
“As the CFO, Kgosimang was a signatory to the payment requisition. However, he and another employee drew a cheque to the value of R166 280. He further produced a fraudulent invoice of R166 280. The service provider in question assisted Kgosimang to create a fraudulent invoice by tailoring the content of the invoice to suit the overpayment.”
According to the report, he failed to report the overpayment to the municipality and lied in an affidavit, claiming that he had recovered the amount in a subsequent payment.
While he was aware of the overpayment, the report found he had failed to report, reverse or recover the amount. Thus, “Kgosimang has made himself guilty of misconduct by failing to perform the functions of his office in good faith, diligently, honestly, and in a transparent manner as requested in terms of the Municipal Systems act of 2000”.
A copy of the report will be sent to the president together with a report on the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings that the municipality may choose to institute against him.
According to a reliable source, Kgosimang also procured a laptop worth R28 000 without following any of the council procurement processes.
Ms. Sefura Mongalo, the acting communications manager says the municipal manager was asked to consider disciplinary proceedings against Kgosimang for misconduct. The Ventersdorp independents say they will lodge a criminal case against him next Tuesday.
Their spokesperson, Khuduga Dibe, says they approached the municipal manager about the report but he provided no explanation and seemed reluctant to act against the CFO,” he said.
At the time of going to print, Ventersdorp’s acting municipal manager, Isaac Moruti, was yet to reply to the Herald’s enquiry as to why no disciplinary steps had been taken against him for misconduct.
He also did not explain how Kgosimang was appointed as the acting CFO, despite having taken questionable decisions in the finance department or shed light on the laptop procurement.