Public protector probing several cases of corruption, tender fraud against Tshwane metro

The public protector is currently investigating more than 70 cases which include allegations of corruption, maladministration and tender irregularities levelled against the Tshwane metro municipality.

Speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Gauteng legislature and the public protector’s office on Friday at the Tshwane House chambers, advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane said her office was currently investigating 73 cases filed against the municipality.

These cases included probes into irregular procurement, tender regularity, maladministration relating to soliciting of bribes, corruption by MMC, poor service delivery, billing issues and maladministration in insourcing security officers.

Over the past two years, Mkhwebane’s office has released two reports on the municipality’s billing system which found that there were irregularities in the system. One such report was released in October 2020, when Mkhwebane ordered the municipality to write-off a resident’s R250 000 bill which skyrocketed due to an undetected underground water leak after she filed had several complaints about irregular readings.

The municipality also had not implemented recommendations of some investigations dating back to 2019/20 financial year, she said, including the PP report into irregular appointment by the metro of the the chief of emergency services Previn Devalingam Govender.

The PP found that Govender did not meet the appointment requirements for the post as stipulated in the job advertisement for the post.

ALSO READ: ‘Tshwane EMS chief appointment above aboard’ – City manager

The PP recommended that the municipality to take steps and initiate disciplinary process against Govender and initiate a process of recovering a proportionate and reasonable portion of money paid to Govender.

ALSO READ: R2.6 million from city coffers used for city manager’s legal fees in case against city

Mkhwebane said they had not received feedback from the metro regarding the remedial actions proposed.

Another report with no feedback was on an investigation into allegations of maladministration, improper conduct and irregular appointment of senior executives in the offices of the executive mayor and council speaker back in 2019/20 financial year.

ALSO READ: ‘Some’ Tshwane electricity and water tariffs ‘crooked’ – Public Protector

Deputy PP advocate Kholeka Gcaleka said the Gauteng municipalities were engulfed in corruption while many failed to implement remedial actions stipulated in PP reports on matters raised by the public.

Gcaleka said failure to implement remedial action severed as a stumble block in eradicating corruption and ensuring improved service delivery of issues raised by residents.

The acting municipal manager Mmaseabata Mutlaneng said the municipality responded to most of the cases at the PP.

“We normally speak directly to the investigation officers and I have briefed my team that maybe we need to improve how we communicate with the PP.”

Mutlaneng said one of the main issues affecting Tshwane were billing-related problems.

“The auditor-general also raised this with us highlighting that the issue is prompted by estimation reading. We have improved to 85% of readings monthly, we have improved.”

Gauteng premier David Makhura signed the MOU with Mkhwebane.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram