Opposition parties in JB Marks are emphasising that officials must be held accountable for the irregular expenditure that was unveiled by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) last month.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) completed two investigations in the JB Marks Local Municipality, which resulted in 10 criminal referrals being made to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and six disciplinary referrals being made to the municipality.

These investigations involve the construction of a flood line canal near the N12 provincial road and Ikageng Extension 11, as well as the irregular procurement and price inflation of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Matthys van Tonder, Freedom Front Plus caucus leader in JB Marks, stated that the VF Plus has for numerous years insisted that there should be consequences for the wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money.

“Regarding the canal works, the VF Plus has said from the beginning that the work was not adequate, that it had not been properly investigated, and that the contract had incorrectly been awarded to a cadre, or at least to someone who, as the Special Investigating Unit has now shown, had ties with the municipal manager at the time,” added Van Tonder.

DA caucus leader in JB Marks, Hans-Jurie Moolman, also stated that they would like to see the proposed action taken as quickly as possible, especially with regard to criminal prosecution.

“I think it is good that an example will be, or can be, made to show that this kind of conduct will no longer be tolerated. I am very concerned because we do not know who the person is against whom disciplinary action must be taken, or whether that person is still employed by the municipality,” he stated.

“We would very much like to see public funds that were squandered recovered and returned to the public coffers. That is also what the law prescribes, and that is what we would like to see happen.”

Van Tonder was also part of the Covid-19 task team and had already, at that stage, pointed out anomalies.

“I personally served as a representative on the task team and already at that stage highlighted the corruption by pointing out the misuse of funds in the dam area. We also pointed out that the personal protective equipment that was bought was excessively expensive and that money and attention that should have been spent on necessities, such as ventilators at Potchefstroom Hospital, were not prioritised,” he added.

“We will monitor this matter closely and make sure that it is not simply shelved, that it does not become just another matter where people say it will be looked into again, as has happened in the past, but that this issue is finally brought to a head. In November, voters will have an opportunity to decide whether they still want more of this poor management, or whether they would rather put a new government in place,” he stated.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the JB Marks sub-region also sent out a press release stating that the party demands that these findings be brought to the very next sitting of the municipal council for transparent debate.

“The EFF welcomes these findings not with polite applause but with revolutionary fury. We state categorically that every adverse finding must be implemented in full. No cherry-picking. No further consultations. The SIU has done its work. Now the municipality must do its duty,” stated the press release.

The EFF also implored the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to act swiftly regarding the referrals made.